Iwate, Iwate

Iwate 岩手町
Town
Iwate-Numakumai train station
Flag Seal
Location of Iwate in Iwate Prefecture
Iwate
Coordinates: 39°58′21″N 141°12′45″E / 39.97250°N 141.21250°ECoordinates: 39°58′21″N 141°12′45″E / 39.97250°N 141.21250°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Iwate
District	Iwate
Area
• Total	360.55 km^2 (139.21 sq mi)
Population (February 2014)
• Total	14,060
• Density	39/km^2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Pine
• Flower	Gentiana scabra
• Bird	Green pheasant
Phone number	0195-62-2111
Address	Oaze Itsukaichi dai-10 jiwari 44, Iwate-machi, Iwate-gun, Iwate-ken 028-4395
Website	Official website

Iwate (岩手町 Iwate-machi) is a town located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2014, the town had an estimated population of 14,060 and a population density of 39 persons per km². The total area was 360.55  km².

Geography

Iwate is located in northwest Iwate Prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

• Iwate Prefecture
  • Morioka, Iwate
  • Hachimantai, Iwate
  • Ichinohe, Iwate
  • Kuzumaki, Iwate

History

The area of present-day Iwate was part of ancient Mutsu Province. It was under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Numakunai, Kawaguchi, Ikkatai and Midō villages were created within Kita-Iwate District on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the municipality system. Kita-Iwate and Minami-Iwate Districts merged to form Iwate District on March 29, 1896. The four villages merged to form Iwate Town on July 21, 1955.

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture. Iwate is famous for its blueberry production.

Transportation

Railway

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East) – Tōhoku Shinkansen
  • Iwate-Numakunai Station
• Iwate Ginga Railway Line (JR East)
  • Iwate-Kawaguchi - Iwate-Numakunai - Midō

Highway

• Japan National Route 4 – Ishigami-no-oka roadside station
• Japan National Route 281

Local attractions

• Ishigami-no-Oka Art Museum

Notable people from Iwate

• Seishirō Itagaki – Imperial Japanese Army general

External links

• Media related to Iwate, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (Japanese)