Aridagawa, Wakayama

Aridagawa (有田川町) is a town located in Arida District, in central Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 25,940 in 10680 households and a population density of 74 persons per km². The total area of the town is 351.84 sqkm.

Geography
Aridagawa is located in the north-center of Wakayama prefecture, with the Aridagawa River running through the center of the town. Although there are some flatlands along the Aridagawa River, most of the town tends to be mountainous.
 * Mountains: Mt. Washigamine (589m)
 * Flatlands: Aridagawa Plain
 * Rivers: Aridagawa River (Futagawa Dam)It was established on January 1, 2006, by the merger of the towns of Kanaya, Kibi and Shimizu, all from Arida District.

Neighboring municipalities
Wakayama Prefecture
 * Arida, Kainan, Tanabe
 * Arida District: Yuasa, Hirogawa
 * Kaisō District: Kimino
 * Hidaka District: Hidakagawa
 * Ito District: Katsuragi

Nara Prefecture
 * Yoshino District: Nosegawa

Climate
Aridagawa has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aridagawa is 13.9 C. The average annual rainfall is 2097.3 mm with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.2 C, and lowest in January, at around 2.9 C. The area is subject to typhoons in summer.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Aridagawa has been declining steadily over the past 70 years.

History
Aridagawa was established on January 1, 2006, by the merger of the towns of Kanaya, Kibi and Shimizu, all from Arida District.

Government
Aridagawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members. Hidaka collectively with the other municipalities of Arida District, contributes two members to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Wakayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
The economy of Aridagawa is dominated by agriculture (horticulture), especially with citrus fruits. The town is also a major producer of sanshō pepper.

Education
Aridagawa has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education..

Railway
JR West – Kisei Main Line
 * Fujinami Station

Highways

 * JP Expressway E42.svg Hanwa Expressway Road
 * JP Expressway E42.svg Yuasa-Gobo Road

Local attractions

 * Aragijima rice terraces
 * Kōya-Ryūjin Quasi-National Park