Oirase, Aomori Prefecture, Tōhoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Oirase (おいらせ町, Oirase-chō) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023, the town had an estimated population density of 350 persons per km². The total area of the town is 71.96 square km (27.78 sq mi).

Geography Oirase is located on the eastern coastline of Aomori Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The land is mostly flat or slightly hilly. The Oirase River, which is the origin of the town's name, flows from west to east, with Lake Towada as its source.

Neighbouring municipalities Aomori Prefecture • Misawa • Hachinohe • Rokunohe • Gonohe

Demographics

Per Japanese

census data, the population of Oirase has steadily increased over the past 40 years.

History During the Edo period, the area around Oirase was controlled by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain, becoming part of the territories of Shichinohe Domain in the latter half of the Edo period. In the post-Meiji Restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889, the villages of Momoishi and Shimoda were created. Monoishi was elevated to town status on April 20, 1929 and Shimoda on August 1, 1969. The town of Oirase was established by the merger of the former towns of Momoishi and Shimoda, on March 1, 2006. The town was named after the Oirase River.

Government Oirase has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Oirase is part of Kamikita District which contributes four members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Oirase is heavily dependent on agriculture, with main crops including rice, strawberries, Japanese yam and carrots. The town has become commercially more vibrant with the construction of AEON Group, Jusco Shopping centre in 1995 and the spin-off retailing this has attracted. The major local industry is Momokawa Brewing, Inc, a nationally-known sake brewer. Oirase also serves as a bedroom community for the nearby cities of Misawa and Hachinohe.

Education Oirase has five public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail Aoimori Railway Company - Aoimori Railway Line • Shimoda - Mukaiyama.

Transport: Road • Momoishi Road • Second Michinoku Toll Road • National Route 45 • National Route 338.

Local attractions • Akōbō Kofun Cluster, a Kofun period National Historic Site.