Kurihara

Kurihara 栗原市
City
Kurihara-Kogen Station, Tanabata, Kuriden Rail Park, Lotus flowers, Hanayama Dam, Kurikoma QNP
Flag Seal
Location of Kurihara in Miyagi Prefecture
Kurihara
Coordinates: 38°43′48.4″N 141°1′17.3″E / 38.730111°N 141.021472°E / 38.730111; 141.021472Coordinates: 38°43′48.4″N 141°1′17.3″E / 38.730111°N 141.021472°E / 38.730111; 141.021472
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Miyagi
Government
• -Mayor	Isamu Satō
Area
• Total	804.97 km2 (310.80 sq mi)
Population (May 31, 2017)
• Total	69,925
• Density	86.8/km2 (225/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Kousa Dogwood
- Flower	Nikkōkisuge (Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta)
Phone number	0228-22-1122
Address	1-7-1 Tsukidate Yakushi, Kurihara-shi, Miyagi-ken 987-2293
Website	Official website

Kurihara (栗原市, Kurihara-shi) is a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 May 2017^[update], the city had an estimated population of 69,925 and a population density of 86.8 persons per km² in 24,894 households. The total area of the city was 804.97 square kilometres (310.80 sq mi). Parts of the city are within the borders of the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park.

Kurihara covers a part of the northwestern corner of Miyagi Prefecture. It is mostly rice farmland, and small mountain ridges, the largest of which cluster around Mount Kurikoma, the tallest mountain in Kurihara, which is located at the furthest northwestern point of Miyagi Prefecture. In summer, the lotus on Lake Izunuma bloom. In fall Mount Kurikoma is covered in fall colors and in winter migrating swans and geese come in flocks to spend the season on Kurihara's lakes.

The climate of Kurihara is classified as humid continental (Cfa) per the Köppen climate classification system. As with most of Japan, the summers in Kurihara are hot and humid with temperatures usually around 24.5 °C (76.1 °F). Summer is also typhoon season, however, since Kurihara is so far north and inland the area is rarely affected. Fall and spring are mild, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s (Celsius). In fall the days usually begin foggy and cold but clear up by midday. Spring comes late to the region and is mostly sunny punctuated with random light showers. The temperature fluctuates around freezing in winter, falling to an average low of −1.3 °C (29.7 °F), and snow levels vary with altitude..

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kurihara has declined over the past 40 years.

The area of present-day Kurihara was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period by the Emishi people. During the later portion of the Heian period, the area was ruled by the Northern Fujiwara. During the Sengoku period, the area was contested by various samurai clans before the area came under the control of the Date clan of Sendai Domain during the Edo period, under the Tokugawa shogunate.