Kameoka 亀岡市 | |
|---|---|
 Top left: A sightseeing train at Sagano Sightseeing Line, Top right: Kameoka Castle site, Middle left: Hozu Valley, Middle right: Kameoka Izumo Shrine, Bottom: A sightseeing boat at Hozu Valley | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Kameoka in Kyoto Prefecture | |
  Kameoka Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates:35°1′N135°34′E / 35.017°N 135.567°E /35.017; 135.567 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kansai |
| Prefecture | Kyoto |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Takahiro Katsuragawa |
| Area | |
• Total | 224.80 km2 (86.80 sq mi) |
| Population (January 1, 2022) | |
• Total | 87,518 |
| • Density | 389.31/km2 (1,008.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 8 Yasumachi Nonogami, Kameoka-shi, Kyōto-fu 621-8501 |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Azalea |
| Tree | Sakura |
Kameoka (亀岡市,Kameoka-shi) is acity inKyoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2022[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 87,518 in 29,676 households and apopulation density of 390 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 224.80 square kilometres (86.80 sq mi).
Kameoka abuts Kyoto to the west and is located to the north ofOsaka. It is on the border line between formerTanba andYamashiro Provinces. Together withNantan city, the region is known as Southern Tanba, Kuchitan or Nanatan. For centuries, Kameoka served as a key transportation point to connectSan'in region and Tanba providence withKyoto. Today, the city serves as one of thesuburbs ofMetro Kyoto.[2]
Kameoka is notable as the launch point for Hozugawa Kudari, a boat ride down theHozu River.[3] It is also the location ofAnaoji Temple, one of the 21 temples in western Japan authorized to issue amulets in the name of the Boddhisattva Kannon.[4]
Kyoto Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture
Kameoka has aHumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kameoka is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1690 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.1 °C.[5]
Per Japanese census data,[6] the population of Kameoka peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 42,355 | — |
| 1970 | 47,151 | +11.3% |
| 1980 | 69,410 | +47.2% |
| 1990 | 85,283 | +22.9% |
| 2000 | 94,555 | +10.9% |
| 2010 | 92,416 | −2.3% |
| 2020 | 86,174 | −6.8% |
Kameoka was part of ancientTanba Province. Rice cultivation was introduced in theYayoi period, and the area's many largekofunburial mounds, especially on the left bank of the Oigawa River (Hozu River). According to theNihon Shoki, at the beginning of the 6th century, the area was the center of a succession struggle within the imperial court, in which King Yahiko, who was in the direct line of succession was defeated byEmperor Keitai fromEchizen Province. The area was the location of theichinomiya of the province,Izumo-daijingū and theTanba Kokubun-ji. TheTanba provincial capital was located nearby, but its exact location has yet to be determined. The area around Kameoka developed as transportation hub as it was the entrance to Kyoto from theSan'in region. In 1333,Takauji Ashikaga raised his army in Kameoka to settle theGenkō Rebellion inKyoto. In theSengoku period,Akechi Mitsuhide constructedKameyama Castle and laid out thecastle town which became the core of modern Kameyama. During theEdo period, it was the center ofTanba-Kameyama Domain, which was controlled by a succession offudai daimyo clans.[7] Kameyama was renamed Kameoka in 1869 to avoid confusion withKameyama, Mie. The town of Kameyama was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On January 1, 1955, Kameoka merged with 15 neighboring villages all within Minami-Kuwada District, and was raised to city status.
Kameoka has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral town council of 24 members. Kameoka contributes two members to theKyoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kyoto 4th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Historically, the area served as a farming community forKyoto, Japan's former capital. For centuries, area farmers provided ingredients used for traditionalJapanese food served inKyoto includingchestnuts,black beans,azuki,rice,matsutake,yams, anddaikon. In addition, farmers in the city providebeef,chicken andayu (also known assweetfish). At present, the area is a mix of agriculture, light manufacturing and is increasingly acommuter town for Kyoto.
Kameoka has 17 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Kyoto Prefectural Department of Education.
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JR West –San'in Main Line /Sagano Line
Kyoto Jūkan Expressway
National Route 9
National Route 372
National Route 423
National Route 477
National Route 478Kameoka has agreements of friendship and co-operation with:[8]
Knittelfeld, Austria, since April 14, 1964
Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States, since November 3, 1985
Jandira, Brazil, since November 3, 1980
Suzhou, China, since December 31, 1996
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| National | |
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