Nakatsu, Ōita

Nakatsu(中津市,Nakatsu-shi)is acityon the northern border ofŌita PrefectureinKyushu, Japan. As of 31 October 2023, the city had an estimatedpopulationof 82,301 in 41222 households, and apopulation densityof 96 persons per km.The total area of the city is 491.53 km(189.78 sq mi).
Nakatsu is in the northwest corner of Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu and faces the Gulf of Suō on theSeto Inland Seato the northeast. To the east of Nakatsu isUsaand to the southwest isHita. Nakatsu touches the border of Fukuoka Prefecture on its west. Some 80% of the city area is mountainous, mainly in the south There is a wide stretch of flat, agricultural land which begins at the mouth ofYamakuni Riverand extends toMount Hikocalled the Nakatsu plain, making it the largest agricultural area in the prefecture.
The tallest mountain in Nakatsu isMount Hachimen(八面山,Hachimen-zan) which literally means "eight-faced mountain."Its name is said to have come from the fact that the mountain looks nearly same from every angle. It seen as a symbol of Nakatsu with many legends surrounding it.
Fukuoka Prefecture
Ōita Prefecture
Nakatsu has ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen climate classificationCfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The average annual temperature in Nakatsu is 16.3 °C (61.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,574.1 mm (61.97 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.9 °C (82.2 °F), and lowest in January, at around 5.8 °C (42.4 °F).The highest temperature ever recorded in Nakatsu was 37.9 °C (100.2 °F) on 25 July 2013; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −5.5 °C (22.1 °F) on 24 January 2016.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Nakatsu in 2020 is 82,863 people.Nakatsu has been conducting censuses since 1920.
The area of Nakatsu was part of ancientBuzen Province. During theSengoku period,Kuroda Yoshitaka(Josui) builtNakatsu Castleas a flatland castle near the Yamaguni River in 1587. During theEdo periodit became the center of the 100,000kokuNakatsu Domainwhich was ruled by theOkudaira clan. After theMeiji restoration, the town of Nakatsu withinShimoge District, Ōitawas established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on April 20,1929. On October 1, 2005 Kitsuki merged with the town of Yamaka from Hayami District and the village of Ota fromNishikunisaki District, Ōita.
Nakatsu has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity council of 24 members. Nakatsu contributes four members to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of theŌita 3rd districtof thelower houseof theDiet of Japan.
Nakatsu is the third most populous city in Ōita Prefecture after Ōita City and Beppu and has strong economic and cultural ties with the Kitakyushu area of Fukuoka Prefecture. A large number of Nakatsu inhabitants commute to work and school to Fukuoka Prefecture. At the end of 2004,DaihatsuAuto Body Co., Ltd. moved its head office and factory to Nakatsu, resulting in an increasing concentration of automobile-related factories. Other industries include ceramics, semiconductors and plastics.
Nakatsu has 21 public elementary schools and ten public junior high schools operated by the city government and four public high schools operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private high school. TheHigashikyushu Junior Collegeis located in Nakatsu.
JR Kyushu-Nippō Main Line
The Nakatsu Gion Festival (中津祇園) is held every year in July. 13 floats and twomikoshiare paraded through the streets of Nakatsu.