Kizugawa, Kyoto

Kizugawa

木津川市
Kizugawa 木津川市
City
	From upper left, clockwise: Kaijyūsen-ji; Kids' Science Museum of Photons; Fukujyuen Cha Research Center; Æon Mall Takanohara; Kuni-kyō Ruins; Kizu River
	Flag Emblem
	Location of Kizugawa in Kyoto Prefecture
	Kizugawa Location in Japan
	Coordinates: 34°44′14″N 135°49′12″E / 34.73722°N 135.82000°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Kyoto
Government
• Mayor	Noriko Kawai
Area
• Total	85.13 km2 (32.87 sq mi)
Population (August 1, 2023)
• Total	79,866
• Density	940/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	Kizu Minami-gaito 110-9, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto-fu; 619-0286
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Cosmos
Tree	Cherry blossom

Aerial photograph of center area in 2021

Kizugawa (木津川市, Kizugawa-shi) is a city located in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.^[1] As of 1 September 2023^[update], the city has an estimated population of 79,866 in 33183 households and a population density of 940 persons per km².^[2] The total area of the city is 85.12 square kilometres (32.87 sq mi).

Geography

Kizugawa City is located on the southern border of Kyoto Prefecture. The city consists of a plain area formed along the curving Kizugawa River in the western part of the city area, gentle hills that form the edge of the plain, and mountains to the north and southeast. In addition, the eastern part of the Kamo district is dotted with enclaves of Kasagi town. It is located approximately 30 to 40 km from the centers of Kyoto City and Osaka City, and approximately 8 km from the center of Nara City.

Neighboring municipalities

Kyoto Prefecture

Kyōtanabe
Sōraku District (Wazuka, Kasagi, Ide)

Nara Prefecture

Nara

Climate

Kizugawa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kizugawa is 14.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1356 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 32.8 °C.^[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[4] the population of Kizugawa has grown in recent decades. In a population estimate released by the Japan Policy Council, Kizugawa City is the only municipality in Kyoto Prefecture predicted to have a positive population growth rate by 2040.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1940	23,858	—
1950	29,176	+22.3%
1960	28,349	−2.8%
1970	28,007	−1.2%
1980	34,431	+22.9%
1990	49,532	+43.9%
2000	58,809	+18.7%
2010	69,768	+18.6%
2020	77,907	+11.7%

History

The area of Kizukawa was part of ancient Yamashiro Province. During the Nara period, it prospered as a port for transporting lumber as part of the construction of capital cities such as Heijō-kyō. Kuni-kyō, was the capital city of Japan between 740 and 744 under Emperor Shōmu was located in what is now the Kamo neighborhood of Kizukawa.

The village of Kizukawa in Sōraku District, Kyoto, was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on November 22, 1893, and was elevated to city status on March 12, 2007, after merging with the towns of Kamo, Kizu and Yamashiro (all from Sōraku District).

Government

Kizugawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Kizugawa, collectively with the municipalities of Sōraku District contributes two members to the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kyoto 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Kizugawa is a part of the Kansai Science City project and houses research facilities of over 20 enterprises and research facilities including:

Ataka Daiki Engineering (アタカ大機)
Fukujyuen (福寿園)
Kyoto Press Industrial Co. (京都プレス工業)
M-system (エム・システム)
Manyo Tools (マンヨーツール)
Mizuho Co. (株式会社ミズホ)
Omron (オムロン)
Rohto Pharmaceutical (ロート製薬)
Sekisui House (積水ハウス)
Solno Leaves Co. (ソルノリーブス)
Tatsuta Electric Wire Cable Co. (タツタ電線)

Other public and private research organizations in Kizugawa City include:

International Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS, 国際高等研究所)
Japan Atomic Energy Agency Kansai Photochemistry Research Center (日本原子力研究開発機構関西光化学研究所)
Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE, 地球環境産業技術研究機構)

Local attractions

Kizugawa City is the home of several famous temples including:

Gansen-ji (岩船寺): 3-story pagoda listed as an Important Cultural Property
Jōruri-ji (浄瑠璃寺): Main Hall, main Buddha image, and 3-story pagoda listed as National Treasures
Kaijyusen-ji (海住山寺): 5-story pagoda listed as a National Treasure
Kaniman-ji (蟹満寺): main Buddha image listed as a |National Treasure

Other attractions include:

The Kids' Science Museum of Photons (きっづ光科学館ふぉとん)
Kuni-kyō Ruins
Tono Stone Buddha Path (当尾石仏の里)
Yamashiro Kokubun-ji ruins
Yamashiro Local History Museum (ふるさとミュージアム山城)

Education

Kizugawa has 13 public elementary schools and five public junior high schools operated by city government and two public high schools operated by the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private elementary school and one private junior high school. Doshisha University's Gakkentoshi Campus, which focuses on graduate studies in biomedicine, and Doshisha International School, Kyoto (DISK) are also located in Kizugawa.