Nagaokakyō, Kyoto

Nagaokakyō is located in southwestern Kyoto Prefecture. The Obata River and Koizumi River flow through the city. The topography is low from the northwest to the southwest. The area is noted for its bamboo forests. Neighboring municipalities ; Kyoto Prefecture • Kyoto • Mukō • Otokuni District (Ōyamazaki) ; Osaka Prefecture • Mishima District (Shimamoto) Climate Nagaokakyō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nagaokakyō is 14.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1677 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 °C. ==Demographics==

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nagaokakyō has increased slightly in recent decades. == History ==

The area of Nagaokakyō was part of ancient Yamashiro Province. The legendary Kofun period Emperor Keitai's Prince Otokuni, constructed a palace in this location in 518 AD. In 784 AD, Emperor Kammu transferred the capital of Japan from Heijō-kyō to the Nagaoka-kyō Palace; however, the palace was not actually located in modern Nagaokakyō, but in the adjacent city of Mukō . The villages of Otokuni, Kaiin-ji and Shinkotari in Otokuni District, Kyoto were established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. These villages merged on April 1, 1949, to form the town of Nagaoka, which was elevated to city status on October 1, 1972, taking the name of Nagaoka-kyō. ==Government==

Nagaokakyō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Nagaokakyō, collectively with Ōyamazaki contributes two members to the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kyoto 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. ==Economy==

Nagaokakyō has a mixed economy based on commerce and light manufacturing. Murata Manufacturing and Mitsubishi Logisnext are based in Nagaokakyō. The city is also a commuter town for the neighboring cities of Kyoto and Osaka. ==Education==

Nagaokakyō has ten public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by city government and two public high schools operated by the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private junior high school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped. The Kyoto Seizan College is a private junior college located in Nagaokakyō. == Transportation ==

Railways JR West - Tōkaidō Main Line (JR Kyoto Line) • Hankyu - Kyoto Main Line • - Highways • Kyoto Jūkan Expressway • • ==Sister cities==

• Arlington, Massachusetts, United States, sister city since 1984 • Ningbo, Zhejiang, friendship city since 1983 ==Local attractions==

• Igenoyama Kofun, National Historic Site • Shōryūji Castle Culture The most popular event in Nagaokakyo is the Garasha Festival, usually held in November, in honor Hosokawa Gracia. The Garasha Festival is held at both the Nagaokakyo Cultural Center and Shoryuji Castle, while the parade runs throughout the city. Many of the parade participants wear various period's traditional clothing, including the chosen 'Garasha' of the year. ==Notable people from Nagaokakyō==

• Ayumi Kaihori, former soccer player (Japan women's national football team) • Hiroshi Otsuki, former football player and manager • Masaaki Sakata, former rugby union player • Aya Shimokozuru, former soccer player (Japan women's national football team) • Miho Takahashi, swimmer • Takashi Usami, soccer player (Gamba Osaka, J1 League) • Shohei Yamamoto, former soccer player • Kenjiro Yamashita, member of J-pop boygroups Exile and Sandaime J Soul Brothers and a former member of Gekidan Exile. ==See also==