Mogami, Yamagata

Mogami 最上町
Town
Mount Kamuro is located in Mogami Mount Kamuro is located in Mogami
Flag of Mogami Flag Official seal of Mogami Seal
Location of Mogami in Yamagata Prefecture Location of Mogami in Yamagata Prefecture
Mogami
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Yamagata
District	Mogami
Area
• Total	330.27 km2 (127.52 sq mi)
Population (October 2013)
• Total	9,314
• Density	28.2/km2 (73/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Japanese plum
• Flower	Japanese gentian
• Bird	Copper pheasant
Phone number	0233-43-2111
Address	66 Mukai-machi, Mogami-machi, Mogami-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-6101
Website	Official website

Mogami (最上町, Mogami-machi) is a town in Mogami District, Yamagata, Japan.

As of October 2013, the town has an estimated population of 9,314 and a population density of 28.2 persons per km². The total area is 330.27 square kilometres (128 sq mi).

Geography

Mogami is located in the mountains of extreme north eastern Yamagata Prefecture. Despite its name, the Mogami River does not run through the town. The area is known for extremely heavy snows in winter.

Neighboring municipalities

• Yamagata Prefecture
  • Shinjō, Yamagata
  • Obanazawa, Yamagata
  • Funagata, Yamagata
• Akita Prefecture
  • Yuzawa, Akita
• Miyagi Prefecture
  • Ōsaki, Miyagi
  • Kami, Miyagi

History

During the Sengoku period, the area was under the control of the Mogami clan who built Oguni Castle. During the Edo period, parts of the area came under the control of Shinjō Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Mogami District, Yamagata Prefecture. The villages of Higashi-Oguni and Nishi-Oguni were established on April 1, 1889. These villages were merged to form the town of Mogami on September 1, 1954.

Economy

Mogami was formerly known as a horse breeding area, and numerous ranches supplied horses to the Imperial Japanese Army's cavalry regiments. Modern Mogami is dependent on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism to its many hot spring resorts.

Transportation

Railways

• JR East - Rikuu East Line
  • Sakaida - Akakura-Onsen - Tachikōji - Mogami - Ōhori - Usugi - Semi-Onsen

Highways

• National Route 47

External links

• (Japanese)