Nishikata Town Emblem	The emblem of Nishikata-machi is based on a hiragana character. It expresses the warm atmosphere of the town, where people join hands and advance the cause of peace.

Location of Nishikata-machi
		Nishikata-machi is located in the southwest part of Tochigi Prefecture, and it adjoins Kanuma-shi and Mibu-machi in the east; Omoi-gawa and Tochigi-shi in the west and Tsuga-machi in the south and in the north. Nishikata-machi has a population of 7 112 (as of April 2003) and covers an area of 32 square kilometers. In April, 1955 the plentiful rice-growing district that had been known as “Nishkata Gosen Goku” during the Edo Era (1603-1867) was merged with Manago, a small traditional mountain village to become Nishikata-mura (Nishikata Village). On October 1st, 1994, Nishikata Village was officially declared Nishikata-machi (Nishikata Town). The liege who built the castle in Ustunomiya during the Nanbokucho Era (1336-1392) announced that as Nishikata was west of Ustunomiya, it would hence forth be known as “Nishikata”, meaning western direction. The town’s primary industry is agriculture; the rice and strawberries of Nishikata Town and famous throughout Tochigi Prefecture.

Access to Nishikata Town

By Car: 20 minutes from the Tochigi Interchange of the Tohoku Expressway 5 minutes from the Tsuga Interchange of the Kita-Kanto National Expressway By Train: 90 minutes from Asakusa Station to Tobu Kanasaki Station on the Tobu Nikko Line (Please note ? you will need to change trains at Tochigi station if using an express train).

Floral and Fauna Emblems of Nishikata Town
The flower of Nishikata-town (Ume)	The tree of Nishikata-town (Zelkova)	The bird of Nishikata-Town (Skylark)

Nishikata Town’s Charter
	We love our hometown from the bottom of our hearts, This town full of nature and smiling faces. In order to protect the spirit of this town, the following Town Chater has been enacted:
	1. Let’s strive to work with healthy bodies and hearts 2. Let’s a build a town that’s good to live in, where people reach out to help each other 3. Let’s encourage cultural diversity in order to enrich our minds and hearts
	(March 17, 1981 establishment)

NISHIKATA TOWN