Motegi, Tochigi

Motegi (茂木町, Motegi-machi) is a town located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2020^[update], the town had an estimated population of 11,777 in 4503 households, and a population density of 68 persons per km². The total area of the town is 172.69 square kilometres (66.68 sq mi).

Motegi is located on the far eastern border of Tochigi Prefecture.

Ibaraki Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

Motegi has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Motegi is 13.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1410 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.0 °C.

Per Japanese census data, the population of Motegi peaked in the 1950s and has declined steadily over the past 70 years. It is now less than half what it was a century ago.

The town of Motegi, and the villages of Sakagawa, Nakagawa and Sudo were created within Haga District on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The three villages were annexed by Motegi on August 1, 1954.

Motegi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Motegi, together with the other municipalities in Haga District collectively contributes two members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tochigi 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.