Mooka, Tochigi


Mooka is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of January 2017, the city had an estimated population of 79,660, and a population density of 476 persons per km². Its total area is 167.34 km². Moka is known for the Mooka Railway, which operates steam locomotives. The train line stretches from Shimodate, Ibaraki Prefecture to Motegi, Tochigi Prefecture. The town produces 7,000 tons of strawberries annually. The name of the city is given as "Moka City" per the city's official website; however, the local train station is "Mōka Station", and the direct transliteration of the city name into Hepburn romanization is "Mooka".

Geography

Mooka is located in southeast Tochigi Prefecture.

Surrounding municipalities

The town on Mooka was established within Tsuga District, Tochigi on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system. Mooka annexed the neighboring villages of Yamazeki, Ouchi and Naka on March 31, 1954. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1954.
On March 23, 2009, the town of Ninomiya was merged into Mooka.

Economy

Mooka is a regional commercial center with a mixed economy. Agriculture centers primarily on rice production and fruits. Traditional industries of sake brewing and cotton weaving have largely been replaced by light manufacturing of automotive and electronic components, primarily for the nearby Nissan factory in Kaminokawa and Honda factory in Tsuga.

Education

Mooka has 18 primary schools, nine middle schools and four high schools.
It previously hosted the Colégio Pitágoras Brasil, a Brazilian school.

Transportation

Railway