Kita-ku, Niigata

Kita-ku (北区) is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. , the ward had an estimated population of 74,559 in households and a population density of 690 persons per km². The total area of the ward was 107.72 sqkm.

Geography
Kita-ku is located in north-east Niigata city, and is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north.

Surrounding municipalities

 * Niigata Prefecture
 * Higashi-ku, Niigata
 * Kōnan-ku, Niigata
 * Shibata
 * Agano
 * Seiro

History
The area of present-day Kita-ku was part of ancient Echigo Province. The village of Kuzudzuka was established on April 1, 1889 within Kitakanbara District, Niigata with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, and was raised to town status on November 1, 1901. It was renamed Toyosaka on March 31, 1955 and was elevated to city status on November 1, 1970. The city of Niigata annexed Toyosaka on March 21, 2005. Niigata became a government-designated city on April 1, 2007 and was divided into wards, with former Toyosaka becoming part of the new Kita Ward along with a coastal section of the former Niigata city.

University

 * Niigata University of Health and Welfare

Primary and secondary education
Kita-ku has 13 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the Niigata city government. The ward has one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education and one private high school.

Railway
JR East - Hakushin Line
 * Niizaki - Hayadōri - Toyosaka - Kuroyama

Transit bus

 * Transit bus operated by Niigata Kotsu
 * E2 / E4
 * Toyosaka Sta. - JRA Racecourse
 * Toyosaka Sta. - Tsukioka Onsen

Places

 * Fukushimagata Lagoon Water Park
 * Niigata Racecourse, one of the racecourses of JRA
 * Niigata Senbei Okoku