Kaga, Ishikawa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kaga 加賀市
City
Kaga City Hall
Flag Emblem
Location of Kaga in Ishikawa Prefecture
Kaga Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Ishikawa Prefecture
Area
• Total	305.87 km2 (118.10 sq mi)
Population  (March 1, 2018)
• Total	67,793
• Density	221.640/km2 (574.045/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0761-72-1111
Address	2–41 Minami-chō, Daishōji, Kaga-shi, Ishikawa-ken 922-8622
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Bird Duck Flower Iris Tree Pine

Kaga (加賀市, Kaga-shi) is a city in Japan. It is located in the southwestern part of Ishikawa Prefecture. As of March 1, 2018, about 67,793 people lived there. The city covers an area of 305.87 square kilometers.

Geography of Kaga

Kaga is in the very southwest of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the Hokuriku region. The city is next to the Sea of Japan on its west side. To the south, it borders Fukui Prefecture. Some parts of Kaga's coast are inside the Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Kaga shares borders with several other places:

• In Fukui Prefecture:
  • Awara
  • Katsuyama
  • Sakai
• In Ishikawa Prefecture:
  • Komatsu

Climate in Kaga

Kaga has a humid continental climate. This means it has mild summers and cold winters. There is often heavy snowfall in winter. The average temperature in Kaga is 14.2 degrees Celsius. September is usually the wettest month. The warmest month is August, with temperatures around 26.8 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest month, with temperatures around 2.8 degrees Celsius.

Population Trends in Kaga

The number of people living in Kaga grew until around 1990. Since then, the population has slowly gone down.

History of Kaga

The area where Kaga is located today was once part of an old region called Kaga Province. During the Edo period, this area was part of the Daishōji Domain. This was a special area ruled by a local lord under the Tokugawa shogunate.

After the Meiji Restoration, a big change in Japan's government, the area became part of Enuma District. The town of Daishōji was officially created on April 1, 1889. Later, on January 1, 1958, Daishōji joined with several other towns and villages to form the city of Kaga. The city grew even more on October 1, 2005, when it merged with the town of Yamanaka.

Economy and Industries

Kaga is known for its traditional crafts and tourism.

• Kutani ware is a famous type of ceramic pottery made in Kaga.
• Kaga habutae is a special kind of silk fabric also produced here.
• The city is also a popular place for tourists. Many people visit its beautiful temples and relaxing hot-springs.

Education in Kaga

Kaga has many schools for young people. The city government runs 21 public elementary schools and seven middle schools. The Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education operates four public high schools. There is also a special education school in the prefecture.

Transportation in Kaga

Getting around Kaga and to other cities is easy with its railway and highway systems.

Railway Services

The Hokuriku Shinkansen is the main train service in Kaga since March 16, 2024.

• Hokuriku Shinkansen
  • Kagaonsen
• IR Ishikawa Railway
  • Daishōji – Kagaonsen – Iburihashi

Major Highways

• Hokuriku Expressway
• National Routes:
  • National Route 8
  • National Route 305
  • National Route 364
  • National Route 365

Popular Local Attractions

Kaga is home to famous hot springs that people love to visit:

• Yamanaka Onsen
• Yamashiro Onsen

Sister Cities

Kaga has special friendship agreements with cities in other countries:

• Birštonas, Lithuania (friendship city)
• Dundas, Ontario, Canada (since 1968)
• Tainan, Taiwan (friendship city)

Notable People from Kaga

Many interesting people have come from Kaga:

• Rokusaburo Michiba: A famous Japanese cuisine chef. He was known as the first "Iron Chef" on the TV show.
• Yamada Sōbi: An artist who works with metals.
• Shoji Tabuchi (1944–2023): A fiddler and entertainer, famous in Branson, Missouri.
• Masanobu Tsuji: An army officer and politician.