Akiha-ku, Niigata

Akiha-ku (秋葉区) is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. , the ward had an estimated population of 76,086 in 29,843 households and a population density of 800 persons per km². The total area of the ward was 95.38 sqkm.

Geography
Akiha-ku is located in an inland region of north-central Niigata Prefecture. Both the Agano River and the Shinano River flow through the ward.

Surrounding municipalities

 * Niigata Prefecture
 * Konan-ku, Niigata
 * Minami-ku, Niigata
 * Gosen
 * Agano
 * Tagami

Climate
Akiha-ku has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Akiha-ku is 13.2 C. The average annual rainfall is 1877.1 mm with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.7 C, and lowest in January, at around 1.7 C.

History
The area of present-day Akiha-ku was part of ancient Echigo Province. The modern towns of Niitsu and Kosudo were established on April 1, 1889 within Nakakanbara District with the establishment of the municipalities system. Niitsu was raised to city status on January 1, 1951. The city of Niigata annexed Niitsu and Kosudo on March 21, 2005. Niigata became a government-designated city on April 1, 2007 and was divided into wards, with the new Akiha Ward consisting of the former city of Niitsu and former town of Kosudo.

University

 * Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences

Primary and secondary education
Akiha-ku has 13 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the Niigata city government. The ward has three public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education.

Railway
JR East - Shin'etsu Main Line JR East - Ban'etsu West Line JR East - Uetsu Main Line
 * (Kameda) - Ogikawa - Satsukino - Niitsu - Furutsu - Yashiroda - (Tagami)
 * Niitsu - Higashi-Niitsu - Shinseki - (Kita-Gosen)
 * Niitsu

Points of interest

 * Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden
 * Niitsu Railway Museum