Naka-ku, Nagoya

Naka Ward (中区, Naka-ku, "Middle Ward") is one of the 16 wards of the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the ward has an estimated population of 90,918 and a population density of 9,693 persons per km2. The total area is 9.38 km2.

Naka
中区
Ward
Naka Ward

Nagoya Castle
Sakae area from Midland Square
Flag of Naka
Flag

Emblem（November 1987- ）[1]
Location of Naka-ku in Nagoya
Location of Naka-ku in Nagoya
Naka is located in Japan
Naka
Naka
 
Coordinates: 35°10′7″N 136°54′37″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōkai region
Chūbu region
PrefectureAichi
EstablishedApril 1, 1908
Area
 • Total9.38 km2 (3.62 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2019)
 • Total90,918
 • Density9,700/km2 (25,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeGinkgo biloba[2]
- FlowerPansy
Phone number052-241-3601
AddressSakae 4-chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 464-8644
Websitewww.city.nagoya.jp/naka/ (in Japanese)
Naka Ward Office

Geography

Naka Ward is located in the center of Nagoya city. Largely hemmed in by Sakura-dōri (桜通り), Ōtsu-dōri (大津通り), Fushimi-dōri (伏見通り) and Tsurumai-dōri (鶴舞通り), it contains the main shopping area of Sakae which includes a massive air-conditioned 5 square-kilometer underground mall and the 'after-five' semi-red light districts of Nishiki and Shin-sakae.

Surrounding municipalities

History

Naka Ward was one of the original four wards of the city of Nagoya, established on April 1, 1908. On February 1, 1944, a portion of Naka Ward was divided out to become Sakae Ward (栄区, Sakae-ku), but was merged back into Naka Ward on November 3, 1945. Most of the area was completely destroyed during the bombing of Nagoya in World War II. After the war, the layout of the streets was changed to a grid pattern, with wide streets serving as firebreaks. The city is especially proud of Sakae's 100-meter road (100メートル道路) so named because of its width. There are small parks and areas for public performances in the area between two four-lane roads that service the city centre. The road is about 100 m (328 ft) in width, and 1 km (0.6 mi) in length.

Until the 1980s, town-planners were not allowed to build structures more than six stories in height outside of the business districts.

Economy

In addition the Sakae shopping area, there is also Ōsu, a sprawling old-style small-trader shopping area spreading out from the large Ōsu Kannon (大須観音), a Buddhist temple that holds flea markets. The covered streets housing numerous restaurants and stores selling fashion garments, electronics and alternative medicine give a small taste of what Japan might have been like before modernization. Between Ōsu and Sakae in Shirakawa Park are the city's Science and Modern Art museums. South of Ōsu is Kanayama Station (straddling the border with Atsuta-ku and Nakagawa-ku), Nagoya's second-most important rail transportation hub after Nagoya Station and a major access point for the Central Japan International Airport. Many izakayas and pachinko parlors can be found in its vicinity.

Naka-ku is also home to the city's Opera House and the main government offices, including the Nagoya City Hall and the Aichi Prefectural Government Office.

When Matsuzakaya was an independent company, its headquarters were in Naka-ku.[3]

Fushimi is the traditional commercial area.

Education

Transportation

Railroads

Highways

Notable local attractions

Noted people from Naka-ku, Nagoya

References
  1. "名古屋市:区章 区の花 区の木（中区）". 中区役所区民生活部まちづくり推進室まちづくり推進係. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  2. 区章　区の花　区の木 (in Japanese). Nagoya City. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  3. "役員・会社概要." Matsuzakaya. May 17, 2001. Retrieved on December 15, 2010. "本社 名古屋市中区栄三丁目１６番１号."
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naka-ku, Nagoya.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.