Isohara

A district in the eastern part of Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Formerly Isohara Town. In 1956 (Showa 31), it merged with Otsu Town, Hirakata Town, and three other villages to form a city and was called Ibaraki City, but was soon renamed Kitaibaraki City. It runs along the mouth of the Okita River. A shopping district is formed around Isohara Station on the JR Joban Line, National Route 6 runs along the east side, and Kitaibaraki Interchange on the Joban Expressway is on the west side. This is the center of Kitaibaraki City, which grew with the development of the Joban coalfields (closed in 1971). There is the Isohara Industrial Park, and many companies have moved there. At the mouth of the river, there is the scenic Tenpiyama Mountain, a beach, and the birthplace of poet Noguchi Ujo.

[Akitoshi Sakurai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

茨城県北茨城市東部の一地区。旧磯原町。1956年（昭和31）大津町、平潟(ひらかた)町ほか3村と合併して市制施行し、茨城市と称したが、ただちに北茨城市と改称。大北川河口に沿う。JR常磐(じょうばん)線磯原駅を中心に商店街をなし、国道6号が東側を通り、西側に常磐自動車道北茨城インターチェンジがある。常磐炭田（1971年閉鎖）の開発で発展した北茨城市の中心地。磯原工業団地があり、多数の企業が進出した。河口に天妃(てんぴ)山の景勝地と、海水浴場、詩人の野口雨情(うじょう)の生家がある。

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