Urugi

Urugi (売木村, Urugi-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019^[update], the village had an estimated population of 552 in 274 households,^[1] and a population density of 13 persons per km². The total area of the village is 43.43 square kilometres (16.77 sq mi).

Urugi 売木村
Village
Urugi Village Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Urugi in Nagano Prefecture
Urugi
Coordinates: 35°16′15.8″N 137°42′40.3″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Nagano
District	Shimoina
Area
• Total	43.43 km2 (16.77 sq mi)
Population  (April 2019)
• Total	552
• Density	13/km2 (33/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Lilium japanicum
• Flower	Fritillaria camschatcensis
• Bird	Japanese robin
Phone number	0260-28-2311
Address	968-1, Urugi-mura, Shimoina-gun, Nagano-ken 399-1601
Website	Official website

Urugi Village

Geography

Urugi is located mountainous southern border of Nagano Prefecture with Aichi Prefecture at an altitude of 800 meters, surrounded by 1000 meter mountains. Over 80 percent of the village area is forested. The Iwakura Dam is located in Urugi.

Surrounding municipalities

• Aichi Prefecture
  • Toyone
• Nagano Prefecture
  • Anan
  • Hiraya
  • Neba

Climate

The town has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Urugi is 11.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2106 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.7 °C.^[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[3] the population of Urugi has decreased over the past 70 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1950	1,469	—
1960	1,320	−10.1%
1970	1,024	−22.4%
1980	828	−19.1%
1990	743	−10.3%
2000	741	−0.3%
2010	656	−11.5%
2020	548	−16.5%

History

The area of present-day Urugi was part of ancient Shinano Province. The village of Toyo was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Toyo Village dissolved on July 1, 1948, with a portion annexed by neighboring Anan, and the remainder becoming the village of Urugi.

Economy

The economy of Urugi is agricultural, with corn, rice, shiitake and scallions as main crops.

Education

Urugi has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

• The village does not have any passenger railway service

Highway

• National Route 418