Tsunan

Tsunan (津南町) is a town located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 9,349 in 3480 households, and a population density of 54.2 persons per km². The total area of the town was 170.21 sqkm.

Geography
Tsunan is located in southwestern Niigata Prefecture, in a mountainous area bordering northern Nagano Prefecture. The town is located on a river terrace of the Shinano River with the town hall at an elevation of 241 meters; however, much of the town area is mountainous, with Mount Naeba (2143 meters) is partly located within the town limits. Due to its geographical location between the Sea of Japan and the surrounding Japanese Alps, it has one of the highest annual snowfalls in Japan. There are numerous ski resorts within the region.

Surrounding municipalities

 * Niigata Prefecture
 * Tōkamachi
 * Yuzawa
 * Nagano Prefecture
 * Sakae

Climate
Tsunan has a Humid subtropical climate with continental influences (Köppen Cfa/Dfa) characterized by hot, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tsunan is 10.9 C. The average annual rainfall is 1954.0 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.8 C, and lowest in January, at around -1.2 C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Tsunan has declined steadily over the past 70 years and is now considerably less than it was a century ago.

History
The area of present-day Tsunan was part of ancient Echigo Province and was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into various villages within Nakauonuma District, Niigata The town of Tsunan was established on January 1, 1955 by the merger of the villages of Tomaru, Kamigō, Ashigasaki, Akinari, Nakafukami and Shimofunato.

Government
Tsunan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Tsunan, together with the city of Tōkamachi, collectively contributes two member to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Niigata 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
The local economy is dominated by agriculture. The area is known for its rice, sake, tomatoes, sunflowers, and buckwheat noodles. The town is also within commuting distance of neighbouring Tōkamachi.

Education
Tsunan has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. There is one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefecture Board of Education.

Railway
JR East - Iiyama Line
 * Ashidaki - Echigo-Tanaka - Tsunan - Echigo-Shikawatari

Local attractions

 * Ryu-ga-kubo, one of the 100 Famous Springs of Japan
 * Nishiotaki Dam
 * Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial
 * Okinohara Site, Jomon period ruins, a National Historic Site