Kariwa, Niigata

Infobox City Japan
Name= Kariwa
JapaneseName= 刈羽村
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Region= Chūbu
Prefecture= Niigata
District=
Area_km2= 26.28
PopDate= March 31, 2007
Population= 4,997
Density_km2=
Coords= coord|37|25|N|138|37|E|region:JP_type:city
Tree= Pine
Flower= Peach
Bird=
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SymbolDescription=
Mayor=
CityHallPostalCode=
CityHallAddress=
CityHallPhone=
CityHallLink= [http://www.vill.kariwa.niigata.jp/ Village of Kariwa] nihongo|Kariwa|刈羽村|Kariwa-mura is a village located in Kariwa District, Niigata, Japan.

As of March 31, 2007, the village has a population of 4,997 (m:2,519; f:2,478) and a density of 190.14 persons per km². The total area is 26.28 km².

Together with Kashiwazaki city, it is the home of the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear generating station in the world by net electrical power rating.

Geography

Kariwa is located near the Sea of Japan and near the center of Niigata prefecture. It takes over 3 hours to reach Tokyo by train (using local trains and Joetsu Shinkansen from Nagaoka) or by driving a car on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.

Adjoining communities

* Kashiwazaki
* Nagaoka

History

Municipal timeline

* November 1, 1901 - The municipality of Kariwa was established.
* September 30, 1956 - A part of Nakadori(-mura) was absorbed into Kariwa.
* April 10, 1959 - A part of Futada(-mura) was absorbed into Kariwa.
* May 1, 2005 - Kariwa becomes only municipality in Kariwa District.

2007 Chūetsu offshore earthquake

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Kashiwazaki, killing 10 people, and injuring more than 1200, causing massive power outages. Total over 340 houses were destroyed and thousands of people are now forced to live at the shelters. The quake caused a fire at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in an electrical transformer, a leak of water from the spent fuel pool, and a host of other safety related events. One of 10 victim was a 79 year old woman from Kariwa, who was trapped under the colapsed house. Her neighbor helped her out of the house after spending hours making an escape way using a chain saw. When the neighbor called the emergency number, he was told that the ambulance could not be sent since the roads were closed. The woman was denied at the first two hospitals since they were alreay filled with patients and died on the way to the third hospital.

Economy

Industry

* The world largest nuclear power plant (Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant) is located here.
* You can find rice fields all over Kariwa
* Peaches are grown and harvested around the late July to the mid August.

Sister cities

* Half Moon Bay, California, United States

Transportation

Privately-owned cars are the primary means of civic transportation. Bus routes and two train stations can be used to travel within the village or go to a large city.

Railroad

East Japan Railway Company serves the village Kariwa with the Echigo Line. Arahama Station and Kariwa Station are located in Kariwa.

Roadways

* The Hokuriku National Expressway Nishiyama IC is only 5 minutes away.

* Major highway: Route 8, Route 116, Route 352

Places of interest

* Kariwa Midden (Pre-historic site)
* Tohuku-in (temple)
* Joraku-ji (temple)
* Hozo-ji (temple)
* Katsuyama castle remains (Now used as hiking paths)
* Akada castle remains (Now used as hiking paths)
* Kariwa Village Life Learning Center "Rapika" ( [http://www.rapika.or.jp/ External Link (in Japanese)] )

Festivals

* Takiya Toro Oshiai Matsuri (Lantern Battle Festival) (April)
* Peach Flower Festival (April)
* Kariwa-mura Furusato Matsuri (Village Festival) (August)

External links

* [http://www.vill.kariwa.niigata.jp/ Kariwa official website] in Japanese