Hara, Nagano



Hara (原村) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the village had an estimated population of 7,661 in 2445 households, and a population density of 174 persons per km2. The total area of the village is 43.26 sqkm.

Geography
Hara is located in eastern Nagano Prefecture. The village is located in a mountainous area, and includes Mount Yatsugatake partly within its borders.

Surrounding municipalities

 * Nagano Prefecture
 * Chino
 * Fujimi

Climate
The village has a humid continental climate characterized by warm and humid summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Dfa). The average annual temperature in Hara is 9.5 C. The average annual rainfall is 1271.5 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.0 C, and lowest in January, at around -3.0 C.

History
The area of present-day Hara was part of ancient Shinano Province. The present village of Hara was established on April 1, 1889 by the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Hara has grown slightly over the past 50 years.

Economy
The economy of Hara is based on agriculture.

Education
Hara has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Railway

 * The village has no passenger railway service.

Highway

 * [[Image:JP Expressway E20.svg|24px|link=|alt=E20]] Chūō Expressway

International relations

 * 🇳🇿 – Pukekohe, New Zealand, sister city since May 2, 1974

Local attraction

 * Akyū ruins, a National Historic Site
 * Yatsugatake Museum of Art

Notable people from Hara

 * Risa Itō, manga artist