Komatsu, Ishikawa

Komatsu (小松市, Komatsu-shi) is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2018, the city had an estimated population of 108,509 in 42664 households,[1] and a population density of 290 persons per km². The total area of the city was 371.05 square kilometres (143.26 sq mi).

Komatsu

小松市
City
Top: Komatsu Airport
Ataka Barrier, Nata-dera
Komatsu Castle, Dainichi River
Otabi Matsuri
Flag
Seal
Location of Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture
Komatsu
 
Coordinates: 36°24′30″N 136°26′43.9″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Hokuriku)
PrefectureIshikawa Prefecture
Government
 • - MayorShinji Wada
Area
 • Total371.05 km2 (143.26 sq mi)
Population
 (March 1, 2018)
 • Total108,509
 • Density290/km2 (760/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
-TreePine
-FlowerUme
Phone number0761-20-0404
Address91 Konmademachi, Komatsu-shi, Ishikawa-ken 923-8650
WebsiteOfficial website
Komatsu City Hall

Geography

Komatsu is located in southwestern Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan and is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the east and Fukui Prefecture to the south. It is located about an hour driving distance southwest from Kanazawa (the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture).

Neighbouring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Komatsu has increased over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 95,684
1980 104,329
1990 106,075
2000 108,662
2010 108,433

Climate

Komatsu has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Komatsu is 14.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2521 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C.[3]

History

The area around Komatsu was part of ancient Kaga Province. The area became part Kaga Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. Komatsu housed the retirement castle of Maeda Toshitsune. While nearly all of the castle was demolished, its garden still remains as Rojou Park (芦城公園). In the spring, this is one of the prefecture's best spots for cherry blossom viewing. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Nomi District, Ishikawa. The town of Komatsu was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Komatsu merged with surrounding municipalities to become a city on December 1, 1940.

Government

Komatsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Economy

Komatsu was traditionally known for the production of Kutani ware ceramics and for silk.[4] Komatsu Limited, the Japanese multinational construction and mining equipment corporation, was founded in Komatsu in 1921.

Education

Komatsu has 26 public elementary schools and ten middle schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education and one by the city government. There is also one private high school. Komatsu College, a private junior college is also located in Komatsu.

Transportation

Railway

West Japan Railway Company - Hokuriku Main Line

Highway
National Route 8
National Route 305
National Route 360
National Route 416

Airport

Sister city relations

Local attractions
Old town
  • Site of the Komatsu Castle (小松城)
  • Nata-dera Buddhist temple complex
  • Yunokuni-no-mori traditional handicrafts village
  • Hoshi Ryokan (claimed to be world's second oldest hotel)
  • Motorcar Museum of Japan, the largest museum dedicated to motor vehicles in Japan with a 12,000 square metre display area
  • Awazu Onsen, a hot spring resort
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References
  1. Komatsu city official statistics Archived 2018-11-22 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  2. Komatsu population statistics
  3. Komatsu climate data
  4. Campbell, Allen; Nobel, David S (1993). Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Kodansha. p. 821. ISBN 406205938X.
  5. Official home page
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