Kakunodate, Akita
Encyclopedia
Kakunodate is a town
located in Senboku
, a city in Akita
, Japan
. Before Senboku became a city, Kakunodate was located in Senboku District
.
On September 20, 2005 the town merged with the town of Tazawako
and the village of Nishiki
to form the new city of Semboku.
In 2003, the town had an estimated population
of 14,138 and a density
of 90.26 persons per km². The total area was 156.63 km².
The town is famed for its well-preserved samurai
houses and the proliferation of cherry trees
. It is a popular destination for hanami
, or cherry blossom viewing. It is sometimes referred as 'the little Kyoto
of Tohoku' (みちのくの小京都 Michinoku no sho-kyoto).
There are the ruins of Kakunodate Castle
and Kakunodate Matsuri
is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Senboku
Senboku, Akita
is a city located in Akita, Japan.- The city of Semboku :Semboku was created on September 20, 2005 from the merger of Kakunodate, Tazawako, and Nishiki, all from Senboku District...
, a city in Akita
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
, 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...
. Before Senboku became a city, Kakunodate was located in Senboku District
Senboku District, Akita
is a district located in Akita, Japan. In 2005, the district has an estimated population of 23,757 and a density of 141.58 persons per km². The total area is 167.80 km².-Mergers:...
.
On September 20, 2005 the town merged with the town of Tazawako
Tazawako, Akita
Tazawako was a town located in Senboku District, Akita, Japan.On September 20, 2005 the town merged with the town of Kakunodate and the village of Nishiki to form the new city of Semboku....
and the village of Nishiki
Nishiki, Akita
Nishiki was a village located in Senboku District, Akita, Japan.On September 20, 2005 the village merged with the towns of Kakunodate and Tazawako to form the new city of Semboku....
to form the new city of Semboku.
In 2003, the town had 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 14,138 and 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 90.26 persons per km². The total area was 156.63 km².
The town is famed for its well-preserved samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
houses and the proliferation of cherry trees
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
. It is a popular destination for hanami
Hanami
is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms or ume blossoms. From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan, and around the first of February on the island of Okinawa...
, or cherry blossom viewing. It is sometimes referred as 'the little Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
of Tohoku' (みちのくの小京都 Michinoku no sho-kyoto).
There are the ruins of Kakunodate Castle
Kakunodate Castle
, also known as Asakura Castle and Ryugasaki Castle, was a mountaintop castle located in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, Japan. Its roots can be traced to when Moriyasu Tozawa was given the area in 1590, though it may have been constructed prior to this. Due to a Shogunal decree that each domain was...
and Kakunodate Matsuri
Kakunodate Matsuri
is a Japanese festival celebrated from 7-9 September in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture. Its rites centre on Shinmeisha shrine. As well as a procession and traditional dances it is celebrated for the oyamabayashi when the floats collide into each other...
is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.