Naruto, Tokushima Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Naruto

鳴門市

City

Naruto City Montage

Flag

Seal

Location of Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture

Naruto

Location in Japan

Area

• Total

135.66 km² (52.38 sq mi)

Population

(June 30, 2022)

• Total

54,989

• Density

405.344/km² (1,049.84/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)

- Tree

Ilex integra

- Flower

Hamabō (Hibiscus hamabo)

Phone number

088-684-1111

Address

170 Muyachō Minamihama Higashihama, Naruto-shi, Tokushima-ken
772-8501

Naruto (鳴門市, Naruto-shi) is a city located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022 (2022 -06-30)^[update], the city had an estimated population of 54,989 in 26,206 households and a population density of 410 persons per km². The total area of the city is 191.11 square kilometres (73.79 sq mi).

Geography
- Neighbouring municipalities
- Climate
Demographics
History
Economy
Education
Transportation
- Railway
- Highways
Sister cities
Local attractions
Sports
Traditional arts
Notable people
See also

Geography

Naruto is located in the northeastern tip of Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It is bordered by the Seto Inland Sea to the north and the Kii Channel to the east and faces Awaji Island across the Naruto Strait, which is famous for its whirlpools. The city is located in the easternmost part of the Sanuki Mountains.

Neighbouring municipalities

Kagawa Prefecture

Higashikagawa

Tokushima Prefecture

Itano
Kitajima
Matsushige

Climate

Naruto has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Naruto is 16.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1637 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.3 °C. Due to the Seto Inland Sea climate, rainfall is low despite being in Tokushima Prefecture.On August 6, 1923, a temperature of 42.5 °C, which was the highest recorded temperature in Japan for many decades, was unofficially recorded in Naruto.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Naruto has remained relatively steady over the past 50 years. In the quinquennial census of June 1, 2019, the city had a population of 56,222 (2005: 63,200).

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1920	50,574	—
1930	53,390	+5.6%
1940	52,084	−2.4%
1950	68,080	+30.7%
1960	62,827	−7.7%
1970	60,634	−3.5%
1980	63,423	+4.6%
1990	64,575	+1.8%
2000	64,620	+0.1%
2010	61,522	−4.8%

History

As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Naruto was part of ancient Awa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. The villages of Seto (瀬戸村), Naruto (鳴門村), Muya (撫養村), and Satoura (里浦村) were established within Itano District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. Seto became a town on November 1, 1938, Naruto on April 1, 1940, and Muya on March 15, 1947. The four municipalities merged on March 15, 1947, to form the city of Narunan (鳴南市), which was renamed Naruto two months later on May 15, 1947.

Economy

Naruto has a mixed economy of agriculture, commercial fishing, food processing and pharmaceuticals. In the past, the salt industry was thriving. Naruto was the origin of the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group and the Naruto Salt Industry, both of which still have a number of facilities in the city.

Education

Naruto has 13 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education. The Naruto University of Education is located in the city.