Matsukawa, Nagano (Shimoina)

This article is about the town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. For the village in the same prefecture, see Matsukawa, Nagano (Kitaazumi).

Matsukawa (松川町, Matsukawa-machi) is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019^[update], the town had an estimated population of 13,043 in 4364 households,^[1] and a population density of 180 persons per km². The total area of the town is 72.79 square kilometres (28.10 sq mi). Like many other small Southern Nagano villages, it is famous for its apples.

Matsukawa 松川町
Town
Matsukawa Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Matsukawa in Nagano Prefecture
Matsukawa
Coordinates: 35°35′50″N 137°54′34.8″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Nagano
District	Shimoina
Area
• Total	72.79 km2 (28.10 sq mi)
Population  (April 2019)
• Total	13,043
• Density	180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Pine
• Flower	Pyrus pyrifolia
Phone number	0265-36-3111
Address	3823 Oshima, Matsukawa-machi, Shimoina-gun, Nagano-ken 399-3303
Website	Official website

Matsukawa from Mount Eboshi

Geography

Located in the Ina Basin of mountainous southern Nagano Prefecture, Matsukawa is bordered to the west by the Kiso Mountains. The town stretches for 21 kilometers east-west, but is only 6 kilometers wide north-south. The Tenryū River passes through center of the town.

Surrounding municipalities

• Nagano Prefecture
  • Iida
  • Iijima
  • Nakagawa
  • Ōshika
  • Takamori
  • Tenryū
  • Toyooka

Climate

The town has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Matsukawa is 12.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1583 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.65 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.2 °C.^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[3] the population of Matsukawa has remained relatively steady over the past 80 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	11,042	—
1950	13,431	+21.6%
1960	12,595	−6.2%
1970	12,411	−1.5%
1980	13,108	+5.6%
1990	13,422	+2.4%
2000	14,070	+4.8%
2010	13,678	−2.8%
2020	12,530	−8.4%

History

The area of present-day Matsukawa was part of ancient Shinano Province. The modern town was established on September 20, 1956 by the merger of the village of Oshima in Shimoina District with the village of Katagiri in Kamiina District

Education

Matsukawa has one public elementary school, one public middle school and one public combined elementary/middle school operated by the town government. The town also has one public high school operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

• JR Tōkai – Iida Line
  • Kamikatagiri - Ina-Ōshima

Highway

• National Route 153

Local attractions

• Kataoka Dam

References

1. Matsukawa Town official statistics(in Japanese)
2. Matsukawa climate data
3. Matsukawa population statistics

External links

• Media related to Matsukawa, Nagano (town) at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)