Ogawa (小川村, Ogawa-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the village had an estimated population of 2,585 in 1074 households,[1] and a population density of 44 persons per km2. The total area of the village is 58.11 square kilometres (22.44 sq mi). Ogawa is listed as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.[2]

Ogawa
小川村
Ogawa Village Hall
Ogawa Village Hall
Flag of Ogawa
Official seal of Ogawa
Location of Ogawa in Nagano Prefecture
Location of Ogawa in Nagano Prefecture
Ogawa is located in Japan
Ogawa
Ogawa
 
Coordinates: 36°37′2″N 137°58′29″E / 36.61722°N 137.97472°E / 36.61722; 137.97472
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
PrefectureNagano
DistrictKamiminochi
Area
 • Total
58.11 km2 (22.44 sq mi)
Population
 (April 2019)
 • Total
2,585
 • Density44/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
Phone number026-269-2323
Address8800-8 Takafu, Ogawa-mura, Kamiminochi-gun, Nagano-ken 381-3302
WebsiteOfficial website
Furusato Land Ogawa

Geography

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Ogawa is located in the mountains of northwestern Nagano Prefecture.

Surrounding municipalities

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Climate

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The village has a humid continental climate characterized by short, hot and humid summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Ogawa is 10.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1273 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.3 °C.[3]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ogawa has declined by more than three-quarters from its peak around 1950.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 8,846—    
1950 9,436+6.7%
1960 8,283−12.2%
1970 6,163−25.6%
1980 5,132−16.7%
1990 4,133−19.5%
2000 3,620−12.4%
2010 3,046−15.9%
2020 2,215−27.3%

History

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The area of present-day Ogawa was part of ancient Shinano Province. The villages of Kita-Ogawa and Minami-Ogawa were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two villages merged to form the village of Ogawa on April 1, 1955.

Economy

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The economy of Ogawa is agricultural, primarily rice cultivation and horticulture.

Education

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Ogawa has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railway

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  • Ogawa does not have any passenger railway service.

Highway

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Local attractions

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  • Furusato Land Ogawa, local history museum

References

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