Koga, Ibaraki

Koga 古河市
City
Koga city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Koga in Ibaraki Prefecture
Koga
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	123.58 km2 (47.71 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
• Total	140,770
• Density	1,140/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Zelkova serrata
- Flower	Prunus persica
Phone number	0280-92-3111
Address	2248 Shimoōno, Koga-shi, Ibaraki-ken 306-0291
Website	Official website

Koga (古河市, Koga-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 140,770 and a population density of 1140 persons per km². Its total area was 123.58 square kilometres (47.71 sq mi).

Geography

Koga is located in the extreme southwestern corner of Ibaraki Prefecture

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Yūki
  • Bandō
  • Sakai
  • Goka
  • Yachiyo
• Saitama Prefecture
  • Kuki
  • Kazo
• Tochigi Prefecture
  • Oyama
  • Tochigi
  • Nogi

History

Koga developed in the Muromachi period as the Koga kubō, a secondary government created by the Ashikaga shogunate to rule eastern Japan. However, the site has been inhabited since the Jomon period and was one of the largest centers for iron production in eastern Japan in the Heian period. In the Sengoku period, it developed into a castle town and became the seat of the daimyo of Koga Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Koga was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system. The modern city was founded on August 1, 1950. On September 12, 2005, Koga absorbed the towns of Sanwa and Sōwa (both from Sashima District) to create the new and expanded city of Koga. The new city hall is now located at the former town of Sōwa.

Economy

Koga was known in the Meiji period through early Showa period as a center for sericulture. At present, the economy is highly industrialized, with the number of factories as second within Ibaraki Prefecture, after Hitachi city.

Education

Koga has 23 elementary schools, nine middle schools, and six high schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Tōhoku Main Line
• * Koga

Highway

• Japan National Route 4
• Japan National Route 125
• Japan National Route 354

Sister city relations

• – Sanhe, Hebei, China

Local attractions

• site of Koga Castle
• site of Koga Kubo residence
• Suzume-jinja
• Hase Kannon temple
• Koga History Museum
• Sogo Koen Park near the Watarase River was formally a summer palace for a local daimyo. It has two restored 17th century farmhouses, like including the Nakayama house and Takami Senseki house/museum
• Navel Park in Sowa-machi has outdoor and barbecue facilities for families.
• Koga west of the station is old and has many old buildings. Many of the streets are cobbled.
• Tenkoku Art Museum.

Notable people from Koga

• Hideo Jinpu – politician
• Kawanabe Kyōsai – artist
• Okuhara Seiko – artist
• Reiko Okano – manga artist
• Koji Yamamuro Olympic gymnast

External links

• Official website (Japanese)