Hirakawa (平川市,Hirakawa-shi) is acity located inAomori Prefecture,Japan. As of 31 January 2023^[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 30,086 in 14,181 households,^[1] and apopulation density of 89 persons per km². The total area of the city is 346.01 square kilometres (133.60 sq mi).

Hirakawa 平川市
City
Seibi-en
Flag Seal
Location of Hirakawa in Aomori Prefecture
Hirakawa
Coordinates:40°35′2.8″N140°33′59.3″E / 40.584111°N 140.566472°E /40.584111; 140.566472
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Aomori
Area
• Total	346.01 km2 (133.60 sq mi)
Population  (January 31, 2023)
• Total	30,086
• Density	87/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0172-44-1111
Address	25-6 Kashiwagichō Fujiwara, Hirakawa-shi, Aomori-ken 036-0104
Website	Official website
Symbols
Bird	Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
Flower	Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Tree	Japanese black pine

Hirakawa is located in the mountains and hills to the northwest ofLake Towada. TheIwaki River flows through the city. Part of the city is within the borders of theKuroishi Onsenkyō Prefectural Natural Park.

Akita Prefecture

• Kosaka
• Ōdate

Aomori Prefecture

• Aomori
• Hirosaki
• Inakadate
• Kuroishi
• Owani
• Towada

The city has a coldhumid continental climate (KöppenDfa) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hirakawa is 8.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1413 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.8 °C.^[2]

The area around Hirakawa was part of theHirosaki Domain of theTsugaru clan during theEdo period. After theMeiji Restoration, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, it became part ofMinamitsugaru District, Aomori. The village of Onoe was raised to town status on April 1, 1937. The city of Hirakawa was established on January 1, 2006, from the merger of the towns ofHiraka andOnoe, and the village ofIkarigaseki.

Per Japanese census data,^[4] the population of Hirakawa has decreased steadily over the past 60 years.

Hirakawa has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city legislature of 16 members. The city elects two members to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofAomori 3rd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.

The economy of Hirakawa is primarily agricultural, with rice and apples as the predominant crops. The city government is encouraging the development of highland vegetables and a local brand of beef.^[5]

Hirakawa has nine public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.

 East Japan Railway Company (JR East) -Ōu Main Line

• Tsugaru-Yunosawa,Ikarigaseki

 Kōnan Railway Company -Kōnan Railway Kōnan Line

• Tachita,Hiraka,Hakunōkōkōmae,Tsugaru-Onoe,Onoekōkōmae

•  Tōhoku Expressway

 National Route 7

 National Route 102

 National Route 182

 National Route 454

• Hisayoshi Dam
• Ikarigaseki onsen
• Kuroishi Onsenkyō Prefectural Natural Park
• Nurukawa onsen
• Saruka Jinja
• Seibi-en, National Place of Scenic Beauty^[6]
• Seitō Shoin Teien, National Place of Scenic Beauty^[7]

• Official website(in Japanese)