Ibaraki is located in the Hokusetsu region of northern Osaka Prefecture on the northern bank of the Yodo River, bordering Kameoka City in Kyoto Prefecture to the north. It is long and narrow in the north–south direction, and the northern part is mountainous. In the south, the Mishima Plain, which forms part of the Osaka Plain, contains the main urban area. In addition, the eastern edge of the Senri Hills spans the city limits.
Ibaraki has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ibaraki is 14.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1475 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ibaraki has risen steadily over the past century.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1960
71,859
—
1970
163,545
+127.6%
1980
234,062
+43.1%
1990
254,078
+8.6%
2000
260,648
+2.6%
2010
274,832
+5.4%
History
The area of the modern city of Ibaraki was within ancient Settsu Province, and was the site of large settlements in the Yayoi period and was the location of large burial mounds in the Kofun period, including the Ota Chausuyama Kofun, which is designated by the Imperial Household Agency as the mausoleum of Emperor Keitai. In the first half of the Muromachi period, Kusunoki Masashige built Ibaraki Castle, and the jōkamachi which was established around this castle became the core of the modern city. In the Sengoku period, the area was ruled by the Christian daimyō, Takayama Ukon. In the Edo Period, it was directly controlled by Tokugawa shogunate due to its strategic importance on the Sanyōdō highway. The village of Ibaraki was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1896 the area became part of Mishima District, Osaka. Ibaraki was raised to town status on October 14, 1898 and to city status on January 1, 1948. On April 1, 2001 Ibaraki was designated a Special city with increased local autonomy.
Government
Ibaraki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members. Ibaraki contributes three members to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Osaka 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Ibaraki is a regional commercial center and distribution hub for northern Osaka. Due to its proximity to the Osaka metropolitan area, it is also a commuter town. The city also has a growing and very diverse industrial base.
Ibaraki has 32 public elementary schools and 14 public middle schools operated by the city government and six public high school operated by the Osaka Prefectural Department of Education. There are also three private combined middle/high schools and two private high schools. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
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