Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Natori is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

History The area of present-day Natori was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and was under control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1867, Natori came within the borders of the new Rikuzen Province, which later became part of Miyagi Prefecture. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 Natori District was formed with six villages: Masuda, Higashi-Taga, Shimo-Masuda, Tatekoshi, Aishiwa and Takadate. On April 1, 1896 Masuda was elevated to town status as was Higashi-Taga on April 1, 1928. On April 1, 1955 the towns of Masuda and Yuriage, and the villages of Shimo-Masuda, Tatekoshi, Aishiwa and Takadate were merged to create the town of Natori, which was elevated to city status on October 1, 1958. The official boundaries of Natori City have changed since 1958, as Sendai City redefines its area to include districts to the north and west of Natori.

Geography Natori is in east-central Miyagi Prefecture, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. Natori is located in the fertile plains of the Natori River and the Masuda River deltas; however, the Natori River is actually not inside Natori city limits. Traditionally, the area known as Natori District extended from the Natori River in the north and into the west. However, these regions have been absorbed into the greater Sendai area and are no longer part of Natori.

Neighboring municipalities Miyagi Prefecture • Sendai • Murata • Iwanuma.

Economy Natori has a mixed economy. Based on data collected in 2000: • 6.4% of the population of Natori is involved in the primary agricultural and fishing industries. • 26.1% of the population of Natori is involved in secondary processing industries, particularly at the Nikon Camera factory and at the Sapporo Breweries factory.

Medical Natori is home to the Miyagi Prefectural Psychiatric Medical Center and the Prefectural Cancer Center.

Education Natori's educational facilities include a private university (Shokei Gakuin University).

Airport • Sendai Airport

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line / Jōban Line • Natori - Tatekoshi

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Sendai Airport Line • Natori - Morisekinoshita - Mitazono - Sendai Airport

Highway • Tōhoku Expressway – Minami-Sendai IC • Sendai-Tōbu Road – Natori and Sendai Airport IC • Sendai-Nanbu Road – Yamada IC • National Route 4 • National Route 286.

Festivals The Natori Summer Festival is held in early August, and is a town celebration of summer. The celebration is marked by fireworks and traditional Japanese festival foods, such as yakisoba and yakiniku.

The Sapporo Beer Festival is held at the Sapporo Beer Factory. The factory opens to the public for tours of the factory and other events including free beer tasting.

The Donto-sai Festival is held at the height of winter. Men and women wear only sparse, white clothing and walk silently through the town, receiving sake from local residents along the way. The event culminates in a communal purification ritual and bonfire at Takekoma Shrine.

Sport The Natori Sports Park, constructed by Tohoku Electric, is a public area used for various sports meetings and other community events, such as open-air markets.

Historical sites The Nakazawa Family Estate (住宅, Juutaku), ancestral home of the Nakazawa Clan of bushi warriors, has been designated a National Treasure under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. It was constructed in the late 18th century and has an historically important design, including a thatched roof.

The Raijinyama Kofun (雷神山古墳) is a keyhole tumulus constructed sometime circa the 4th and 5th centuries CE, located in an archaeological park. The park contains numerous other tumuli of varying age, both keyhole and circular. It is a National Historic Site.

Natori contains many kofun tumuli, including the Iinozaka Kofun Cluster (飯野坂古墳群), which is also a National Historic Site.

Natori is home to several sites and artifacts related to Date Masamune, the founder of Sendai Domain. These include 300-year-old pine trees standing by the Natori River dike, which are decorated with paper lanterns and are said to have been planted by Masamune himself.

Other sites Natori, as a coastal town, has open local fresh fish markets. These markets are open in the port district, every Sunday throughout most of the year.