is a town located in Ayauta District,

Kagawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Kagawa Prefecture has a population of 949,358 (as of 2020) and is the smallest prefecture by geographic area at . Kagawa Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the southwest and Tok ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. , the town had an estimated population of 18,687 in 8932 households and a population density of 2300 persons per km². The total area of the town is .

Geography

Utazu is locate in north-central of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, and is bordered by the

Seto Inland Sea The , sometimes shortened to the Inland Sea, is the body of water separating Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū, three of the four main islands of Japan. It serves as a waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan. It connects to Osaka ...

to the north, Sakaide City to the east and Marugame City to the west. Its area is the smallest among municipalities in the prefecture. Within the town, the Yoshida area (part of the Bannoshu Rinkai Industrial Park) is a reclaimed land, but because it is separated from the rest of the town by the Kitaura fishing port, it is an enclave which is accessible by land is via the adjacent Sakaide.

Neighbouring municipalities

Kagawa Prefecture *

Marugame is a city located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 108,541 in 46101 households and a population density of 970 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Marugame is located in north-ce ...

Sakaide 270px, Sakaide City Hall 270px, Aerial view of Sakaide city center is a city located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 49,439 in 21347 households and a population density of and a population density of 530 p ...

Climate

Utazu has a

Humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Utazu is 15.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1439 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 26.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.3 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Utazu has been increasing steadily since the 1960s.

History

The area of Utazu was part of ancient Sanuki Province, and was the main port connecting Shikoku with the Kinai region in ancient times. From the

Kamakura period The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first ''shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle betwee ...

, Utazu Castle was the stronghold of the Hosokawa clan, ruled as '' shugo'' of Shikoku. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Takamatsu. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Utazu was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on February 15, 1890. it was raised to town status on February 11, 1898 .

Government

Utazu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 10 members. Utazu contributes one member to the Kagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kagawa 2nd district of the

lower house A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...

of the

Diet of Japan The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

Economy

Utazu was traditionally known for its vast salt fields. From the 1980s, the salt fields were reclaimed and redevelopment began, with industrial parks constructed on reclaimed land in the coastal areas and middle-rise condominiums, being constructed around the relocated route of the Yosan Line train station.

Education

Utazu has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school; however, it is the home of Shikoku Medical College.

Transportation

Railways

Shikoku Railway Company - Yosan Line * JR_logo_(shikoku)

Shikoku Railway Company - Honshi-Bisan Line *

Highways

Local attractions

* Gōshō-ji, temple 78 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage *Shikoku Aquarium , the largest in Shikoku

References

External links

* Towns in Kagawa Prefecture Populated coastal places in Japan {{Kagawa-geo-stub