Nakagawa, Nagano
# Nakagawa, Nagano

Nakagawa (中川村, Nakagawa-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the village had an estimated population of 4,910 in 1628 households, and a population density of 64 persons per km². The total area of the village is 77.05 square kilometres (29.75 sq mi). Nakagawa is listed as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.

## Geography

Nakagawa is located in the Ina Valley of south-central Nagano Prefecture in the Kiso Mountains. The Tenryū River flows through the village. The Koshibu Dam is located in Nakagawa.

### Surrounding municipalities

* Nagano Prefecture
   * Komagane
   * Iijima
   * Matsukawa
   * Ōshika

### Climate

The village has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Nakagawa is 9.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1691 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.25 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.4 °C.

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nakagawa has been declining over the past 70 years.

## History

The area of present-day Nakagawa was part of ancient Shinano Province. The villages of Katagiri and Minakata merged on August 1, 1959 to form the village of Nakagawa.

## Education

The village has two public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

## Transportation

### Railway

* Central Japan Railway Company - Iida Line
   * Ina-Tajima

### Highway

* National Route 153

## Notable people from Nakagawa

* Kōichi Shiozawa, Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy
