Kamo (加茂市, Kamo-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the city had an estimated population of 25,971 in 10,270 households,[1] and a population density of 194 persons per km2. The total area of the city was 133.72 square kilometres (51.63 sq mi).

Kamo
加茂市
Downtown Kamo City
Downtown Kamo City
Flag of Kamo
Official seal of Kamo
Location of Kamo in Niigata Prefecture
Location of Kamo in Niigata Prefecture
Kamo is located in Japan
Kamo
Kamo
 
Coordinates: 37°39′58.7″N 139°2′24.8″E / 37.666306°N 139.040222°E / 37.666306; 139.040222
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
Government
 • MayorAkemi Fujita
Area
 • Total
133.72 km2 (51.63 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2019)
 • Total
25,971
 • Density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeCryptomeria
• FlowerCamellia japonica
Phone number0256-52-0080
Address2-3-5, Saiwai-cho, Kamo-shi, Niigata-ken 959-1392
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

edit

Kamo is located in an inland region of north-central Niigata Prefecture. As the city name implies, the Kamo River flows through the city. The highest elevation is the summit of Mount Awagatake at 1292 meters. The city is located roughly halfway between the two larger cities of Nagaoka and Niigata.

Surrounding municipalities

edit

Climate

edit

Kamo has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kamo is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1978 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kamo has declined steadily over the past 50 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 37,890—    
1980 36,706−3.1%
1990 34,863−5.0%
2000 33,085−5.1%
2010 29,762−10.0%
2020 25,441−14.5%

History

edit

The area of present-day Kamo was part of ancient Echigo Province, and developed from the early Heian period as settlement associated with a branch of the Kamo Shrine in Kyoto from 794 AD. The town of Kamo was established within Kitakanbara District, Niigata with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to city status on March 10, 1954.

Government

edit
 
Kamo City Hall

Kano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members.

Economy

edit

Kamo is traditionally associated with its production of kiri-tansu, a type of tansu chest-of-drawers made from paulownia wood. The city is also a centre for the manufacturing of electrical appliances and furniture,

Education

edit

Colleges and universities

edit

Primary and secondary education

edit

Kamo has six public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

edit

Railway

edit

  JR East - Shin'etsu Main Line

Highway

edit

Sister cities

edit

Kamo maintains sister city ties with three cities:

Local attractions

edit
 
Kamoyama Park and Aomi Shrine

Kamo is a popular place for small tour groups, especially for children in elementary school. It is advertised as a "traditional town" and sometimes referred to as the Little Kyoto of the Hokuetsu region. This is because it shares certain structural features with Kyoto, being surrounded on three sides by mountains and intersected by a river. Kamo's most famous attraction is Kamoyama Park, which is home to the Aomi Jinja (Shrine) and many other sights, including a petting area for small squirrels which the town has regularly imported. The Kamo River is also the site of many city events, including the Obon Festival in August and the Snow Camelia Festival in April. The snow camelia is a symbol of Kamo and can be seen growing in many locations around the city.

Notable people from Kamo

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Kamo city official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. ^ Kamo climate data
  3. ^ Kamo population statistics
  4. ^ a b "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
edit