Nakadomari (中泊町, Nakadomari-machi) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023, the town had an estimated population of 9,981 in 4960 households,[1] and a population density of 50 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 216.34 square kilometres (83.53 sq mi).

Nakadomari
中泊町
Tatsudomari Line between Kodomari and Cape Tappi
Tatsudomari Line between Kodomari and Cape Tappi
Flag of Nakadomari
Official seal of Nakadomari
Map
Location of Nakadomari in Aomori Prefecture
Location of Nakadomari
Nakadomari is located in Japan
Nakadomari
Nakadomari
 
Coordinates: 40°57′38″N 140°26′03″E / 40.96056°N 140.43417°E / 40.96056; 140.43417
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureAomori
DistrictKitatsugaru
Area
 • Total216.34 km2 (83.53 sq mi)
Population
 (January 31, 2023)
 • Total9,981
 • Density46/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0173-57-2111
Address434 Kameyama, Nakasato, Nakadomari-machi, Kitatsugraru-gun, Aomori-ken 037-0392
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdBarn swallow
FlowerChrysanthemum
TreeHiba
Nakadomari Town Hall

Geography

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Nakadomari is in Kitatsugaru District of Aomori Prefecture, and consists of two discontinuous geographic areas in northern Tsugaru Peninsula. The larger area is in the south, and consists of the former town of Nakasato. The smaller area is in the north, and consists of the former village of Kodomari with a coastline on the Sea of Japan at the western end of Tsugaru Strait. The Kodomari Dam is located in the town.

Neighboring municipalities

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Aomori Prefecture

Climate

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Nakadomari has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nakadomari is 9.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1399 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.3 °C.[2] Snowfall typically begins in late November and lasts through March and sometimes April.[3][4] Blizzard-like conditions, created by strong winds and a heavy accumulation of snow, are common during winter.[5] During these times visibility can be reduced to several feet or less.[6]

Climate data for Nakadomari (1981-2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2)
2.3
(36.1)
5.9
(42.6)
12.0
(53.6)
16.6
(61.9)
20.6
(69.1)
24.1
(75.4)
26.7
(80.1)
23.1
(73.6)
17.3
(63.1)
10.8
(51.4)
4.8
(40.6)
13.8
(56.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.6
(25.5)
−3.5
(25.7)
−1.2
(29.8)
3.3
(37.9)
8.0
(46.4)
12.6
(54.7)
17.3
(63.1)
19.2
(66.6)
14.6
(58.3)
8.4
(47.1)
3.2
(37.8)
−1.1
(30.0)
6.4
(43.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 111.4
(4.39)
77.4
(3.05)
65.3
(2.57)
72.6
(2.86)
95.3
(3.75)
80.8
(3.18)
135.7
(5.34)
155.9
(6.14)
156.3
(6.15)
123.4
(4.86)
143.5
(5.65)
118.7
(4.67)
1,336.3
(52.61)
Source: "Japan Meteorological Agency [2]". Retrieved October 2, 2016.

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[7] the population of Nakadomari peaked around the year 1960 and has decreased steadily since then. It is now less than it was a century ago.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 12,910—    
1930 14,414+11.6%
1940 14,662+1.7%
1950 21,189+44.5%
1960 22,846+7.8%
1970 21,061−7.8%
1980 19,968−5.2%
1990 17,354−13.1%
2000 15,325−11.7%
2010 12,743−16.8%
2020 9,657−24.2%

History

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The area around Nakadomari was controlled by the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the villages of Nakasato and Komadari were created within Kitatsugaru District, Aomori. Nakasato was raised to town status on September 10,1941. The town of Nakadomari was created on March 28, 2005 as a result of the merger of Nakasato with Komadari.

Government

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Nakadomari has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town legislature of 15 members. Together with the city of Goshogawara, it contributes three members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Squid drying in Kodomari

The economy of Nakadomari is heavily dependent on agriculture, forestry and commercial fishing.

Education

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Nakasato has four public elementary schools (three in Nakasato and one in Kodomari) and two public junior high schools (one in Kodomari and one in Nakasato) operated by the town government. The town has one public high school, located in Nakasato, operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway[8]

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  Tsugaru Railway

Highway

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Local attractions

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Culture

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Nakadomari has several yearly festivals including a firefly festival,[9] summer festival[10] and winter snow festival.[11] The area is known locally for producing high quality blueberries and dried squid.[12]

Noted people from Nakadomari

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References

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  1. ^ Nakadomari Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Nakadomari climate data
  3. ^ Agency, Japan Meteorological. "JMA | Climate_Tohoku_district". www.data.jma.go.jp. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  4. ^ "気象庁|過去の気象データ検索 Japan Meteorological Agency Climate Stats (In Japanese)". www.data.jma.go.jp. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  5. ^ 青森県中泊町. "地勢と気象 - 青森県中泊町". www.town.nakadomari.lg.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  6. ^ satokou46 (2014-03-10), Video of someone driving in Kitatsugaru during blizard-like conditions caused by high winds., archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2016-10-03{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Nakadomari population statistics
  8. ^ "津軽鉄道 株式会社". tsutetsu.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  9. ^ "Nakadomari Town Magazine August 2016" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Nakadomari Town Magazine August 2016 (in Japanese)" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Nakadomari Town Magazine March 2016" (PDF).
  12. ^ 青森県中泊町. "特産品 - 青森県中泊町 Nakadomari Famous Goods (in Japanese)". www.town.nakadomari.lg.jp. Retrieved 2016-10-03.