is a village located in Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. , the village had an estimated population of 4,970 in 2267 households and a population density of 130 persons per km2. The total area of the village is .
Geography Chihayaakasaka is located in the far southeast corner of Osaka Prefecture, bordered by the Yoshino region of Nara to the east. Most of the village area is mountainous and forested, and is within the borders of the Kongō-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park.
Climate Chihayaakasaka has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chihayaakasaka is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1636 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.4 °C.Chihayaakasaka climate data
Neighboring municipalities Nara Prefecture Gojō Gose Osaka Prefecture Kanan Kawachinagano Tondabayashi
Demographics Per census data,Chihayaakasaka population statistics the population of Chihayaakasaka peaked in the 1990s and has been declining since.
History The area of the modern village of Chihayaakasaka was within ancient Kawachi Province, and became famous in the late Kamakura and Nanboku-chō periods as the home territory of the imperial loyalist, Kusunoki Masashige. Various fortifications from that period, notably Shimo-Akasaka Castle, Kami-Akasaka Castle and Chihaya Castle on the slopes of Mount Kongo were the sites of important battles in the 14th century. The villages of Chihaya and Akasaka were established within Ishikawa District with the creation of the modern municipalities system on 1 April 1889. On 1 April 1896 the area became part of Minamikawachi District, Osaka. The two villages merged on 30 September 1956 to form the village of Chihayaakasaka.
On 25 May 1893, eleven people were killed in series of sword attacks in the Suibun area of Akasaka over an infidelity and extortion-centered family feud. The murders became a major influence on Kawachi ondo works.
On 1 March 2008 Chihayaakasaka requested a merge into the adjacent city of Kawachinagano, after talks of merging with the surrounding towns of Kanan and Taishi fell through.Asahi Shimbun, Osaka edition, April 30th 2007, p. 1, 大阪唯一の村消える？ Ōsaka yuiitsu no mura kieru? These plans were also rejected due to strong public opposition on 14 August 2009.
Government Chihayaakasaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of seven members. Chihayaakasaka collectively with the cities of Tondabayashi and Ōsakasayama, and other municipalities of Minamikawachi District contributes two members to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Osaka 15th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy Chihayaakasaka was traditionally dependent on agriculture (notably shiitake) and forestry. The area suffers from an aging population and rural depopulation.
Education Chihayaakasaka has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
Transportation Railway Chihayaakasaka does not have any passenger rail service. The nearest station is Kawachinagano Station or Tondabayashi Station.
Highway
Local attractions Chihaya Castle ruins, a National Historic Site Kami-Akasaka Castle ruins, a National Historic Site Kongō Range, a mountain range on Chihayaakasaka's eastern border Mount Kongō, the highest mountain in Osaka Prefecture Shimo-Akasaka Castle ruins, a National Historic Site
References
External links
Chihaya Akasaka official website Chihaya Akasaka Tourism Association