Ojiya, Niigata

Ojiya (小千谷市) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 34,704 in 12,758 households, and a population density of 224 persons per km². The total area of the city was 155.19 sqkm.

Geography
Ojiya is located in an inland region of central Niigata Prefecture at the southern end of the Echigo Plain. The Shinano River flows through the city. The area has very heavy snow in winter.

Surrounding municipalities

 * Niigata Prefecture
 * Nagaoka
 * Uonuma
 * Tokamachi

Climate
Ojiya has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ojiya is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2263 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.5 °C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Ojiya has declined over the past 40 years.

Government
Ojiya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members.

Economy
Ojiya is known as the birthplace of Nishikigoi carps, along with Yamakoshi.

Railway

 * JR logo (east).svg JR East - Jōetsu Line
 * Ojiya
 * JR logo (east).svg JR East - Iiyama Line
 * Echigo-Iwasawa - Uchigamaki

Highway

 * JP Expressway E17.svg Kan-Etsu Expressway – Ojiya IC

Notable people from Ojiya

 * Uchiyama Gudō, Zen priest and anarcho-socialist activist
 * Junzaburō Nishiwaki, poet