Itako, Ibaraki

Itako 潮来市
City
Maekawa Iris Park
Flag Seal
Location of Itako in Ibaraki Prefecture
Itako
Coordinates: 35°56′49.7″N 140°33′19.3″E / 35.947139°N 140.555361°E / 35.947139; 140.555361Coordinates: 35°56′49.7″N 140°33′19.3″E / 35.947139°N 140.555361°E / 35.947139; 140.555361
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
Area
• Total	71.40 km2 (27.57 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
• Total	29,047
• Density	407/km2 (1,050/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
• Tree	Populus
• Flower	Iris
• Bird	Great reed warbler
Phone number	0299-23-1111
Address	626 Tsuji, Itako-shi, Ibaraki-ken 311-2493
Website	Official website

Itako city hall

Itako (潮来市, Itako-shi) is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 29,047 and a population density of 407 persons per km². Its total area was 71.40 square kilometres (27.57 sq mi). It is known for its annual iris festival (the Itako Ayame Matsuri). Much of the city is within the borders of the Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park.

Geography

Itako is located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by Chiba Prefecture to the south, and sandwiched between Lake Kasumigaura to the west and Lake Kitaura to the east. The Tone River also flows through the city, which has been noted since the Edo period for its network of canals. The city is approximately 80 kilometers north of Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Kashima
  • Inashiki
  • Kamisu
  • Namegata
• Chiba Prefecture
  • Katori

History

The town of Itako was established within Namegata District with the creation of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Itako annexed the neighboring villages of Tsuwa, Nobutaka and Ouhara on February 11, 1955. The city of Itako was established on April 1, 2001, from the merger of the former town of Itako, absorbing the town of Ushibori (both from Namegata District).^[1]

Education

Itako has six elementary schools, four middle schools, and one high school.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Kashima Line
  • Itako – Nobukata

Highway

• Higashi-Kantō Expressway – Itako IC
• Japan National Route 51
• Japan National Route 355

Local attractions

• Suigo Itako Iris Gardens
• Junikyo Bridges
• Kongenyama park
• Nihonmatsu-dera Buddhist temple
• Inariyama Park
• Chōshō-ji Buddhist temple
• Suigo Hokusai Park
• Road Station Itako
• Suigo Dragonfly Park

Notable people from Itako

• Kenji Koyano – professional football player
• Keita Sugimoto – professional football player
• Tatsuya Kawahara – professional football player
• Mitsuo Yanagimachi – movie director

References

External links

Media related to Itako, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)

Ibaraki Prefecture
Mito (capital)
Special cities	Mito Tsukuba
Cities	Bandō Chikusei Hitachi Hitachinaka Hitachiōmiya Hitachiōta Hokota Inashiki Ishioka Itako Jōsō Kamisu Kasama Kashima Kasumigaura Kitaibaraki Koga Moriya Naka Namegata Omitama Ryūgasaki Sakuragawa Shimotsuma Takahagi Toride Tsuchiura Tsukubamirai Ushiku Yūki
Higashiibaraki District	Ibaraki Ōarai Shirosato
Inashiki District	Ami Kawachi Miho
Kitasōma District	Tone
Kuji District	Daigo
Naka District	Tōkai
Sashima District	Goka Sakai
Yūki District	Yachiyo
List of mergers in Ibaraki Prefecture