Okutama, Tokyo

Okutama
奥多摩町
Town

Okutama Town Hall

Flag

Seal

Location of Okutama in Tokyo
Okutama

 

Coordinates: 35°48′34.4″N 139°5′46.3″E / 35.809556°N 139.096194°E / 35.809556; 139.096194Coordinates: 35°48′34.4″N 139°5′46.3″E / 35.809556°N 139.096194°E / 35.809556; 139.096194
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Tokyo
District Nishitama
Area
  Total 225.53 km2 (87.08 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
  Total 5,177
  Density 23/km2 (60/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols  
• Tree Cryptomeria
• Flower Azalea
• Bird Copper pheasant
Phone number 042-557-0501
Address 215-6 Hikawa, Okutama-machi, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo 198-0212
Website www.town.okutama.tokyo.jp/index00.html
Fishing is popular in Okutama.

Okutama (奥多摩町 Okutama-machi) is a town located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, in the central Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the town had an estimated population of 5,177 and a population density of 23 persons per km². Its total area was 225.53 square kilometres (87.08 sq mi).[1] With an area of 225.63 km2

Geography

Okutama is located in the Okutama Mountains of far western Tokyo. It is geographically the largest municipality in Tokyo. Mount Kumotori, Tokyo's highest peak at 2017 m, divides Okutama from the Okuchichibu region of the neighboring Saitama and Yamanashi Prefectures. Tokyo's northernmost and westernmost points lie in Okutama, as does Lake Okutama, an important source of water for Tokyo, situated above the Ogōchi Dam in the town.[2]

Mountains

Rivers

Lakes

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Climate data for Lake Okutama (1981 - 2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.8
(64)
20.9
(69.6)
22.5
(72.5)
30.6
(87.1)
33.0
(91.4)
34.3
(93.7)
35.8
(96.4)
36.4
(97.5)
35.0
(95)
29.1
(84.4)
23.8
(74.8)
22.1
(71.8)
36.4
(97.5)
Average high °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)
7.1
(44.8)
10.3
(50.5)
16.3
(61.3)
20.5
(68.9)
23.0
(73.4)
26.8
(80.2)
28.2
(82.8)
23.9
(75)
18.4
(65.1)
13.8
(56.8)
9.3
(48.7)
17.1
(62.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.3
(34.3)
1.8
(35.2)
5.0
(41)
10.6
(51.1)
15.1
(59.2)
18.5
(65.3)
22.0
(71.6)
23.2
(73.8)
19.5
(67.1)
13.8
(56.8)
8.5
(47.3)
3.8
(38.8)
11.9
(53.4)
Average low °C (°F) −2.7
(27.1)
−2.3
(27.9)
0.6
(33.1)
5.6
(42.1)
10.5
(50.9)
14.8
(58.6)
18.7
(65.7)
19.7
(67.5)
16.3
(61.3)
10.3
(50.5)
4.6
(40.3)
−0.1
(31.8)
8.19
(46.74)
Record low °C (°F) −9.3
(15.3)
−11.6
(11.1)
−8.1
(17.4)
−3.8
(25.2)
0.7
(33.3)
8.8
(47.8)
12.4
(54.3)
14.2
(57.6)
6.2
(43.2)
1.0
(33.8)
−2.1
(28.2)
−6.2
(20.8)
−11.6
(11.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44.1
(1.736)
50.0
(1.969)
92.5
(3.642)
109.6
(4.315)
120.3
(4.736)
155.7
(6.13)
195.4
(7.693)
280.6
(11.047)
271.3
(10.681)
172.4
(6.787)
76.7
(3.02)
39.9
(1.571)
1,623.5
(63.917)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.8 5.9 10.6 10.2 11.2 13.8 15.4 12.5 13.9 10.6 6.9 4.0 119.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 147.1 127.7 132.2 161.8 154.9 109.8 127.6 148.3 99.1 94.5 122.1 145.6 1,570.7
Source #1: 気象庁
Source #2: 観測史上1〜10位の値(年間を通じての値)

History

Prehistory

People began settling in Okutama from before the Jomon Period and many archaeological sites have been found with ancient pottery. During the Yayoi Period, rice cultivation began in the flatter lands of present-day Okutama, but most of the area remained. covered by forests and only small flat lands existed.[7]

Premodern period

During the Edo Period, the area included in present-day Okutama was divided into 16 villages within Musashi Province. In each village, there was one person who served as the mayor, another who served as the leader of a particular group, and another who served as a representative for the farmers. Also, entering Mount Takanosu was forbidden for people of low rank during this time. This was because the people of high rank (government officials and such) hunted with hawks at the mountain, and the officials wanted to keep the hunting grounds for themselves.[7]

Modern Times

With the start of the Meiji period, the area of Okutama became part of Nirayama Prefecture except for Kotaba village, which was merged into Maebashi Domain, which then became part of Gunma Prefecture. While Kotaba village was turned into part of Maebashi city, the Okutama area was divided into three villages of Hikawa, Kori, and Ogouchi with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. In 1940, Hikawa was elevated to town status. In 1955, Hikawa town, Ogouchi village and Kori village were united, forming the town of Okutama.[7]

Economy

Seasonal tourism, forestry and charcoal production are mainstays of the local economy.

Education

Okutama has two elementary and two middle schools. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Okutama Station

Railway

The East Japan Railway Company serves the town. The Ōme line, which connects the town with Tachikawa, terminates at Okutama Station.

Bus

The Nishi Tokyo Bus Co. carries passengers to Lake Okutama, the Nippara Limestone Cave, Tabayama village and Kosuge village (both in Yamanashi Prefecture) from Okutama Station.

Highway

Sister city relations

Local attractions

A forest in the Okuchichibu Mountains

All of the town is located in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

View of Mount Kumotori from Mount Nanatsuishi

References

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Okutama.
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