Kotohira, Kagawa

Kotohira (琴平町, Kotohira-chō) is a town located in Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2022, the town had an estimated population of 8,105 in 3618 households and a population density of 960 persons per km².[1] The total area of the town is 8.47 square kilometres (3.27 sq mi). The town is best known as the site of Shikoku's largest shrine complex, the Kotohira Shrine (popularly known as Konpira-san).

Kotohira
琴平町
Town
Kotohira Shrine
Kotohira Shrine
Flag of Kotohira
Flag
Official seal of Kotohira
Emblem
Location of Kotohira in Kagawa Prefecture
Location of Kotohira
Kotohira is located in Japan
Kotohira
Kotohira
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°12′07″N 133°49′36″E
CountryJapan
RegionShikoku
PrefectureKagawa
DistrictNakatado
Government
 • MayorHideki Kataoka
Area
 • Total8.47 km2 (3.27 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2022)
 • Total8,105
 • Density960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address817-10 Enokii, Kotohira-chō, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa-ken 985-8501
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerMichelsa compressa
TreeCherry blossom
Kotohira Town Hall

Geography

Kotohira is located in southwestern Kagawa Prefecture. The west side of the town area runs along the foot of Mt.Kotohira

Neighbouring municipalities

Kagawa Prefecture

Climate

Kotohira has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kotohira is 15.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1439 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.7 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Kotohira has been declining steadily since the 1960s.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 14,839—    
1970 14,324−3.5%
1980 13,807−3.6%
1990 12,632−8.5%
2000 11,335−10.3%
2010 9,974−12.0%

History

The area of Kotohira was part of ancient Sanuki Province. The town developed as a market before the gates of the Kotohira Shrine, which has attracted pilgrims since prehistoric times. During the Edo Period, the area was tenryō territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Kotohira was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on February 15, 1890. Kotohira annexed the village of Enai on April 1,1955.

Government

Kotohira has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 10 members. Kotohira, together with Mannō, contributes two members to the Kagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kagawa 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

As the monzenmachi of the Korohira Shrine, the local economy is heavily centered on tourism.

Education

Kotohira has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high schools operated by the Kagawa Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Shikoku Railway Company - Dosan Line

Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad Kotoden Kotohira Line

Highways

Local attractions

References
  1. "Kotohira town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. Kotohira climate data
  3. Kotohira population statistics
  4. "Kotohira". www.japan-guide.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
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