Mayor’s Message
Dear Visitors
Katano is a nature-rich and historical city located near the two major central cities. People in Katano are using tap water drew from rich groundwater due to the fact that about 50 % of the 25 square kilometers town is occupied by a hill chain.
Two Sake breweries are making highly evaluated Sakes in Katano despite the fact that the number of Sake breweries in Osaka is decreasing year by year.
In Amanogawa River which is one of major rivers in Osaka, kingfishers can be seen. It is said that kingfishers are living near a clean river. It proves that Katano has rich forests and clean rivers.
From the top of our symbolic hill called “Konosan (341 meter)”, high buildings in Kyobashi and Umeda, Kyoto Tower, and, if it is fine weather, even Awajishima Island can be seen.
Katano is located within about 20 kilometers from Central Osaka, Kyoto City, and Nara City. There are 6 JR and Keihan stations, and 2 gateways of Second Keihan Motorway in Katano. Our location and public transportation system are very ideal to get to major cities easily.
Katano was called “Katanogahara” when the Japanese Capital moved from Nara to Kyoto about 1200 years ago. Katano is introduced in a lot of Waka (5-7-5-7-7 metre Japanese poem) as a popular high-grade resort for Heian nobles. They came here for cherry blossom viewing and hunting. There are a lot of historical shrines and temples in Katano.
Some of them are deeply relating to mysterious stories such as the tale of Tanabata and the story of the deity Nigihayahi. Furthermore, the Katano’s hill chain was a sacred place for Shugendo based on the notion of mountain worship.
I do want you to touch on Katano’s rich nature and history succeeded from generation to generation.
I am very looking forward to your coming to Katano.
Minoru Kuroda
Mayor of Katano City
City Profile
(Name)
Katano City
(Population)
76,577 (as of October 1st 2014)
(Location)
North Longitude
34°47’17”
East Longitude
135°40’48”
(Access)
to Central Osaka
By Train
JR Kawachiiwafune ⇒ JR Osaka 30 minutes
Keihan Katanoshi ⇒ Keihan Yodoyabashi 34 minutes
By Bus
Keihan Katano ⇒ Namba 30 minutes
to Kyoto
By Train
Keihan Katanoshi ⇒ Demachiyanagi 46 minutes
By Bus
Keihan Katanoshi ⇒ JR Kyoto 50 minutes
(History)
(Seasonal Events)
Spring
(January) New Year Ceremony
(April & May) Spring Festival
Summer
(July 7th) Tanabata Festival
(July) Amanogawa Tanabata Festival
(August) Bon Festival
Autumn
(October) Autumn Festival
Winter