Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Itoigawa (糸魚川市, Itoigawa-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 55 persons per km². The total area of the city is 746.24 square km (288.12 sq mi).

Geography Itoigawa is located in the far south-western corner of Niigata Prefecture, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north, Nagano Prefecture to the south, and Toyama Prefecture to the west. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park or the Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park. Itoigawa is also famous for its jade which can be found on local beaches. Itoigawa also lends its name to the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line, a major fault that runs from Itoigawa, through Lake Suwa to the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, forming the western border of the Fossa Magna.

Surrounding municipalities Niigata Prefecture ◦ Jōetsu; ◦ Myōkō; Nagano Prefecture ◦ Otari; ◦ Hakuba; Toyama Prefecture ◦ Asahi.

History The area of present-day Itoigawa was part of ancient Echigo Province. Historically, Itoigawa lies at the end of the shio no michi (salt road) that supplied salt from the Sea of Japan to Edo via Shinano Province. During the Edo period, Itoigawa was the castle town for Itoigawa Domain. After the Meiji restoration, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, Itoigawa became a town within Nishikubiki District, Niigata.

The modern city was created on June 1, 1954 when the former town of Itoigawa absorbed the villages of Uramoto, Shimohayakawa, Kamihayakawa, Yamatogawa, Saikai, Ōno (Daino), Nechi and Kotati (Otaki) to elevate city status. On April 1, 2005, the towns of Nō and Ōmi (both from Nishikubiki District) were merged into Itoigawa.

Oldest known jadeite-using culture A great many jadeite beads and axe heads as well as the remains of jadeite workshops from the Neolithic era have been uncovered in Itoigawa. These beads and axes were traded throughout Japan and the Korean Peninsula and were produced by the world's oldest known jadeite-using culture, centered on the Itoigawa region.

Government Itoigawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Itoigawa contributes one member to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Niigata 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Commercial fishing and the production of limestone and cement are the mainstays of the local economy.

Education Itoigawa has 14 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Bureau of Education. The city and prefecture also operate one special education school each for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail – Hokuriku Shinkansen • Itoigawa; JR West - Ōito Line • Hiraiwa - Kotaki - Nechi - Kubiki-Ōno - Himekawa - Itoigawa; Echigo Tokimeki Railway - Nihonkai Hisui Line • Ichiburi - Oyashirazu - Ōmi - Itoigawa - Kajiyashiki - Uramoto - Nō - Tsutsuishi; Ainokaze Toyama Railway • Ichiburi.

Transport: Road • Hokuriku Expressway – Oyashirazu IC, Itoigawa IC, Nō IC • National Route 49 • National Route 290 • National Route 8 • National Route 148.

Local attractions • The entire territory of Itoigawa is "Itoigawa Global Geopark" which is a member of the Japanese Geoparks Network and Global Geoparks Network on account of its outstanding geological heritage, educational programs and projects, and promotion of geotourism. • The city is known for its distinctive black-colored yakisoba. • Itoigawa is also known for its unique bugaku, a variety of traditional Japanese performance art. Itoigawa Bugaku can be seen at festivals taking place at Hakusan Shrine and Amatsu Shrine, and has been nationally designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset.

National Historic Sites • Chōjagahara Site, Jōmon period archaeological site • Terachi Site, Jōmon period archaeological site • Matsumoto Kaidō, ancient highway.