Murakami, Niigata

Murakami 村上市
—  City  —
[[File:|border|100px|border|alt=|Flag of Murakami]] Flag
Location of Murakami in Niigata
Murakami
Coordinates: 38°13′N 139°29′E / 38.217°N 139.483°E / 38.217; 139.483Coordinates: 38°13′N 139°29′E / 38.217°N 139.483°E / 38.217; 139.483
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Niigata
Government
- Mayor	Hiramasa Ōtaki
Area
- Total	1,174.24 km2 (453.4 sq mi)
Population (April 1, 2011)
- Total	67,442
- Density	57.43/km2 (148.7/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Fagus crenata
- Flower	Rosa rugosa
- Bird	Spizaetus nipalensis
Phone number	0254-53-2111
Address	1-1, Sannochō, Murakami-shi, Niigata-ken 958-8501
Website	Murakami City

Murakami (村上市, Murakami-shi^?) is a city located in northern Niigata, Japan.

On April 1, 2008, the city merged with the towns of Sanpoku and Arakawa, and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi, all from Iwafune District.

As of 2005, before the merger, the former city had an estimated population of 30,649 and the density of 218.89 persons per km². The total area was 142.12 km².

After the merger, as of April 1, 2011, the new city has an estimated population of 67,442 and the density of 57.43 persons per km². The total area is 1,174.24 km².

Murakami City, seen from the castle ruins on Oshiroyama.

The city was founded on March 31, 1954.

Murakami once thrived as a castle town under the Murakami clan. Even today, the downtown area shows the influence of its past existence of a hub of samurai and merchants.

Famous products of Murakami are tea (Murakami is the northernmost tea-growing spot in Japan), salmon, and Murakami beef. The city is also a tourist spot because of famous Senami Onsen and as a jumping off point to Awashima Island.

Murakami is connected to Niigata City in the south and Yamagata Prefecture in the north via the Uetsu Line (JR East) and National Route 7. Awashima is accessible by ferry from Iwafune Port.

The city has a sister relationship with Sabae in Fukui Prefecture.

Festival

Murakami Taisai, a traditional regional festival held downtown area on July 6 and 7, every year, since 1868.^{[citation needed]}

External links

Media related to Murakami, Niigata at Wikimedia Commons

• Murakami official website in Japanese
• Murakami Website in English