Ōkura, Yamagata

Ōkura 大蔵村
Village
Ōkura Village Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ōkura in Yamagata Prefecture
Ōkura
Coordinates: 38°42′N 140°14′E / 38.700°N 140.233°ECoordinates: 38°42′N 140°14′E / 38.700°N 140.233°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Yamagata
District	Mogami
Area
• Total	211.59 km^2 (81.70 sq mi)
Population (October 2013)
• Total	3,541
• Density	16.7/km^2 (43/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Japanese beech
• Flower	Japanese gentian
• Bird	Copper pheasant
Phone number	0233-75-2111
Address	2528 Kiyomizu, Ōkura-mura, Mogami-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-0212
Website	vill.ohkura.yamagata.jp

Ōkura (大蔵村 Ōkura-mura) is a village in Mogami District, Yamagata, Japan.

As of October 2013, the village has an estimated population of 3,541 and a population density of 16.7 persons per km². The total area is 211.59 square kilometres (82 sq mi).

Geography

Ōkura is located in a mountainous north-central eastern Yamagata Prefecture, and includes Mount Gassan within its borders. The Mogami River runs through the village. The area is known for extremely heavy snows in winter. Its highest accumulation of snow recorded is 414 cm, second place in Japan after Sukayu Onsen in Aomori. Snow typically starts in November, and starts piling up on the ground by early December. The snow will usually stop by early May, but will not completely melt until mid-June. Similar to Sukayu Onsen, snowfalls of 50 to 100 cm in a single day are not uncommon at all.

Neighboring municipalities

• Yamagata Prefecture
  • Shinjō, Yamagata
  • Murayama, Yamagata
  • Sagae, Yamagata
  • Funagata, Yamagata
  • Tozawa, Yamagata
  • Shōnai, Yamagata
  • Nishikawa, Yamagata

History

The area of present-day Ōkura was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Sengoku period, the area was under the control of the Mogami clan. During the Edo period, the village was a river port on the Mogami River and a post station on the pilgrimage route to Mount Gassan. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The modern village of Ōkura was established on April 1, 1889.

Economy

The main industry is agriculture (tomato and buckwheat), sake production, and seasonal tourism to its hot spring resorts. Kokeshi dolls are a noted local handicraft.

Transportation

Railways

Ōkura is not served by any train station.

Highways

• National Route 458

Local attractions

• ruins of Shimizu Castle
• Hijiori hot springs

External links

• Official website (Japanese)