Ōshika, Nagano

Ōshika 大鹿村
Village
Ōshika Village Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ōshika in Nagano Prefecture
Ōshika
Coordinates: 35°34′41.5″N 138°2′2.4″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Nagano
District	Shimoina
Area
• Total	248.28 km2 (95.86 sq mi)
Population  (October 2018)
• Total	977
• Density	3.9/km2 (10/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Betula platyphylla
• Flower	Fritillaria camschatcensis
Phone number	0265-39-2001
Address	354 Okawara, Ōshika-mura, Shimoina-gun, Nagano-ken 399-3502
Website	Official website

Panorama of Ōshika Village

Ōshika (大鹿村, Ōshika-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2018, the village had an estimated population of 977, and a population density of 3.9 persons per km². The total area of the village is 248.28 square kilometres (95.86 sq mi). Ōshika is listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.

Geography

Ōshika is located mountainous southern of Nagano Prefecture, between the Ina Mountains and the Akaishi Mountains, with the Japan Median Tectonic Line passing through the southern portion of the village.

Surrounding municipalities

• Nagano Prefecture
  • Iida
  • Iijima
  • Ina
  • Komagane
  • Matsukawa
  • Nakagawa
  • Toyooka
• Shizuoka Prefecture
  • Aoi-ku
  • Shizuoka

Climate

The village has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Ōshika is 10.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1655 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.5 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ōshika has declined by more than 80 percent from its peak around 1950.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	4,948	—
1950	5,210	+5.3%
1960	4,694	−9.9%
1970	3,030	−35.4%
1980	2,322	−23.4%
1990	1,802	−22.4%
2000	1,522	−15.5%
2010	1,160	−23.8%
2020	1,023	−11.8%

History

The area of present-day Ōshika was part of ancient Shinano Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the tenryō territories administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate. The present village of Ōshika was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Education

Ōshika has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

• The village does not have any passenger railway service

Highway

• National Route 152

External links

• Media related to Ōshika, Nagano at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)