Towada

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title: "Towada" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["towada,-aomori", "cities-in-aomori-prefecture"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towada" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameTowada
native_name十和田市
native_name_langja
settlement_typeCity
image_skyline300px
imagesize300px
image_captionLake Towada from the Ohanabeyama Observatory
image_flagFlag of Towada, Aomori.svg
image_sealEmblem of Towada, Aomori.svg
image_map
image_map1Towada in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg
map_captionLocation of Towada in Aomori Prefecture
pushpin_mapJapan
pushpin_label_position
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Japan
coordinates
coor_pinpoint
coordinates_footnotestags --
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameJapan
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Tōhoku
subdivision_type2Prefecture
subdivision_name2Aomori
established_title
seat_type
government_footnotestags --
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameYuriko Sakurada
(since January 2025)
leader_name1
total_type
unit_pref
area_magnitude
area_footnotestags --
area_total_km2725.65
elevation_footnotestags --
population_footnotestags --
population_total56,766
population_as_ofOctober 31, 2025
population_density_km2auto
population_demonym
timezone1Japan Standard Time
utc_offset1+9
area_code_type
blank_name_sec1Phone number
blank_info_sec10176-23-5111
blank1_name_sec1Address
blank1_info_sec16-1 Nishi Jūniban-chō, Towada-shi, Aomori-ken 034-8615
blank_name_sec2Climate
blank_info_sec2Cfa/Dfa
website
module{{Infobox place symbols
treeMaple
flowerSakura
::

| name = Towada | native_name = 十和田市 | official_name = | native_name_lang = ja | settlement_type = City | image_skyline = 300px | imagesize = 300px | image_alt = | image_caption = Lake Towada from the Ohanabeyama Observatory | image_flag = Flag of Towada, Aomori.svg | flag_alt = | image_seal = Emblem of Towada, Aomori.svg | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | image_blank_emblem = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = | image_map1 = Towada in Aomori Prefecture Ja.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Towada in Aomori Prefecture | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan | coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = tags -- | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Tōhoku | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Aomori | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | named_for = | seat_type = | seat = | government_footnotes = tags -- | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Yuriko Sakurada (since January 2025) | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | total_type = | unit_pref = | area_magnitude = | area_footnotes = tags -- | area_total_km2 = 725.65 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = tags -- | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = tags -- | population_total = 56,766 | population_as_of = October 31, 2025 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | population_demonym = | population_note = | timezone1 = Japan Standard Time | utc_offset1 = +9 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | blank_name_sec1 = Phone number | blank_info_sec1 = 0176-23-5111 | blank1_name_sec1 = Address | blank1_info_sec1 = 6-1 Nishi Jūniban-chō, Towada-shi, Aomori-ken 034-8615 | blank_name_sec2 = Climate | blank_info_sec2 = Cfa/Dfa | website = | footnotes = | module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes | tree = Maple | flower = Sakura | bird = | flowering_tree = | butterfly = | fish = | other_symbols = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Oirase_(奧入瀨)_(3800529489).jpg" caption="Oirase River"] ::

Towada is a city in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 56,766 in 28222 households, and a population density of 78 persons per km2 The total area of the city is 725.65 sqkm.Towada is home to the national and prefectural agencies that administer the Kamikita region, and is the central city of the region. In October 2012, the city signed an agreement with nine surrounding municipalities to improve the living environment, and has a cooperative relationship with Misawa City, which has an airport and a U.S. Air Force base.

Geography

Towada is in the foothills of the Hakkōda Mountains and encompasses the Aomori portion of Lake Towada. The Oirase River passes through the town. Towada is an area rich in nature. To the west are Towada-Hachimantai National Park. In particular, Lake Towada and the Oirase River are famous tourist spots. As for industry, agriculture is thriving, and the city produces the largest amount of garlic in Japan.

More than half of the population of about 60,000 lives in the eastern urban area (Sanbongi area), with the central part of the city is characterized by its orderly grid-like streets. In particular, "Government Office Street" is a popular place for citizens to enjoy the Someiyoshino (Japanese cherry) trees planted along the street. In recent years, the city has been promoting its urban policy as a "Arts Towada," with the Towada Art Center (Art museum) as its centerpiece. The rest of the population is scattered in hamlets along the Oirase River and in the hilly western areas of the city.

The northwestern part of the city is at the foot of Mount Hakkōda, and has numerous hot springs, The southwestern part of the city is also mountainous, and contains Lake Towada, which is a caldera lake, and Mount Ohanabe and Mount Towada, which are the outer rims. The Oirase River, the only outlet from Lake Towada, flows northeast from Nenokuchi on the east bank of Lake Towada. Water from the foot of Mount Hakkoda, which is located about 20 kilometers north, also flows into the Oirase River. About 14 kilometers from Nenokuchi to Mount Yakeyama in Oirase River is called the Oirase Gorge.

Neighboring municipalities

Akita Prefecture

Climate

The city has a cold humid climate characterized by cool summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Towada is 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1233 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.3 °C. Part of the city is within the limits of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

|width=auto |collapsed = Y |single line = Y |metric first = Y |location = Towada (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) |Jan record high C = 14.2 |Feb record high C = 16.5 |Mar record high C = 21.0 |Apr record high C = 28.0 |May record high C = 33.2 |Jun record high C = 33.8 |Jul record high C = 35.8 |Aug record high C = 35.6 |Sep record high C = 35.1 |Oct record high C = 27.8 |Nov record high C = 24.3 |Dec record high C = 19.3 |Jan record low C = -20.1 |Feb record low C = -19.7 |Mar record low C = -16.7 |Apr record low C = -9.8 |May record low C = -2.5 |Jun record low C = 1.2 |Jul record low C = 6.9 |Aug record low C = 8.8 |Sep record low C = 3.6 |Oct record low C = -1.5 |Nov record low C = -8.7 |Dec record low C = -15.3 |Jan high C = 1.9 |Feb high C = 2.7 |Mar high C = 6.9 |Apr high C = 13.7 |May high C = 19.0 |Jun high C = 21.7 |Jul high C = 25.1 |Aug high C = 26.7 |Sep high C = 23.6 |Oct high C = 18.0 |Nov high C = 11.3 |Dec high C = 4.6 |Jan mean C = -1.7 |Feb mean C = -1.3 |Mar mean C = 2.2 |Apr mean C = 8.0 |May mean C = 13.4 |Jun mean C = 16.8 |Jul mean C = 20.6 |Aug mean C = 22.1 |Sep mean C = 18.5 |Oct mean C = 12.3 |Nov mean C = 6.3 |Dec mean C = 0.6 |Jan low C = -6.2 |Feb low C = -6.2 |Mar low C = -2.6 |Apr low C = 2.1 |May low C = 7.9 |Jun low C = 12.5 |Jul low C = 17.1 |Aug low C = 18.3 |Sep low C = 13.9 |Oct low C = 6.8 |Nov low C = 1.2 |Dec low C = -3.5 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 37.8 |Feb precipitation mm = 35.2 |Mar precipitation mm = 50.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 59.7 |May precipitation mm = 80.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 94.3 |Jul precipitation mm = 146.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 159.8 |Sep precipitation mm = 159.9 |Oct precipitation mm = 108.8 |Nov precipitation mm = 58.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 51.2 |year precipitation mm = 1031.1 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 7.8 |Feb precipitation days = 7.9 |Mar precipitation days = 7.9 |Apr precipitation days = 8.5 |May precipitation days = 9.6 |Jun precipitation days = 9.2 |Jul precipitation days = 11.1 |Aug precipitation days = 11.3 |Sep precipitation days = 10.5 |Oct precipitation days = 9.0 |Nov precipitation days = 9.6 |Dec precipitation days = 8.9 |Jan snow cm = 125 |Feb snow cm = 116 |Mar snow cm = 73 |Apr snow cm = 3 |May snow cm = 0 |Jun snow cm = 0 |Jul snow cm = 0 |Aug snow cm = 0 |Sep snow cm = 0 |Oct snow cm = 0 |Nov snow cm = 10 |Dec snow cm = 72 |year snow cm = 395 |unit snow days = 3 cm |Jan snow days = 15.2 |Feb snow days = 15.3 |Mar snow days = 8.6 |Apr snow days = 0.5 |May snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0 |Nov snow days = 1.2 |Dec snow days = 8.3 |Jan sun = 115.4 |Feb sun = 121.4 |Mar sun = 168.7 |Apr sun = 186.7 |May sun = 197.8 |Jun sun = 158.3 |Jul sun = 132.8 |Aug sun = 149.3 |Sep sun = 140.6 |Oct sun = 150.6 |Nov sun = 128.8 |Dec sun = 109.9 |year sun = 1755.1 |source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=31&block_no=0172&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 4, 2022}}{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=31&block_no=0172&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 4, 2022}}}}

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Towada peaked at around the year 2000, and has been in decline since.

| percentages = pagr | align = none | cols = 2 | 1920 | 25,840 | 1930 | 31,896 | 1940 | 39,767 | 1950 | 49,125 | 1960 | 56,232 | 1970 | 59,719 | 1980 | 67,050 | 1990 | 68,097 | 2000 | 69,630 | 2010 | 66,123 | 2020 | 60,378 | footnote =

History

The area around present-day Towada was formerly a wasteland known as Sanbongihara, which became the location of a colonization and land reclamation project initiated by the Nambu clan of Morioka Domain from 1855. The project was headed by Nitobe Tsutō, the grandfather of Inazō Nitobe. The project was continued by the Meiji government, and the area was designated a ranch area for breeding cavalry horses by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1885. The inclement climate of the area was considered ideal for breeding horses that would be suitable for use in the cold climate areas of Manchuria and Siberia. The village of Sanbongi was established with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 1, 1910, Sanbongi was designated a town. It was elevated to the status of a city on February 1, 1955. In October 1956, it changed its name to “Towada”.

On January 1, 2005, the town of Towadako (from Kamikita District) was merged into Towada.

Government

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Towada_City_Hall_Main_Building.jpg" caption="Towada City Hall"] ::

Towada has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. Towada contributes two members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Towada is based largely on agriculture.

Education

Colleges and universities

High schools

Towada has three public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.

  • Sanbongi Agriculture High School
  • Sanbongi High School
  • Towada Technical High School

Elementary schools and middle schools

There are 15 public elementary schools and nine public middle schools in Towada operated by the municipal government, and one middle school operated by the prefectural government.

Transportation

Railway

Towada currently has no passenger railway service. The Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line connecting Towada with Misawa had five stations within the city. It was discontinued in 2012 and replaced by a bus service.

Highway

Local attractions

奧入瀨川 Oirase River - panoramio (3).jpg|奧入瀨川 Oirase River Towada Art Center in Aomori.jpg|Towada Art Centr Towada Public library.jpg|Towada Public Library

International relations

Notable people from Towada

References

References

  1. "Towada city official statistics".
  2. [https://en.climate-data.org/location/5401/ Towada climate data]
  3. [https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-aomori.php Towada population statistics]
  4. "Towada City Assembly home page".
  5. "Towada City Board of Education".
  6. [http://www.mori-taki-nagisa.jp/100/waterfall/index.html Ministry of Environment]
  7. "100 Soundscapes of Japan". [[Ministry of the Environment (Japan).
  8. "Collection". Towada Art Center.
  9. [http://www.lethbridgetwinningsociety.com Lethbridge Twinning Society homepage]

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towada,-aomoricities-in-aomori-prefecture