Omuta, Fukuoka

Encyclopedia : O : OM : OMU : Omuta, Fukuoka

Ōmuta (大牟田市 -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.

As of March 2006, the city has an estimated population of 133,802 (Men 61,249; Women 72,553) and the density of 1,654.49 persons per km². The total area is 81.55 km².

The current mayor is Michio Koga.

If you have time between trains at Omuta Station there is a fantastic crepe and softcream cafe just outside the station.

Contents

1 Geography
2 History
3 Sister Cities
4 Industry
5 Transport

5.1 Airport
5.2 Railroad
5.3 Bus
5.4 Road
5.5 Shipping

6 External links

Geography

Omuta is located in the southernmost end of Fukuoka prefecture, is bordered by the Ariake Sea in the west, and meets Kumamoto prefecture to the south and east.

It contains Yamagi and Miike mountains, and the rivers Omuta, Suwa, Doumen and Kumagawa.

History

The city was founded on March 1, 1917.

Omuta city developed as an industrial city which centered on the Miike coal mine which existed from the 1860s to 1997. In 1960, the Japanese media observed the Miike dispute which was linked with the reform of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America.

Sister Cities

Datong (northern Shanxi Province in China)
Muskegon County, Michigan (United States of America)

Industry

For the majority of it's past, Omuta was a coal mining town. However, with the recent closure of the Miike mine, industry has focused elsewhere. Currently, there is movement in the environmental recycling industry, centered on the generation of electricity from waste products.

Commercial fishing continues out of port Kurosaki.

Transport

Airport

Saga and Kumamoto Airports are close, but a great many more passengers transit to or from Omuta through Fukuoka Airport due to its greater number of connecting flights and additional services.

Railroad

The city is serviced by Kyushu Passenger railroad's kagoshima line for intercity rail services, and Nishi-Nippon Railroad for more industrial purposes

Bus

General Shuttle and High-Speed buses are provided to nearby cities and airports by Nishi-Nippon Railroad

Road

Omuta is serviced by two Japanese national highways (208 & 389).

Shipping

Docks at Port Miike are the main way to approach the city by sea.

External links

[Omuta official website] in Japanese
[Omuta official website] in English

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