Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Oyama is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Oyama is the second most populous city in Tochigi Prefecture.

Geography Oyama is located in the far south-eastern corner Tochigi Prefecture, bordered by Ibaraki Prefecture to the south and east. The terrain is almost flat, and the city is in the north-central part of the Kanto plain. The Omoigawa, a branch of the Watarase River flows through the centre of the city. The Ubagawa River is on the western end of the city, Tagawa is on the eastern end of the city, and Kinugawa River is on the eastern end. Oyama is approximately 60 km north of the Tokyo metropolis and approximately 30 km south of the prefecture capital of Utsunomiya.

Surrounding municipalities Tochigi Prefecture • Tochigi • Shimotsuke • Mooka • Nogi; Ibaraki Prefecture • Yūki • Chikusei • Koga.

History Oyama-shuku was a post station on the Nikkō Kaidō connecting Edo with the shrines at Nikkō, and was controlled by Utsunomiya Domain during the Edo period. Oyama town was established within Shimotsuga District, Tochigi with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Oyama merged with the neighboring village of Otani on March 31, 1954 and was elevated to city status. On April 18, 1963, Oyama annexed the town of Mamada and village of Mita, both from Shimotsuga District. This was followed by the town of Kuwakinu on September 30, 1965.

Government Oyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 40 members. Oyama, together with the town of Nogi collectively contributes five members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tochigi 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Oyama is a regional commercial centre with a mixed economy. In agriculture, cultivation of rice, kanpyō and sericulture are important. The yuru-chara for Oyama is Kapyomaru (かぴょ丸, an anthropomorphized calabash of the type used for kanpyō. One of the major employers in the city is Komatsu making iron castings, diesel engines, fork lift trucks and other hydraulic equipment.

Education • Hakuoh University

Primary and secondary schools Oyama has 25 public primary schools and ten public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private school. The prefectural also operates one special education school for the handicapped. The city also has a North Korean school, Tochigi Korean Elementary and Junior High School (栃木朝鮮初中級学校).

Transport: Rail JR East – Tōhoku Shinkansen • Oyama; JR East –Tōhoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line) • Mamada - Oyama; JR East – Ryōmō Line • Oyama - Omoigawa; JR East – Mito Line • Oyama.

Transport: Road • National Route 4 • National Route 50.

Local attractions • Otomefudōhara Tile Kiln ruins, National Historic Site • Deranohigashi ruins, National Historic Site • Washi Castle, Gion Castle and Nakakuki Castle ruins, collectively a National Historic Site • Biwazuka Kofun, National Historic Site • Marishitenzuka Kofun, National Historic Site.