Ogano, Saitama

Ogano (小鹿野町, Ogano-machi) is a town located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2021, the town had an estimated population of 11,192 in 4657 households and a population density of 65 persons per km². The total area of the town is 171.26 square kilometres (66.12 sq mi). Parts of the town are within the borders of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

Ogano 小鹿野町
Town
Ogano town office
Flag Seal
Location of Ogano in Saitama Prefecture
Ogano
Coordinates: 36°1′1.6″N 139°0′30.9″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama
District	Chichibu
Area
• Total	171.26 km2 (66.12 sq mi)
Population  (February 2021)
• Total	11,192
• Density	65/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Acer
- Flower	Shibateranthis pinnatifida
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0494-75-1221
Address	Ogano 89, Ogano-cho, Chichibu-gun, Saitama-ken 368-0192
Website	Official website

Geography

Ogano is located in the mountainous far western Saitama Prefecture, surrounded by the city of Chichibu on the north, east and south and by Gunma Prefecture to the west.

Surrounding municipalities

Gunma Prefecture

• Kanna
• Ueno

Saitama Prefecture

• Chichibu

Climate

Ogano has an oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ogano is 10.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2222 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 21.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around minus 1.2 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ogose has declined at an accelerating rate in recent decades.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	18,256	—
1930	18,625	+2.0%
1940	17,777	−4.6%
1950	20,282	+14.1%
1960	18,723	−7.7%
1970	16,477	−12.0%
1980	16,190	−1.7%
1990	15,919	−1.7%
2000	15,061	−5.4%
2010	13,436	−10.8%
2020	10,928	−18.7%

History

The town of Ogano was created within Chichibu District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, and annexed the neighboring village of Nagawaka on April 1, 1955, followed by the villages of Mitagawa and Kurao on March 31, 1956. On October 1, 2005 the village of Ryōkami was merged into Ogano.

Government

Ogano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Ogano, together with the towns of Higashichichibu, Minano, Nagatoro and Yokoze, contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Saitama 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Ogano is largely a bedroom community due to its proximity to the city of Chichibu.

Education

Ogano has four public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education..

Transportation

Railway

Ogano has no passenger rail service. The nearest station is Chichibu Station, in the neighboring city of Chichibu.

Highway

• National Route 299

Local attractions

• Chichibu 34 Kannon Sanctuary
• Chichibu Muse Park
• Mount Ryōkami (one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains)
• Ogano Kabuki Theater

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)