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Towada, Aomori

Towada
十和田市
City
Oirase Valley in Towada
Oirase Valley in Towada
Flag of Towada
Flag
Official seal of Towada
Seal
Location of Towada in Aomori Prefecture
Location of Towada in Aomori Prefecture
Towada is located in Japan
Towada
Towada
 
Coordinates: 40°36′45.7″N 141°12′21.1″E / 40.612694°N 141.205861°E / 40.612694; 141.205861Coordinates: 40°36′45.7″N 141°12′21.1″E / 40.612694°N 141.205861°E / 40.612694; 141.205861
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Aomori Prefecture
Government
 • - Mayor Hisashi Oyamada (since January 2009)
Area
 • Total 725.65 km2 (280.18 sq mi)
Population (September 1, 2015)
 • Total 63,340
 • Density 87.3/km2 (226/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Japanese Red Pine
- Flower Azalea
Phone number 0176-23-5111
Address 6-1 Nishi Jūniban-chō, Towada-shi, Aomori-ken
034-8615
Website Official website

Towada (十和田市 Towada-shi?) is a city located in central Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 63,340 and a population density of 87.3 persons per km². The total area was 725.65 square kilometres (280.18 sq mi).

Towada is located in the foothills of the Hakkoda Mountains and encompasses the Aomori portion of Lake Towada. The Oirase River passes through the town. The city has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. Part of the city is within the limits of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

The area around present-day Towada was formerly a wasteland known as Sanbongihara (三本木原?), which became the location of a colonization and land reclamation project initiated by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain from 1855. The project was headed by Nitobe Tsutō, the grandfather of Inazō Nitobe. The project was continued by the Meiji government, and the area was designated a ranch area for breeding cavalry horses by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1885. The inclement climate of the area was considered ideal for breeding horses that would be suitable for use in the cold climate areas of Manchuria and Siberia. On September 1, 1910, Sanbongi was designated a town. It was elevated to the status of a city on February 1, 1955. In October 1956, it changed its name to “Towada”.


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