Chikuhoku
# Chikuhoku

Chikuhoku (筑北村, Chikuhoku-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 28 February 2018, the village had an estimated population of 4,688 in 1873 households, and a population density of 47 persons per $km^2.$ The total area of the village is 99.47 square kilometres (38.41 sq mi).

## Geography

Chikuhoku is located in the center of Nagano Prefecture in the Matsumoto Basin. Higashijo Dam and Onikuma Dam are located in Chikuhoku.

### Climate

The village has a climate characterized by characterized by cool and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Dfa. The average annual temperature in Chikuhoku is 9.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2515 mm mm with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.8 °C.

### Surrounding municipalities

* Nagano Prefecture
   * Matsumoto
   * Azumino
   * Nagano
   * Chikuma
   * Ueda
   * Aoki
   * Omi
   * Ikusaka

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Chikuhoku has decreased by more than half over the past 70 years.

## History

The area of present-day Chikuhoku was part of ancient Shinano Province. Most of the area was under the control of Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The villages of Honjō, Sakakita, and Sakai were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The village of Chikuhoku was incorporated on October 11, 2005, by a merger of the three villages.

## Education

Chikuhoku has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the village government, and one middle school operated jointly between Chikuhoku and neighboring Omi village. The village does not have a high school.

## Transportation

### Railway

* Shinano Railway - Shinano Railway Line
   * Nishijō - Sakakita - Hijiri-Kōgen - Kamuriki

### Highway

* National Route 143
* National Route 403

## Local attractions

* Site of Aoyagi Castle
* Mount Kamuriki, known in Japanese folklore as the location of Mount Ubasute

## Notable people from Chikuhoku

* Tomio Hora, historian
