Namerikawa is a city in eastern Toyama Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 33,320 in 12224 households and a population density of 140 persons per km². Its total area was. The coast of Namerikawa is the habitat of the world famous glowing firefly squid, which surface yearly in a phenomenon that has been designated a Special Natural Monument by the Japanese government. The city was founded on March 1, 1954.
Geography
Namerikawa is in northeastern Toyama Prefecture, in the Hayatsuki river delta and is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the northwest. Namerikawa is located 1 hour by air, 3 hours by rail and 5 hours by car from Tokyo. Since March 2015, rail access is possible via Hokuriku Shinkansen high-speed train from nearby Toyama. The city area is formed on the alluvial fan between the Hayatsuki River and the Kamiichi River. Namerikawa has a humid continental climate characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Namerikawa is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2317 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.6 °C.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Namerikawa has grown over the past 40 years.
Census Year
Population
1970
30,039
1980
30,744
1990
30,923
2000
33,363
2010
33,676
History
The area of present-day Namerikawa was part of ancient Etchū Province. During the Heian period, much of the area was part of shōen controlled by Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto. During the Edo period it was part of the territory controlled by the Maeda clan of Kaga Domain. The town of Namerkawa was created within Nakaniikawa District, Toyama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On November 1, 1953, Namerigawa merged with the neighboring villages of Nakakazumi, Higashikazumi, Nishikazumi, Kitakazumi, Hamakazumi and Hayatsukikazumi. It was raised to city status on March 1, 1954.
Once a rural town in the overlooking Toyama bay, then prospering as inn town on the Hokuriku Kaidō, Namerikawa has developed as an industrial city and commercial center, and is increasingly a bedroom community for nearby Uozu.
