Aikawa, Kanagawa

Aikawa 愛川町
Town
View of Aikawa Town
Flag Seal
Location of Aikawa in Kanagawa Prefecture
Aikawa
Coordinates: 35°31′44″N 139°19′18″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Kanagawa
District	Aikō
Area
• Total	34.29 km2 (13.24 sq mi)
Population  (April 1, 2021)
• Total	39,763
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Town symbols
• Tree	Maple
• Flower	Azalea
• Bird	Common kingfisher
Phone number	046-285-2111
Address	251-1 Kakuda, Aikawa-machi, Aikō-gun, Kanagawa-ken 243-0392
Website	Official website

Aikawa Town Hall

Aikawa (愛川町, Aikawa-machi) is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2021, the town had an estimated population of 39,763 and a population density of 1200 persons per km². The total area of the town is 34.29 square kilometres (13.24 sq mi).

Geography

Aikawa is located in the foothills of northern Kanagawa Prefecture. The Nakatsu River, a tributary of the Sagami River, flows through. A portion of the Tanzawa Mountains can be found in the western part of the town. Miyagase Dam, a major source of hydroelectric power, is situated on the Nakatsu River. The highest mountain in Aikawa is Mount Takatori.

Neighboring municipalities

Kanagawa Prefecture

• Sagamihara
• Atsugi
• Kiyokawa

Climate

Aikawa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aikawa is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1906 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Aikawa grew rapidly during the late 20th century and has plateaued in the 21st.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1920	10,238	—
1930	11,031	+7.7%
1940	12,908	+17.0%
1950	14,767	+14.4%
1960	13,721	−7.1%
1970	18,436	+34.4%
1980	29,873	+62.0%
1990	40,424	+35.3%
2000	42,760	+5.8%
2010	42,089	−1.6%
2020	39,869	−5.3%

History

During the Sengoku period, the Battle of Mimasetoge between the forces of Takeda Shingen and the later Hōjō clan occurred on what is now Aikawa Town. During the Edo period, the area was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration, Aikawa village was founded on April 4, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on April 1, 1940. The Imperial Japanese Army established the Sagami Airfield in Aikawa, which was also adjacent to military factories in Sagamihara, an officer's training school in Zama, and numerous Army and Imperial Japanese Navy facilities in Atsugi and Yokohama. On January 15, 1955, Aikawa merged with neighboring Takamine Village and on September 30, 1956, with neighboring Nakatsu Village. In 1966, an industrial park was built on the site of the former airfield and military facilities.

Government

Aikawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Aikawa, together with neighboring Kiyokawa, contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 16th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Aikawa has a mixed economy, supported by agriculture and light/precision industries. Makino Milling Machines has a factory in Aikawa, as does Asahi Glass Co., NHK Spring Company, Merck Pharmaceuticals and Mitsubishi Motors. The town also serves as a bedroom community for neighboring Sagamihara and Atsugi.

Education

Aikawa has six public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

Aikawa does not have any passenger railway service.

Highway

• National Route 412

Noted people from Aikawa

• Takanori Gomi, martial artist
• Daisuke Watanabe, actor
• Hiroya, professional kick-boxer
• Murray Sayle, journalist

External links

• Official Website (in Japanese)