Gotsu, Shimane
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Shimane Prefecture
, Japan
. It is the smallest and least populous city in Shimane Prefecture.
The city was founded on April 1, 1954. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population
of 26,034 with a density
of approximately 97 persons per km². The total area is 158.41 km². The City's economy is primarily focused on commerce.
The city lies on the sea, and offers beautiful and uncrowded beaches. The Gono River flows through the city, from the mountains to the sea. The river is the site of festivals, fireworks, and excellent fishing.
On October 1, 2004 the town of Sakurae
, from Ōchi District
, was merged into the city of Gōtsu.
Overlooking Gōtsu City is Hoshitaka Mountain, or "Star Mountain", so named for the star pattern carved into the face of the mountain. According to Gōtsu legend, the star was formed by a meteor that had fallen many years ago. A piece of this meteor was saved, and a special shrine was built at the foot of the mountain to honor the meteor. In the winter, snowfall on the mountain creates a beautiful star-shaped pattern, visible from anywhere in the city. In the spring, white azaleas bloom to form a white star, while the area bordering the star remains green. In the summer, in celebration of the Japanese Obon Festival, the star is lit up at night.
Under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of Education and the Jet Programme
, Gōtsu hosts two native English speakers each year, who teach English in the area's public schools. Gōtsu's Sister City in the United States
is Corona, California
(located near Los Angeles
).
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in Shimane Prefecture
Shimane Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is the smallest and least populous city in Shimane Prefecture.
The city was founded on April 1, 1954. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 26,034 with a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of approximately 97 persons per km². The total area is 158.41 km². The City's economy is primarily focused on commerce.
The city lies on the sea, and offers beautiful and uncrowded beaches. The Gono River flows through the city, from the mountains to the sea. The river is the site of festivals, fireworks, and excellent fishing.
On October 1, 2004 the town of Sakurae
Sakurae, Shimane
Sakurae was a town located in Ōchi District, Shimane, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,437 and a density of 31.22 persons per km². The total area was 110.10 km²....
, from Ōchi District
Ochi District, Shimane
is a district located in Shimane, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 27,648 and a density of 30.10 persons per km². The total area is 918.63 km².-Towns and villages:*Kawamoto*Misato*Ōnan-Mergers:...
, was merged into the city of Gōtsu.
Under the auspices of the Japanese Ministry of Education and the Jet Programme
JET Programme
or is a Japanese government initiative that brings college graduates—mostly native speakers of English—to Japan as Assistant Language Teachers and Sports Education Advisors in Japanese kindergartens, elementary, junior high and high schools, or as Coordinators for International Relations in...
, Gōtsu hosts two native English speakers each year, who teach English in the area's public schools. Gōtsu's Sister City in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
(located near Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
).