Kōka, Shiga

Kōka
甲賀市
City

Flag

Location of Kōka in Shiga Prefecture
Kōka

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 34°58′N 136°10′E / 34.967°N 136.167°E / 34.967; 136.167Coordinates: 34°58′N 136°10′E / 34.967°N 136.167°E / 34.967; 136.167
Country Japan
Region Kansai
Prefecture Shiga Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Takeshi Nakajima
Area
 • Total 481.69 km2 (185.98 sq mi)
Population (April 2008)
 • Total 93,882
 • Density 195/km2 (510/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Cryptomeria
 • Flower Sasayuri (Lilium japonicum)
 • Bird Common kingfisher
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 6053, Minakuchichō Minakuchi, Kōka-shi, Shiga-ken
528-8502
Website www.city.koka.shiga.jp

Kōka (甲賀市 Kōka-shi) is a city located in southern Shiga Prefecture, Japan. (The word 'Kōka' is often rendered as 'Koga' in English, especially when referring to the Koga Ninja.)

As of April 2008, the city has an estimated population of 93,882 and a population density of 195 persons per km2. The total area is 481.69 km2.

The modern city of Kōka was established on October 1, 2004, from the merger of the former town of Kōka, absorbing the towns of Kōnan, Minakuchi, Shigaraki and Tsuchiyama (all from Kōka District).

Kōka is quite well known for its ninja history, fine quality ceramics and for containing two shukuba post stations (Tsuchiyama-juku and Minakuchi-juku) from the historic Tōkaidō. The city launched a new English version of their homepage in April 2007, and they have begun to actively promote themselves as a little-known, yet highly authentic, sightseeing destination.

Transport

Shuriken theme at one of the train stations in Kōka, 2011

Koka is served by local buses as well as two train lines.

Rail

Koka sits on the Kusatsu Line of the JR. The line runs from Kusatsu to Tsuge Station in Iga, Mie Prefecture. There are five stops in Koka - Kibukawa, Kōnan, Terashō, Kōka, and Aburahi.

Kibukawa Station also has lines for the Shigaraki Kōgen Railway: Shigaraki Line and the Ohmi Railway: Main Line.

See also


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/3/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.