Gobō, Wakayama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gobō
御坊市
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Gobō City Hall
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Location of Gobō in Wakayama Prefecture
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 Gobō
Location in Japan
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| Country | Japan | ||||||||||
| Region | Kansai | ||||||||||
| Prefecture | Wakayama | ||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||
| • Total | 43.91 km2 (16.95 sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Population
(May 2024)
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| • Total | 21,260 | ||||||||||
| • Density | 484.17/km2 (1,254.0/sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) | ||||||||||
| City hall address | 350 Sono, Gobo-shi, Wakayama-ken 644-0002 | ||||||||||
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Gobō (御坊市, Gobō-shi) is a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2024, about 21,260 people live there in 10,801 homes. The city covers an area of about 43.91 square kilometers.
Contents
Discovering Gobō City
Gobō is located in the middle of Wakayama Prefecture's coastline. It sits right at the mouth of the Hidakagawa River. The city has flat areas near the Kii Channel and mountains to the east.
Nearby Towns and Villages
Gobō is surrounded by a few other places in Wakayama Prefecture:
- Inami
- Hidaka
- Hidakagawa
- Mihama
Gobō's Weather
Gobō has a mild climate, meaning it doesn't get too hot or too cold. This is thanks to the Kuroshio Current, a warm ocean current. Summers are warm, and winters are cool with little to no snow.
The average temperature in Gobō is about 15.9°C. August is usually the warmest month, reaching around 26.1°C. January is the coolest, with temperatures around 6.1°C. The city gets a lot of rain, especially in September. Sometimes, strong storms called typhoons can hit the area in summer.
A Look at Gobō's History
The area where Gobō city is now was once part of an old Japanese province called Kii Province. The village of Gobō started on April 1, 1889. It got its name from a special temple called Hidaka-Gobō. This temple was built in 1528 and was known locally as "Gobō-sama."
Gobō grew from a village to a town in 1897. Later, on April 1, 1954, it joined with four other villages (Fujita, Noguchi, Nada, and Shioya) to become the city we know today.
What Gobō Makes and Does
In the past, Gobō was an important place for trading timber that came down the Hidaka River. It was also a busy fishing port. Today, fishing is still a big part of Gobō's economy. Fishermen catch things like horse mackerel, abalone, and spiny lobster.
Farming is also important, especially growing cut flowers. Gobō's special saying is "Hanamaru Gobō", which means "Flower Power Gobō!" The city's greenhouses grow many different kinds of flowers. These flowers are sent all over Japan. The official flower of Gobō is the Hibiscus hamabo. This plant can grow very tall and has pretty yellow flowers in the summer. You can find these hibiscus plants near the mouth of the Hidaka River, where the weather is extra warm.
Gobō also has some factories. For example, Taiyo Kagaku makes mahjong tiles here. They make almost all the mahjong tiles used in Japan! There's also a power plant in Gobō called the Kansai Electric Gobō Thermal Power Plant.
Schools and Learning in Gobō
Gobō has many schools for young people. The city government runs six public elementary schools and four public middle schools. For older students, the Wakayama Prefectural Department of Education operates four public high schools. There is also one private middle school in the city. If you're interested in learning a specific trade, the prefecture also has a vocational education school.
Getting Around Gobō
You can travel around Gobō by train or car.
Train Lines
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JR West operates the Kisei Main Line:
- Dōjōji
- Gobō
The Kishū Railway operates the Kishū Railway Line:
- Gobō
- Gakumon
- Kii-Gobō
- Shiyakusho-mae
- Nishi-Gobō
Major Roads
Hanwa Expressway
National Route 42
National Route 425
Fun Places to Visit
Gobō has a great place for sports and relaxation called "Gobō Synthesis Sport Park." This park has a baseball field, a multipurpose field, and areas for training. It's a popular spot for local people to enjoy outdoor activities and relax.
Famous People from Gobō
- Kimurayama Mamoru (1981–2024), a famous sumo wrestler.
See also
In Spanish: Gobō (Wakayama) para niños
