Komatsu, Ishikawa

Komatsu 小松市
City
Flag of Komatsu Flag
Location of Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture Location of Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture
Komatsu Location in Japan
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Ishikawa Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Shinji Wada (2011-
Area
• Total	371.13 km2 (143.29 sq mi)
Population (January 2008)
• Total	109,285
• Density	294/km2 (760/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Pine
• Flower	Ume
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address	91 Konmademachi, Komatsu-shi, Ishikawa-ken 923-8650
Website	www.city.komatsu.lg.jp

Komatsu (小松市, Komatsu-shi) is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 109,285 with a population density of 294 persons per km². The total area is 371.13 km².

The modern city was founded on December 1, 1940, although its history extends to feudal times. It is the third-largest city in the population in Ishikawa prefecture after Hakusan City was formed and came to the second in 2005.

Komatsu Airport is the main airport of Ishikawa. It is located about an hour driving distance southwest from Kanazawa (the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture). It is served by JR West Hokuriku Main Line, Hokuriku Expressway and National Highways Routes 8, 305, 360 and 416. In 2023, this city will served by Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Komatsu Limited, the construction and mining equipment company, was named after the city.

Interesting places in Komatsu are the Nata-Dera Buddhist temple complex, the Yunokuni-no-mori traditional handicrafts village, Hoshi Ryokan (the world's second oldest hotel), and the Motorcar Museum of Japan which is the largest museum dedicated to motor vehicles in Japan with a 12,000 square metre display area. Nearby is the well-known Kaga hot-springs district.

From the 17th Century to the Meiji Restoration, Komatsu housed the retirement castle of Maeda Toshitsune. While nearly all of the castle was demolished, its garden still remains as 芦城公園, Rojou Park. In the spring, this is one of the prefecture's best spots for cherry blossom viewing.

Komatsu is twinned with Gateshead Council (North East England, United Kingdom) and operates an exchange program involving 10 students (aged 13–17) every two years.

• KOMATSU OLD TOWN IN JAPAN 001.JPG

  Old town. The street view equal to Kanazawa city.

• NATA DERA 001.JPG

  Natadera

• Mountain stream japan 001.jpg

  A river in Komatsu

• Komatsu castle.JPG

  Komatsu castle

• OTABI MATSURI FESTIVAL KOMATSU 001.JPG

  Otabi festival

• Komatsu cityoffice.jpg

  City office

External links

• Komatsu City official website (Japanese)