Itoda, Fukuoka

Itoda (糸田町, Itoda-machi) is a town located in Tagawa District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2023, the town had an estimated population of 8448 in 4581 households, and a population density of 830 persons per km². The total area of the town is 8.04 km² (3.10 sq mi).

Itoda 糸田町
Town
Itoda Town Office
Flag Emblem
Location of Itoda in Fukuoka Prefecture
Itoda Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°39′10″N 130°46′44″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Fukuoka
District	Tagawa
Area
• Total	8.04 km2 (3.10 sq mi)
Population  (December 31, 2023)
• Total	8,448
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1975-1 Itoda-cho, Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka-ken 822-1392
Website	Official website

Geography

Itoda is located almost in the center of Fukuoka Prefecture, in the northeastern part of the Chikuho region, approximately 50 kilometers east of Fukuoka City, approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Kitakyushu City, approximately 10 kilometers east of Iizuka City, and approximately halfway between Iizuka City and Tagawa City. The eastern part of the town is a basin, which is the urban center. The western part of the town contains mountainous region called Karasuo Pass, which was the border area connecting former Chikuzen Province and Buzen Province.

Neighboring municipalities

Fukuoka Prefecture

• Fukuchi
• Iizuka
• Tagawa

Climate

Itoda has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Itoda is 15.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1560 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.7 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Itoda is as shown below

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	15,428	—
1950	16,375	+6.1%
1960	12,398	−24.3%
1970	9,876	−20.3%
1980	10,872	+10.1%
1990	11,308	+4.0%
2000	10,469	−7.4%
2010	9,621	−8.1%
2020	8,407	−12.6%

History

The area of Itoda was part of ancient Buzen Province. During the Edo Period the area was partly under the control of Kokura Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Itoda was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on January 1, 1939.

Government

Itoda has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Itoda, collectively with the other municipalities of Tagawa District contributes two members to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Fukuoka 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

During the Meiji period, Itoda, along with the other municipalities of the Chikuho area, developed with the Kitakyushu industrial zone through coal mining, and is still considered part of to the Greater Kitakyushu Metropolitan Area. However, as the demand for coal decreased due to the energy revolution, the coal mines that had sponsored prosperity have closed, leading to depopulation. Since the 1970s, efforts have been made to maintain the economic base by creating industrial parks on former sites such as coal mines. In addition, horticultural crops such as roses, orchids, strawberries, and cherry tomatoes are cultivated, and wooden crafts are produced as special products.

Education

Itoda has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railways

Heisei Chikuhō Railway - Itoda Line

■ Buzen-Ōkuma - Matsuyama - Itoda

Highways

• Kyushu Expressway
• Higashikyushu Expressway
• National Route 201

Notable people from Itoda

• Masurao Hiroo, sumo wrestler

External links

• Media related to Itoda, Fukuoka at Wikimedia Commons
• Itoda official website (in Japanese)