Goka, Ibaraki
Goka (五霞町, Goka-machi) is a town located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of January 2020, the town had an estimated population of 8,512, and a population density 368 persons per km2. The total area is 23.11 km2.
Goka 五霞町 | |
---|---|
Town | |
Goka Town Hall | |
Flag Seal | |
Location of Goka in Ibaraki Prefecture | |
Goka | |
Coordinates: 36°06′52″N 139°44′42.5″E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Kanto |
Prefecture | Ibaraki |
District | Sashima |
Government | |
• Mayor | Someya Morio |
Area | |
• Total | 23.11 km2 (8.92 sq mi) |
Population (January 2020) | |
• Total | 8,512 |
• Density | 368/km2 (950/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
Area code(s) | 0280 |
- Tree | Prunus mume |
- Flower | Canna |
- Bird | Eurasian skylark |
Phone number | 0280-84-1111 |
Address | 1162-1 Kofukuda, Goka-machi, Sashima-gun, Ibaraki-ken 306-0392 |
Website | http://www.town.goka.lg.jp/ |
Geography
Goka is located in the flatlands in the very western portion of Ibaraki Prefecture, bordered by Saitama Prefecture to the west and south, Chiba Prefecture to the east. The Tone River, along with the Edo River and Naka River pass through the town.
Neighboring municipalities
- Ibaraki Prefecture
- Saitama Prefecture
- Chiba Prefecture
River
- Tone River
- Edo River
- Naka River
- Gongendo River(Lake Miyuki)
- Fuyugi-otoshi River
- Goka-otoshi River
Place name
- Motokurihashi
- Kawatsuma
- Kotesashi
- Shinkōya
- Kofukuda
- Ōfukuda
- Sanno-yama
- Sanno
- Egawa
- Kōshu
- Fuyugi
- Maebayashi
- Shaka
- Harajukudai
History
The area of present-day Goka was part of Shimōsa Province and was transferred to Ibaraki Prefecture in 1875 after the start of the Meiji period. The area was organized into the village of Goka within Nishikatsushika District, Ibaraki.Ibaraki Prefecture with the establishment of the municipalities system on 1 April 1889. The district was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Sashima District.
Goka was raised to town status on 1 June 1996.
Administration
Mayor
- Suzuki Riichi(till 11 January 1998)
- Otani Ryusho(from 12 January 1998 to 30 April 2007)
- Someya Morio(from 1 May 2007 - incumbent)
Economy
Industrial Park
- Doyobu, Kawatsuma, Egawa, Ōsaki, Ondashi and Goka IC industrial park
Company office and plant
- Kewpie Corporation, Goka plant
- Yakult Honsha Company Limited, Ibaraki plant
- Kyodo Printing Company Limited, Goka plant
- SHINCHOSHA Publishing Company Limited, Goka Office
- KIKKOMAN SoyFoods Company, Ibaraki plant
- KATO WORKS Company Limited, Ibaraki plant
Public institutions
Education
- Goka-nishi elementary school
- Goka-higashi elementary school
- Goka junior high school
Mainly facilities
- Goka town hall
- Goka post office
- Goka Harajukudai post office
- Goka town B&G Marine center
- Environmental purification center
- Kawatsuma water purification plant
Fire department
- Koga fire department(Koga-city)
- Goka branch
Police department
- Ibaraki prefectural police, Sakai police station(Sakai-town)
- Motokurihashi police box
- Kofukuda police box
Transportation
Railway
At present, the town is not served by any passenger railway line.
The near station is Kurihashi on the JR East’s Utsunomiya Line(Tohoku Main Line) and Minami-kurihashi or Satte on the Tōbu Nikkō Line.
Tohoku Shinkansen pass through northen part of the town.
Expressway
Ken-Ō Expressway – Goka Interchange
Highway
National Route 4 - Roadside station Goka (government-designated rest area)
Prefectural Road
- Prefecture Route 267
- Prefecture Route 268
Bus
- Route Bus(operated by Asahi bus)
- Goka town hall - Tatsudō - Satte station
- Community transpotation "Gokarin-go" (operated by Asahi bus, operation route depending on the time of day except Sunday and holidays)
- Minami-kurihashi station - Saiseikai Kurihashi Hospital - Goka town hall - Goka Egawa-honson (Morning and evening time route)
- Beisia Supermarket Kurihashi Store - Minami-kurihashi station - Saiseikai Kurihashi Hospital - Goka town hall - Motokurihashi-ikenari - Dōmu Park - Tatsudō - Roadside station Goka - Goka Egawa-honson(Daytime route)
Local attractions
- Kurihashi castle ruins
- Tōshōji temple
- Ana-yakushi ancient tomb
- Fuyugi A・B shellmound
- Nakanoshima Park
- Dōmu Park
- Roadside station Goka
- Information and disaster station Goka