Naka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Naka (那珂市, Naka-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 543.4 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 32.4%. The total area of the city is 97.82 square km (37.77 sq mi).

Geography Naka is located in north-central Ibaraki Prefecture, with the Naka River and Kuji River flowing through the city.

Surrounding municipalities Ibaraki Prefecture • Mito • Hitachinaka • Hitachiōta • Hitachi • Hitachiōmiya • Tōkai • Shirosato.

History On March 31, 1955 the town of Sugaya and villages of Godai, Nakata, Kanzaki, Toda, Yoshino and Kizaki were merged to become the town of Naka (within Naka District). The town was the 4th largest population within the prefecture, following the town of Kamisu (from Kashima District), the town of Sōwa (from Sashima District), and the town of Ami (from Inashiki District). On January 21, 2005 Naka absorbed the town of Urizura (from Naka District) to become the city of Naka. Naka annexed the town of Urizura on January 21, 2005.

Government Naka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Naka contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Ibaraki 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Kiuchi Brewery (木内酒造) is a brewery in Naka. It was established in 1823 as a sake and Shōchū producer.

Renesas Electronics has a 300mm fab in Naka, Ibaraki prefecture. This semiconductor factory makes chips for the automotive manufacturing industry.

Education Naka has nine public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. The Ibaraki Women's Junior College is also located in Naka.

Transport: Rail JR East – Suigun Line • Godai - Shimo-Sugaya - Naka-Sugaya - Kami-Sugaya - Hitachi-Kōnosu - Urizura - Shizu; JR East – Suigun Line - Hitachi-Ōta Branch • Kami-Sugaya - Minami-Sakaide - Nukada.

Highway • Jōban Expressway – Naka Interchange • National Route 6 • National Route 118 • National Route 249.

Local attractions • The Japan Atomic Energy Agency operates a fusion power research facility in the town, which houses the JT-60, one of the premiere tokamak fusion reactors in the world. • Ibaraki Botanical Garden • Kiuchi Brewery • Kasamatsu Park and Stadium • Shizu Jinja • Shizumine Furusato Park.