# Nagayo, Nagasaki

Nagayo (長与町, Nagayo-chō) is a town located in Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 May 2024, the town had an estimated population of 39,548 in 17077 households, and a population density of 1400 people per km$^2$. The total area of the town is 28.73 km$^2$ (11.09 sq mi).

## Geography

Nagayo is located on the southern shore of Ōmura Bay in central Nagasaki Prefecture, and includes the uninhabited islands of Shimizu and Futatsujima. The Nagayo River flows through the center of the town, and there are many residential areas and fields in the river basin. The surrounding areas are hilly, and especially on the eastern side, there are a series of hills centered on Kotonoodake, which is 451.4 meters above sea level. The hills in the southern and western parts of the town are not as high as those in the eastern parts, and are densely populated residential areas that continue into the northern part of Nagasaki City. In the southern part of the town, the Oide River, a tributary of the Urakami River, flows along the border with Nagasaki. This was once an agriculturally thriving region, with mandarin orange fields on the hills and rice paddies along the river, but as Nagasaki's urban area expanded with new town developments in the hilly areas in the southern and western parts of the town.

### Neighbouring municipalities

Nagasaki Prefecture
* Isahaya
* Togitsu

### Climate

Nagayo has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nagayo is 17.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2213 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 7.7 °C.

### Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nagayo is as shown below:

## History

The area of Nagayo was part of ancient Hizen Province. Stone tools from the Japanese Paleolithic dating back about 20,000 years ago have been excavated. During the Edo Period, the area was under the control of Saga Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Nagayo was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Nagayo was raised to town status on April 1, 1969.

## Government

Nagayo has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Nagayo, collectively with the town of Togitsu, contributes two members to the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Nagasaki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

Nagayo was noted for its production of Nagayo ware pottery, which was produced until the end of the 19th century. The local economy was formerly centered on agriculture and commercial fishing; however, Nagayo is now largely a commuter town for Nagasaki.

## Education

Nagayo has five public elementary schools and three public junior high schools by the town government, and two public high schools operated by the Nagasaki Prefectural Board of Education.
Elementary Schools
* Araikiri Elementary School （長与町立洗切小学校）
* Koda Elementary School　（長与町立高田小学校）
* Nagayo Elementary School （長与町立長与小学校）
* Nagayo Kita Elementary School （長与町立長与北小学校）
* Nagayo Minami Elementary School　（長与町立長与南小学校）
Junior High Schools
* Koda Junior High School　（長与町立高田中学校）
* Nagayo Daini Junior High School （長与町立長与第二中学校）
* Nagayo Junior High School （長与町立長与中学校）
Senior High Schools
* Hokuyodai Senior High School（長崎県立北陽台高等学校）
* Nagasaki College of Technology （長崎県立長崎高等技術専門校）

## Transportation
### Railways

JR Kyushu - Nagasaki Main Line (branch line)
    JH Honkawachi - Nagayo - Kōda - Michinoo

### Highways

* National Route 207

## Sister cities

Wethersfield, United States, since 1999.