Inakadate, Aomori

Inakadate
田舎館村
Village

Inakadate Village Hall

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Location of Inakadate in Aomori Prefecture
Inakadate

 

Coordinates: 40°38′13″N 140°32′49″E / 40.63694°N 140.54694°E / 40.63694; 140.54694Coordinates: 40°38′13″N 140°32′49″E / 40.63694°N 140.54694°E / 40.63694; 140.54694
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Aomori Prefecture
District Minamitsugaru
Area
 • Total 22.31 km2 (8.61 sq mi)
Population (April 2012)
 • Total 8,078
 • Density 362/km2 (940/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Phone number 0172-58-2111
Address 1 Nakatsuji, Inakadate-mura, Minamitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 038-1113
Website www.vill.inakadate.aomori.jp

Inakadate (田舎館村 Inakadate-mura) is a village in Minamitsugaru District in Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of April 2012, the village has an estimated population of 8,078 and a population density of 362 persons per km². Its total area was 22.31 km².

Geography

Inakadate occupies the flatlands within central Aomori. The village has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall.

Neighbouring municipalities

History

During the Edo period, the area around Inakadate was controlled by the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain. After the Meiji Restoration, it became part of Minamitsugaru District. On April 1, 1889, Inakadate was proclaimed as a village. On April 1, 1955, it annexed neighboring Kodaji Village, but lost a portion of its territory to Onoe Town on October 1, 1956.

Art stimulus

2010 rice paddy art

In 1993, as part of a revitalization effort, Inakadate began creating rice paddy art, murals of art using rice paddy fields.[1]

The people were looking for a way to revitalize their village. Archaeology showed that rice had been grown in the area for more than 2000 years.[2] To honor this history, the villagers started a rice field behind the town hall. The villagers cultivated and used four different types[2] of heirloom and modern strains of rice to create a giant picture in the field. To allow viewing of the whole picture, a mock castle tower 22 meters high was erected at the village office.[2] In 2006, more than 200,000 people visited the village to see the art.[2]

Economy

The economy of Inakadate is heavily dependent on agriculture, notably rice and horticulture.

Transportation

Train

Highway

Notable people from Inakadate

References

  1. ↑ "Bizarre spectacle of the giant crop murals covering rice fields in Japan". Daily Mail. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hani, Yoko (2007-08-26). "Homegrown art". The Japan Times. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
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