Koga, Metropolitan city in southwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Koga is a metropolitan city in southwestern Ibaraki Prefecture that stretches along two river courses and connects residential, industrial, and agricultural zones. The city is served by several rail lines linking it to the capital and neighboring regions.
The area was already inhabited during the Jomon period and grew into an important ferry harbor on the Watarase during the Nara era. After the merger of several municipalities in 1950, the present city emerged with its industrial and educational structure.
The name derives from old Japanese words describing the position between two riverbanks, a geography that still shapes the city layout. Many old riverside landing points along the western edge recall the former importance as a transfer station for goods and travelers.
The city can be explored easily using local trains and buses that connect residential neighborhoods with commercial areas. Many facilities such as schools, libraries, and sports centers are spread across the area and open to the public.
The city hosts the second-highest number of production plants in the prefecture after the capital, a legacy of silkworm farms from the Meiji era. Even today, some old warehouses along the riverbanks bear witness to this earlier economic structure.
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