Moriya 守谷市 | |
|---|---|
 Moriya city hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Moriya in Ibaraki Prefecture | |
  Moriya | |
| Coordinates:35°57′5.1″N139°58′31.5″E / 35.951417°N 139.975417°E /35.951417; 139.975417 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Ibaraki |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.71 km2 (13.79 sq mi) |
| Population (April 2024) | |
• Total | 69,827 |
| • Density | 2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Pine |
| - Flower | Lilium auratum |
| - Bird | Chinese bamboo partridge |
| Phone number | 0297-45-1111 |
| Address | Okashiwa 950-1, Moriya-shi, Ibaraki-ken 302-0116 |
| Website | Official website |
Moriya (守谷市,Moriya-shi) is acity located inIbaraki Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 April 2024[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 69,827 in 29,056 households and apopulation density of 1955 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 23.1%.[1] The total area of the city is 35.71 square kilometres (13.79 sq mi).
Moriya is located in southwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, bordering on Chiba Prefecture to the southwest. The city is surrounded by three rivers, theKinugawa, Kokaigawa and theTone River, one of the longest rivers in Japan. In terms of area, it is the smallest city in Ibaraki Prefecture. It is located approximately 35 kilometers from central Tokyo.
Ibaraki Prefecture
Moriya has aHumid continental climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Moriya is 14.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1325 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.5 °C.[2]
With an area of 35.63 km2, the city has the smallest land area in the prefecture. The city is shaped like a circle, 7.5 km east to west and 7.2 km north to south, and most of the city area belongs to theJōsō, a plateau with an average elevation of 20 m above sea level. Although residential land development is underway throughout the city, there are still many natural features such as fields of ore soil mainly on the plateau and alluvial rice paddies mainly along theTone River.
TheKokai River flows northeast of the city, theKinugawa River west of the city, and theTone River south of the city, which used to be a cove. Although the city and most of the city area were located on a plateau, flood damage was often observed in the low-lying areas because the city was surrounded by rivers on three sides. However, the danger has gradually decreased since theMeiji Era (1868-1912) with the construction of levees and regulating reservoirs, as well as the relocation of houses within the regulating areas. Large-scale flooding did not occur until around 1982, and the inundation itself was over by 1985. Today, only a few areas are considered potentially inundated due to flooding and improvement of inundated areas. In addition, since the area was surrounded by rivers, it benefited from the river boat transportation developed since the Edo period, and became a relay point from the lower reaches of the Tone River, such asChoushi, toSekiyado and theEdogawa River area, and a concentration point for products from the northern Kanto region via theKinugawa River.
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Moriya has grown rapidly since the 1970s.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 38,559 | — |
| 1930 | 37,829 | −1.9% |
| 1940 | 37,718 | −0.3% |
| 1950 | 12,160 | −67.8% |
| 1960 | 11,449 | −5.8% |
| 1970 | 12,300 | +7.4% |
| 1980 | 17,585 | +43.0% |
| 1990 | 35,427 | +101.5% |
| 2000 | 50,362 | +42.2% |
| 2010 | 62,482 | +24.1% |
| 2020 | 68,421 | +9.5% |
Moriya developed in theKamakura period as acastle town ruled by theSōma clan, who ruled northernShimōsa Province. During theEdo periodTokugawa shogunate, much of the area was ruled as part ofSakura Domain, followed bySekiyado Domain. The town of Moriya was established withinKitasōma District on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to city status February 2, 2002.
Moriya has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 20 members. Moriya contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofIbaraki 3rd district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Moriya was an agricultural area until the late 1970s, when the development ofnew towns andindustrial parks made it acommuter town and suburb of greater Tokyo.
Moriya has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private elementary school and three private high schools.
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company -Tsukuba Express
Jōban Expressway – Moriya Service Area, Yawara Interchange
National Route 294
Greeley, Colorado, USA, sister city since August 1993[4]
Mainburg, Germany, friendship city since September 1990[5]
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