Ōmachi (大町市, Ōmachi-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2019[update], the city had an estimated population of 27,559 in 11861 households,[1] and a population density of 49 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 565.15 square kilometres (218.21 sq mi).
Ōmachi is located west of Nagano, the capital of Nagano Prefecture, in the Daihoku District (大北地域, Daihoku-chiiki) of the prefecture. The 3000 meter Northern Japanese Alps (or Hida Mountains) are to the west ranges to the west of the city and mountains of around 1000 meters form the eastern border. The Takase River runs through the city, which is located in the northern Matsumoto basin.
The Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line active fault system is also running through the city.
Due to its elevation, the city has a Köppen climate classification Dfa climate. Winters are cold and very snowy, while summers are very warm and wet. The average annual temperature in Ōmachi is 9.7 °C (49.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,405.9 mm (55.35 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.4 °C (72.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.8 °C (27.0 °F).[2]
The area of present-day Ōmachi was part of ancient Shinano Province. The area was part of the holdings of Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The modern town of Ōmachi was established with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It merged with the neighboring villages of Taira, Tokiwa and Yashiro on July 1, 1954 to form the city of Ōmachi. On January 1, 2006, the villages of Miasa and Yasaka (both from Kitaazumi District) were merged into Ōmachi.
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ōmachi has been declining over the past 40 years.
Ōmachi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members. The city contributes one member to the Nagano Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Ōmachi is grouped with Matsumoto, Azumino, Higashichikuma District, Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Nagano, Kamiminochi District, Nagano and part of the city of Nagano to form Nagano 2nd District in the lower house of the National Diet.
Ōmachi is a regional commercial center and a producer of aluminum, cotton thread and rice. Seasonal tourism to the mountains is also an important source of local income.[5]
Ōmachi has five public elementary schools, three public middle schools and one combined elementary/middle school operated by the city government. There are two public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.
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East Japan Railway Company - Ōito Line
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