Ojiya, Niigata

Ojiya (小千谷市, Ojiya-shi) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the city had an estimated population of 34,704 in 12,758 households, and a population density of 224 persons per km². The total area of the city was 155.19 square kilometres (59.92 sq mi).

Ojiya 小千谷市
City
From top left: Nishikigoi carps in Ojiya Nishikigoi no sato, Ojiya Balloon Revolt, Uonuma Shrine, Katakai Fireworks Festival, Bull Fighting
Flag Seal
Location of Ojiya in Niigata
Ojiya
Coordinates: 37°18′51.7″N 138°47′42.3″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Niigata
Area
• Total	155.19 km2 (59.92 sq mi)
Population  (July 1, 2019)
• Total	34,704
• Density	220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Flower	Narcissus
• Fish	Japanese carp
Phone number	0250-62-2510
Address	2-7-5 Jonai, Ojiya-shi, Niigata-ken 947-8501
Website	Official website

Geography

Ojiya is located in an inland region of central Niigata Prefecture at the southern end of the Echigo Plain. The Shinano River flows through the city. The area has very heavy snow in winter.

Ojiya city panorama

Surrounding municipalities

• Niigata Prefecture
  • Nagaoka
  • Tokamachi
  • Uonuma

Climate

Ojiya has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ojiya is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2263 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.5 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ojiya has declined over the past 40 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1970	44,581	—
1980	44,963	+0.9%
1990	43,437	−3.4%
2000	41,641	−4.1%
2010	38,600	−7.3%
2020	34,096	−11.7%

Government

Ojiya City Hall

Ojiya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members.

Economy

Ojiya is known as the birthplace of Nishikigoi carps, along with Yamakoshi.

Transportation

National Route 291 and Ojiya Station

Railway

• JR East - Iiyama Line
  • Echigo-Iwasawa - Uchigamaki
• JR East - Jōetsu Line
  • Ojiya

Highway

• Kan-Etsu Expressway – Ojiya IC
• National Route 17
• National Route 117
• National Route 291
• National Route 351
• National Route 403

Notable people from Ojiya

• Uchiyama Gudō, Zen priest and anarcho-socialist activist
• Junzaburō Nishiwaki, poet
• Kazuhiko Torishima, manga magazine editor and publishing executive

See also

• Shiodani Tunnel

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)