Otowa 音羽町
Former municipality
Otowa Town Office and Cultural Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Otowa in Aichi Prefecture
Otowa Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°51′21″N 137°18′38″E / 34.85583°N 137.31056°E / 34.85583; 137.31056
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Aichi Prefecture
District	Hoi
Merged	January 15, 2008 (now part of Toyokawa)
Area
• Total	29.65 km2 (11.45 sq mi)
Population  (November 1, 2007)
• Total	8,870
• Density	299.15/km2 (774.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
Website	City of Toyokawa
Symbols
Flower	Enkianthus subsessilis
Tree	Azalea

Otowa (音羽町, Otowa-chō) was a town located in Hoi District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

On January 15, 2008, Otowa, along with the town of Mito (also from Hoi District), was merged into the expanded city of Toyokawa.

As of November 1, 2007 (the last census data prior to the merger), the town had an estimated population of 8,870 and a population density of 299.15 persons per km². The total area was 29.65 km².

Geography

• Principal mountains: Kyōgamine (京ヶ峰), Mt. Miyaji (宮路山), Shiro-yama (城山), Mt. Kan'non (観音山)
• Principal rivers: Otowa River (音羽川), Yamakage River (山陰川)

History

• June 23, 1894 - Akasaka Village changed over to Akasaka Town (赤坂町).
• April 1, 1955 - Otowa was founded by the unification of Akasaka Town, Nagasawa Village (長沢村) and Hagi Village (萩村).
• 1981 - Otowa Town Office was moved. Symbol of Otowa was established.
• 1986 - Tōmei Expressway Otowa-Gamagori Interchange opened.
• 1987 - The rezoning of Akasaka was carried. ( - 1993)
• 1992 - Otowa Town Field Park (音羽町運動公園) was completed.
• 1999 - Otowa Town Office was moved. New office and Cultural Hall ("Windia Hall") was completed.
• 2000 - Otowa Town Library and Akasaka Community Center was completed.
• 2002 - Akasaka Rest House (赤坂休憩所), commonly called "Yoramaikan (よらまいかん)" was completed.
• 2005 - Ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding Otowa Town was held.
• January 15, 2008 - Otowa Town, along with Mito Town (also from Hoi District), was merged into the expanded Toyokawa City.

Administration

Economy

• Tokai Rika Otowa Factory

Region

Otowa Junior High School

Otowa Town Library and Akasaka Community Center

Otowa Town Field Park

Transportation

Local attractions

Reenactment of the daimyo's procession

• Akasaka-juku (赤坂宿) - The thirty-sixth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō.
• Mt. Miyaji (宮路山 Miyaji-san) - It is said that Empress Jitō visited this mountain. In the autumn, maple leaves turn red.
• Ruins of the Nagasawa Castle (長沢城址) - Today, The Nagasawa Primary School and the residential area of Kojō (古城団地 Kojō Danchi) is located in this site. The word "Kojō" means "old castle".
• Ceremony to pray for rain (雨乞い祭り amagoi matsuri) - A ceremony held in every August.
• Ceremony of the Sugimori Hachimansha (杉森八幡社祭礼) - A ceremony held in every October. In this ceremony, the daimyō's procession is reenacted.

External links

Media related to Otowa, Aichi at Wikimedia Commons

• Toyokawa Official website (in Japanese)