Hirakawa, Aomori
Geography. Hirakawa is located in the mountains and hills to be northwest of Lake Towada. The Iwaki River flows through the city. Part of the city is within the borders of the Kuroishi Onsenkyō Prefectural Natural Park. Neighbouring municipalities. Aomori Prefecture Akita Prefecture Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Hirakawa has decreased steadily over the past 60 years. Climate. The city has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen "Dfa") characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hirasawa is 8.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is  1413 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.8 °C. History. The area around Hirakawa was part of the Hirosaki Domain of the Tsugaru clan during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, it became part of Minamitsugaru District, Aomori. The village of Onoe was raised to town status on April 1, 1937. The city of Hirakawa was established on January 1, 2006, from the merger of the  towns of Hiraka and Onoe, and the village of Ikarigaseki. Government. Hirakawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. The city elects two members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. The economy of Hirakawa is primarily agricultural, with rice and apples as the predominant crops. The city government is encouraging the development of highland vegetables and a local brand of beef. Education. Hirakawa has nine  public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation. Railway. East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Ōu Main Line