Tainai, Niigata Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tainai (胎内市, Tainai-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 110 persons per km² (288/sq mi). The total area of the city was 264.89 square km (102.27 sq mi).

Geography Tainai is located in northern Niigata Prefecture, bordered by Yamagata Prefecture to the east and the Sea of Japan to the west. The city area has an elongated shape from east to west along the Tainai River basin. There are number of dams in Tainai, including the Tainaigawa Dam and Tainai Dam.

Surrounding municipalities • Niigata Prefecture ◦ Murakami; ◦ Shibata; ◦ Sekikawa; • Yamagata Prefecture ◦ Oguni.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Tainai has declined over the past 50 years.

History The area of present-day Tainai was part of ancient Echigo Province. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized as part of Kitakanbara District, Niigata. The town of Nakajō, and the village of Kurokawa were established with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Tainai was established on September 1, 2005, from the merger of these municipalities.

Government Tainai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 14 members. Tainai contributes one member to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Niigata 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Tainai is primarily agricultural, mainly with rice cultivation, vegetables, flower cultivation, livestock farming, and fruit tree cultivation. Hydroelectric power generation also provides significant income to the local economy.

Education Tainai has six public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

Transport: Rail JR East - Uetsu Main Line • Nakajō - Hirakida.

Transport: Road • Nihonkai-Tōhoku Expressway • National Route 7 • National Route 113 • National Route 290 • National Route 345.

Local attractions • Tossaka Castle ruins, a National Historic Site • Jōnoyama Kofun, a National Historic Site • Oppo-ji, a Buddhist temple whose 3-story pagoda is a National Important Cultural Property.