Katsuragi, Wakayama Prefecture, Kansai Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Katsuragi (かつらぎ町, Katsuragi-chō) is a town located in Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2021, the town had an estimated population density of 110 persons per km². The total area of the town is 151.69 square km (58.57 sq mi). The town was named after the nearby Katsuragi Mountains.

Geography Katsuragi is long and narrow from north to south, and is located in the north-eastern part of Wakayama prefecture. The Kinokawa River flows from east to west in the former Katsuragi Town area, and the Kishi River flows from east to west in the Shinshiro area at the southernmost tip of the former Katsuragi Town. In addition, the Arita River runs through the former Hanazono village area. The terrain is sandwiched between the Kii Mountains and the Izumi Mountains, forming a basin.

Neighboring municipalities Wakayama Prefecture • Hashimoto • Kinokawa • Kudoyama • Kōya • Kimino • Aridagawa; Osaka Prefecture • Kawachinagano • Izumi • Kishiwada; Nara Prefecture • Nosegawa.

History The town of Katsuragi was founded by the merger of the town of Ito and Myōji and the village of Miyoshi (all from Ito District) on July 1, 1958. On October 1, 2005 the village of Hanazono, from Ito District, was merged into Katsuragi.

Government Katsuragi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Katsuragi, collectively with the other municipalities of Ito District contributes one member to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Wakayama 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Katsuragi is one of the largest agricultural areas in Wakayama, and agriculture, horticulture and food processing dominate the local economy.

Education Katsuragi has five public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government and two public high schools operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Department of Education.

Transport: Rail JR West – Wakayama Line • Nakaiburi - Myōji - Ōtani - Kaseda - Nishi-Kaseda

Transport: Road • Keinawa Expressway • National Route 24 • National Route 370 • National Route 371 • National Route 480

Local attractions • Niutsuhime Shrine, National Historic Site and World Heritage Site • Kōyasan chōishi-michi, National Historic Site and World Heritage Site.