Nagaoka, Niigata
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture
, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata
. Nagaoka is located at longitude 138°E
and latitude 37°N
.
The size of Nagaoka increased on April 1, 2005, when the town of Oguni
, from Kariwa District
, the village of Yamakoshi
, from Koshi District
, the town of Nakanoshima
, from Minamikanbara District
, and the towns of Koshiji
and Mishima
, both from Santō District
, were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. As of June 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 237,115 and a density
of 450.88 persons per km². The total area is 525.89 km².
It once again increased on January 1, 2006, when the city of Tochio
, the towns of Teradomari
and Yoita
, and the village of Washima
, all from Santō District
, were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. As of November 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 283,343 and a density of 318.83 persons per km². The total area is 890.91 km².
region. It is 80 minutes from Tokyo
by way of the Joetsu Shinkansen
or 3 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway
. Nagaoka was an inland city until January 1, 2006 when the city merged with four municipalities-two were touching the Sea of Japan
. The current Nagaoka now touches the Sea of Japan
on the north and after the merger, it is still considered a strategic traffic point in the region. The Shinano River
flows through it from south to north and industrial development occurs on both banks of the river. The Higashiyama mountain range lies to the east.
However, Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.
. The former Nagaoka City Hall is still used as their city hall after the 2006 mergers.
appointed Naoyori Hori lord of Nagaoka-han in 1616. Hori established the castle town of Nagaoka and built a castle in the Zaôdô area on the Shinano River
. However, this area was prone to flooding and a new castle was built at the site of present-day Nagaoka Station by 1617.
Nagaoka flourished as a castle town under the reign of the 13 generations of the Makino clan of the Edo period
. In the Boshin War
of 1868 during the Meiji Restoration
, clan military general Tsuginosuke Kawai lead the forces of Nagaoka against the Meiji Government. Nagaoka was defeated and the city was reduced to rubble. A gift of one hundred sacks of rice from a neighboring province was sold to finance a new school during the reconstruction of Nagaoka, from which the anecdote of Kome Hyappyo
was born.
The town of Nagaoka and surrounding clan holdings became part of Kashiwazaki Prefecture (now Niigata Prefecture
) at the beginning of the Meiji period
. The modern municipality of Nagaoka was established on April 1, 1906.
instruments and the machine tool
s.
, United States
(November 9, 1987) Trier
, Germany
(April 1, 2006) Romainmôtier-Envy
, Switzerland
(April 1, 2006)
are the primary means of civic transportation. The city has a wide network of bus routes, with Nagaoka Station as the hub. Most of the roadways are improved and the pavement is top class in the nation. Nagaoka's location in the center of the prefecture makes it an important transportation junction, with rail lines and roadways from the east splitting in Nagaoka to go to Niigata
and Joetsu
.
serves the city of Nagaoka with the Joetsu Shinkansen
as well as two traditional rail lines, the Joetsu Line
and the Shinetsu Main Line. Nagaoka Station is the primary railroad station
in Nagaoka, and there are also several smaller stations.
A private railway
managed by Echigo Kotsu once served Nagaoka with two rail lines, but they have since been abandoned.
A monorail
system was proposed for Nagaoka, but it was not implemented.
service in Nagaoka is managed by Echigo Kotsu. The bus terminal located at the east entrance of Nagaoka Station serves as the hub for the route network. Service extends to all parts of the city as well as many outlying suburban areas and villages.
A high-speed bus service connecting Nagaoka Station to Niigata, Niigata
Station runs at intervals of approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, highway bus service is available to all major cities in the prefecture as well as Tokyo.
s.
A new regional highway called the Nagaoka East-and-West Road is currently being constructed. It will eventually include the longest bridge over the Shinano River
.
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 the central part of Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
. Nagaoka is located at longitude 138°E
138th meridian east
The meridian 138° east of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....
and latitude 37°N
37th parallel north
The 37th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 37 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
.
The size of Nagaoka increased on April 1, 2005, when the town of Oguni
Oguni, Niigata
Oguni was a town located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,044 and a density of 81.76 persons per km²...
, from Kariwa District
Kariwa District, Niigata
is a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of April 1, 2005, the district has an estimated population of 4,836 and a density of 184.02 persons per km². The total area is 26.28 km²....
, the village of Yamakoshi
Yamakoshi, Niigata
Yamakoshi was a village located in Koshi District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 2,035 and a density of 51.09 persons per km²...
, from Koshi District
Koshi District, Niigata
Koshi was a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the district had an estimated population of 2,035 and a density of 51.09 persons per km². The total area is 39.83 km².-Merger and dissolution:...
, the town of Nakanoshima
Nakanoshima, Niigata
Nakanoshima was a town located in Minamikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,503 and a density of 293.84 persons per km²...
, from Minamikanbara District
MinamiKanbara District, Niigata
is a district located in Niigata, Japan.When the district was formed back in the Meiji Period, the district covered the cities of Sanjō and Mitsuke, the town of Tagami, and parts of Kamo and the northern part of Nagaoka....
, and the towns of Koshiji
Koshiji, Niigata
Koshiji was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 14,160 and a density of 242.30 persons per km²...
and Mishima
Mishima, Niigata
Mishima was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 7,535 and a density of 206.61 persons per km²...
, both from Santō District
Santo District, Niigata
is a district located in Niigata, Japan.- History :* Before the Edo Period, Santō District was part of the now-defunct Koshi District.* On April 1, 2005 the towns of Koshiji and Mishima merged into the city of Nagaoka....
, were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. As of June 1, 2005, the city has an estimated population of 237,115 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 450.88 persons per km². The total area is 525.89 km².
It once again increased on January 1, 2006, when the city of Tochio
Tochio, Niigata
was a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1954.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 23,855 and the density of 116.41 persons per km²...
, the towns of Teradomari
Teradomari, Niigata
was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,766 and a density of 202.30 persons per km². The total area was 58.16 km²....
and Yoita
Yoita, Niigata
was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,380 and a density of 368.08 persons per km². The total area was 20.05 km²....
, and the village of Washima
Washima, Niigata
Washima was a village located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 4,814 and a density of 151.10 persons per km². The total area was 31.86 km²....
, all from Santō District
Santo District, Niigata
is a district located in Niigata, Japan.- History :* Before the Edo Period, Santō District was part of the now-defunct Koshi District.* On April 1, 2005 the towns of Koshiji and Mishima merged into the city of Nagaoka....
, were absorbed into the city of Nagaoka. As of November 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 283,343 and a density of 318.83 persons per km². The total area is 890.91 km².
Geography
Nagaoka is located in the center of Niigata prefecture and the surrounding ChūetsuChuetsu
is the name of an area in central Niigata Prefecture. The word chūetsu is an abbreviation for central Echigo Province.It is an important rice-growing region...
region. It is 80 minutes from Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
by way of the Joetsu Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
or 3 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway
Kan-Etsu Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming: is the kanji acronym of and the old comprising modern-day Niigata Prefecture....
. Nagaoka was an inland city until January 1, 2006 when the city merged with four municipalities-two were touching the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
. The current Nagaoka now touches the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
on the north and after the merger, it is still considered a strategic traffic point in the region. The Shinano River
Shinano River
The Shinano River is the longest and largest river in Japan. It flows from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture. It is called the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture....
flows through it from south to north and industrial development occurs on both banks of the river. The Higashiyama mountain range lies to the east.
Adjoining communities
From the north, following Nagaoka's border counterclockwise:- TsubameTsubame, Niigatais a city located in Niigata, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 1954 by merging with 4 towns and villages. Nearly 52 years later on March 20, 2006, the old Tsubame merged with Bunsui and Yoshida from Nishikanbara District to form the new city of Tsubame....
- YahikoYahiko, Niigatais a village in Nishikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.It is the only village left in its district after the two towns from the same district merged into the city of Tsubame on March 20, 2006. Yahiko lies on the south side of Mt. Yahiko. This mountain and nearby Mt...
, Nishikanbara DistrictNishikanbara District, Niigatais a district located in Niigata, Japan.As of March 20, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 8,537. The total area is 25.22 km².- Towns and villages :On March 20, 2006, the towns of Bunsui and Yoshida merged with the former city of Tsubame... - NiigataNiigata, Niigatais the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
- IzumozakiIzumozaki, Niigatais a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 5,565 and a density of 125.39 persons per km². The total area is 44.38 km².-External links:*...
, Santō DistrictSanto District, Niigatais a district located in Niigata, Japan.- History :* Before the Edo Period, Santō District was part of the now-defunct Koshi District.* On April 1, 2005 the towns of Koshiji and Mishima merged into the city of Nagaoka.... - KashiwazakiKashiwazaki, Niigatais a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of May 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,947 and the density of 210 persons per km². The total area is 442.70 km²....
- KariwaKariwa, Niigatais a village located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.As of March 31, 2007, the village has a population of 4,997 and a density of 190.14 persons per km²...
- TōkamachiTokamachi, Niigatais a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of November 31, 2010, the new city has an estimated population of 60,164. The total area of the new city is 589.92 km², including the post-Creation undefined boundary areas....
- OjiyaOjiya, Niigatais a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of July 16, 2003, the city has an estimated population of 40,342. The total area is 155.12 km².-History:*The city was founded on March 10, 1954....
- UonumaUonuma, Niigatais a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...
- SanjōSanjo, Niigatais a city located in central part of Niigata, Japan. The city has a Jōetsu Shinkansen stop at Tsubame-Sanjō Station.- Geography :Sanjō is located in the center of Niigata prefecture. It is about 2 hours from Tokyo by way of the Jōetsu Shinkansen or 4 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Hokuriku...
- MitsukeMitsuke, Niigatais a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 43,289 and the density of 555.56 persons per km². The total area is 77.92 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954.-External links:* in Japanese...
However, Sado Island is connected by sea and air routes.
Data of the former city of Nagaoka
Nagaoka was an inland city, but after the double decker mergers held in 2005 and 2006, the city of Nagaoka is now connected to the Sea of JapanSea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
. The former Nagaoka City Hall is still used as their city hall after the 2006 mergers.
| Former city of Nagaoka (旧・長岡市) |
|
|---|---|
| Merger date | April 1, 2005 and January 1, 2006 |
| Reason | Merger by absorption (編入合併) |
| Following Municipalities were involved (2005) | Nagaoka (-March 2005), Nakanoshima Nakanoshima, Niigata Nakanoshima was a town located in Minamikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,503 and a density of 293.84 persons per km²... , Koshiji Koshiji, Niigata Koshiji was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 14,160 and a density of 242.30 persons per km²... , Mishima Mishima, Niigata Mishima was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 7,535 and a density of 206.61 persons per km²... , Yamakoshi Yamakoshi, Niigata Yamakoshi was a village located in Koshi District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 2,035 and a density of 51.09 persons per km²... , Oguni Oguni, Niigata Oguni was a town located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,044 and a density of 81.76 persons per km²... → Nagaoka (April–December 2005) |
| Following municipalities were involved (2006) | Nagaoka (April–December 2005), Tochio Tochio, Niigata was a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1954.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 23,855 and the density of 116.41 persons per km²... , Teradomari Teradomari, Niigata was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,766 and a density of 202.30 persons per km². The total area was 58.16 km².... , Yoita Yoita, Niigata was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,380 and a density of 368.08 persons per km². The total area was 20.05 km².... , Washima Washima, Niigata Washima was a village located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 4,814 and a density of 151.10 persons per km². The total area was 31.86 km².... →Nagaoka(2006–Present) |
| Current municipality | Nagaoka (2006–Present) |
| Data during the mergers | |
| Total Area | 262.45km² |
| Total Population | 192,292 (February 1, 2005) |
History
The Tokugawa shogunateTokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
appointed Naoyori Hori lord of Nagaoka-han in 1616. Hori established the castle town of Nagaoka and built a castle in the Zaôdô area on the Shinano River
Shinano River
The Shinano River is the longest and largest river in Japan. It flows from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture. It is called the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture....
. However, this area was prone to flooding and a new castle was built at the site of present-day Nagaoka Station by 1617.
Nagaoka flourished as a castle town under the reign of the 13 generations of the Makino clan of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
. In the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
of 1868 during the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, clan military general Tsuginosuke Kawai lead the forces of Nagaoka against the Meiji Government. Nagaoka was defeated and the city was reduced to rubble. A gift of one hundred sacks of rice from a neighboring province was sold to finance a new school during the reconstruction of Nagaoka, from which the anecdote of Kome Hyappyo
Kome Hyappyo
Kome Hyappyo refers to a famous event in Japan, the literal meaning of which is "One Hundred Bags of Rice" or "One Hundred Sacks of Rice"...
was born.
The town of Nagaoka and surrounding clan holdings became part of Kashiwazaki Prefecture (now Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
) at the beginning of the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
. The modern municipality of Nagaoka was established on April 1, 1906.
Municipal timeline
- 1906
- April 1 - The municipality of Nagaoka is established.
- 1945
- August 1 - Nagaoka is reduced to rubble by 125 B-29B-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombers in a late-evening air raidStrategic bombingStrategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
. 1,470 lives are lost.
- August 1 - Nagaoka is reduced to rubble by 125 B-29
- 1963
- January - A record-breaking heavy snowfall hits Nagaoka.
- 1982
- November 15 - Joetsu ShinkansenJoetsu ShinkansenThe is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
service arrives at Nagaoka Station.
- November 15 - Joetsu Shinkansen
- 2004
- July 12 & July 13 - A heavy downpour causes extensive flooding in Nagaoka.
- October 23 - The Chūetsu Earthquake2004 Chuetsu earthquakeThe occurred at 5:56 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2004 . The Japan Meteorological Agency has named it the Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake or The Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake of 2004...
strikes, causing extensive damage in Nagaoka and surrounding areas.
- 2005
- February - Nagaoka experiences the heaviest snowfall in 19 years.
- April 1 - OguniOguni, NiigataOguni was a town located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,044 and a density of 81.76 persons per km²...
, YamakoshiYamakoshi, NiigataYamakoshi was a village located in Koshi District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 2,035 and a density of 51.09 persons per km²...
, NakanoshimaNakanoshima, NiigataNakanoshima was a town located in Minamikanbara District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 12,503 and a density of 293.84 persons per km²...
, KoshijiKoshiji, NiigataKoshiji was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 14,160 and a density of 242.30 persons per km²...
, and MishimaMishima, NiigataMishima was a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 7,535 and a density of 206.61 persons per km²...
are absorbed into Nagaoka. Prior to the merger, the size of Nagaoka was 262.45 km² and the population was 192,292.
- 2006
- January 1 - WashimaWashima, NiigataWashima was a village located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the village had an estimated population of 4,814 and a density of 151.10 persons per km². The total area was 31.86 km²....
, YoitaYoita, Niigatawas a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,380 and a density of 368.08 persons per km². The total area was 20.05 km²....
, TeradomariTeradomari, Niigatawas a town located in Santō District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 11,766 and a density of 202.30 persons per km². The total area was 58.16 km²....
, and TochioTochio, Niigatawas a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on June 1, 1954.As of 2003, the city had an estimated population of 23,855 and the density of 116.41 persons per km²...
are officially absorbed into Nagaoka.
- January 1 - Washima
- 2010
- March 31 -- KawaguchiKawaguchi, Niigatawas a town located in Kitauonuma District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 5,549 and a density of 110.91 persons per km². The total area was 50.03 km².On March 31, 2010, Kawaguchi became a part of Nagaoka city....
is absorbed into Nagaoka
- March 31 -- Kawaguchi
Industry
The manufacturing industry prospered in Nagaoka following the war, due in part to favorable location and good transportation infrastructure. Current industrial production includes precisionAccuracy and precision
In the fields of science, engineering, industry and statistics, the accuracy of a measurement system is the degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to that quantity's actual value. The precision of a measurement system, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the degree to which...
instruments and the machine tool
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
s.
- Nippon Seiki, a manufacturer of automotive instruments, is headquartered in Nagaoka.
- TDK-Lambda, a manufacturer of switched-mode power suppliesSwitched-mode power supplyA switched-mode power supply is an electronic power supply that incorporates a switching regulator in order to be highly efficient in the conversion of electrical power...
, has a plant in Nagaoka. - Schlumberger, a leading oilfield services company has location in Nagaoka. They serve all of Japan and Korea from this location.
Sister cities
Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(November 9, 1987) Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(April 1, 2006) Romainmôtier-Envy
Romainmôtier-Envy
Romainmôtier-Envy is a municipality in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, located in the district of Jura-Nord Vaudois.The village lies on the Nozon river and has about 450 inhabitants. The town has a famous Romanesque church...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
(April 1, 2006)
Transportation
Privately-owned carsAutomobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
are the primary means of civic transportation. The city has a wide network of bus routes, with Nagaoka Station as the hub. Most of the roadways are improved and the pavement is top class in the nation. Nagaoka's location in the center of the prefecture makes it an important transportation junction, with rail lines and roadways from the east splitting in Nagaoka to go to Niigata
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
and Joetsu
Joetsu, Niigata
is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.As of June 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 205,521, with 72,982 households and a population density of 211.15 persons per km². The total area is 973.32 km²....
.
Railroad
East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
serves the city of Nagaoka with the Joetsu Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
as well as two traditional rail lines, the Joetsu Line
Joetsu Line
The is a major rail line in Japan. Part of the JR East system, it runs from Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, to Miyauchi Station in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, linking the northwestern Kantō region and the Sea of Japan coast of the Chūbu region...
and the Shinetsu Main Line. Nagaoka Station is the primary railroad station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Nagaoka, and there are also several smaller stations.
A private railway
Private railway
A private railroad is a railroad run by a private corporation, as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector.-Japan:In Japan, refers to a railway line owned and operated by private sector. Although Japan Railways Group companies are private entities, they are not considered private railways...
managed by Echigo Kotsu once served Nagaoka with two rail lines, but they have since been abandoned.
A monorail
Monorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
system was proposed for Nagaoka, but it was not implemented.
Bus
Local busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service in Nagaoka is managed by Echigo Kotsu. The bus terminal located at the east entrance of Nagaoka Station serves as the hub for the route network. Service extends to all parts of the city as well as many outlying suburban areas and villages.
A high-speed bus service connecting Nagaoka Station to Niigata, Niigata
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
Station runs at intervals of approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, highway bus service is available to all major cities in the prefecture as well as Tokyo.
Roadways
The Hokuriku National Expressway and the Kanetsu National Expressway pass through Nagaoka, as well as several smaller national highwayHighway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s.
A new regional highway called the Nagaoka East-and-West Road is currently being constructed. It will eventually include the longest bridge over the Shinano River
Shinano River
The Shinano River is the longest and largest river in Japan. It flows from Nagano Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture. It is called the Chikuma River in Nagano Prefecture....
.
Places of interest
- Kome HyappyoKome HyappyoKome Hyappyo refers to a famous event in Japan, the literal meaning of which is "One Hundred Bags of Rice" or "One Hundred Sacks of Rice"...
Monument - Tsuginosuke Kawai Monument in Yukyuzan Park
- Haibu Nagaoka Stadium
- The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art
- The Niigata Prefectural Museum of History
- Yukyuzan Park
- National Government Echigo Hillside Park
- Nagaoka Lyric Hall
- Nagaoka City Local Museum
Higher Education Institutions
- Nagaoka University of TechnologyNagaoka University of Technology, abbreviated as Nagaoka Gidai, is a national technology university founded in 1976 in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan. One of the only two Universities of Technology, a form of universities in Japan, the other being Toyohashi University of Technology in Aichi. Many students from colleges of technology, a...
- Nagaoka National College of Technology
- Nagaoka UniversityNagaoka Universityis a private university in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1905. It was chartered as a junior college in 1973 and became a four-year college in 2001.-External links:*...
- Nagaoka Institute of DesignNagaoka Institute of Designis a private university in Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan. It was established in 1994.-External links:*...
Festivals
- Nagaoka Festival and Grand Fireworks Festival (August)
- Nagaoka Aki Matsuri (Autumn Festival) and Kome HyappyoKome HyappyoKome Hyappyo refers to a famous event in Japan, the literal meaning of which is "One Hundred Bags of Rice" or "One Hundred Sacks of Rice"...
Festival (October)
Famous people from Nagaoka
- Inoue EnryōInoue Enryo, Japanese, Buddhist philosopher, educator, and nationalist; one of the most influential Buddhists of the Meiji era. Ordained as a priest in his father's Jodo Shinshu Ōtani branch 眞宗大谷派. Graduated with a doctorate from Tokyo Imperial University in 1896 focusing mainly on Western philosophy...
(BuddhistBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
philosopher and founder of Toyo UniversityToyo UniversityToyo University is a university with several branches in Japan, including .- Overview :...
) - Isoroku YamamotoIsoroku Yamamotowas a Japanese Naval Marshal General and the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II, a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy and a student of Harvard University ....
(Commander of the Japanese NavyNavyA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
during the first four years of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) - Tomoko Hoshino (Actress)
- Jūshirō KonoeJushiro KonoeJūshirō Konoe was a famous Jidaigeki actor. He was born Toraichi Megro in Nagaoka, Niigata....
(ActorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
) - Haruo MinamiHaruo MinamiHaruo Minami was an enka singer in postwar Japan.He was born Bunji Kitazume in Nagaoka, Niigata...
(EnkaEnkais a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer) - Nobuhiro WatsukiNobuhiro Watsukiis a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.-Biography:...
(Manga artistMangakais the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
) - Ryō HirohashiRyo Hirohashiis a Japanese voice actress represented by a talent agency Aoni Production. She originates from Nagaoka, Niigata and is a graduate of Ryukoku University...
(Voice actor) - Koharu KusumiKoharu Kusumi, is a former J-pop singer and voice actress, and currently a model. She joined Morning Musume as the only seventh generation member and as the youngest soloist to debut in Hello! Project, being only twelve years old when she joined. Before she joined Morning Musume, she was the captain of her...
(Morning Musume) - Etsu Inagaki SugimotoEtsu Inagaki SugimotoThe Japanese autobiographer and novelist Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto was born 1874 in the province Echigo in Japan daughter of a karō from Nagaoka....
(writer)
External links
- Nagaoka City Official Homepage in Japanese
- Nagaoka City Official Homepage in English