Osaka (小坂町, Osaka-chō) was a town located in Mashita District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It had an area of 247.50 km².
On March 1, 2004, the former town of Gero absorbed the towns of Hagiwara, Kanayama and Osaka, and the village of Maze (all from Mashita District) to create the city of Gero. Following this merger, Osaka became a district within the city of Gero.
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Geography
Osaka located in the south-eastern region of Hida Province in a mountainous area at the base of Mount Ontake. Due to the steep slopes of Mount Ontake, the town resides at the bottom of a ravine formed by Hida River, Osaka River and their tributaries.
97% of the land is made up of forests, which contains a number of Tenpō-growth, such as the Hinoki cypress. More than 60% of these are nationally protected.
There are also many waterfalls, including Neo Waterfall. The town established a waterfall survey committee and, as a result of their investigation, it was determined that there were more than two hundred waterfalls with a height of more than 5 m (16 ft). As a result, Osaka became known as the town with the most waterfalls within Japan.
The vicinity around Mount Ontake is designated as Mount Ontake Prefectural Nature Park.
Mountains: Mount Ontake
Rivers: Hida River, Osaka River
Former neighboring municipalities
Mashita District: Hagiwara, Gero
Ōno District: Kuguno, Asahi
Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture: Kaida, Mitake, Ōtaki
History
March 7, 1875: Eleven villages merged becoming the village of Osaka, Chikuma Prefecture
August 21, 1876: With the ablation of Chikuma prefecture, the three districts (Ōno, Yoshiki, and Mashita) became part of Gifu Prefecture
July 1, 1889: Creation of the village of Osaka within Mashita District
March 2, 1898: Becomes the town of Osaka
March 1, 2004: The former town of Gero absorbed the towns of Hagiwara, Kanayama and Osaka, and the village of Maze (all from Mashita District) to create the city of Gero.
Sister cities
Domestic
Hōdatsushimizu, Ishikawa Prefecture
International
Salesópolis (Brazil)
Sightseeing
Tourist spots
Mount Ontake
Neo Waterfall
Galaxy Spa Ski Resort
Hida Osaka cycling road
Dandate Ravine
Osaka Museum
Onsen
Nigorigo Onsen
Yuya Onsen
Shitajima Onsen
Transportation
Train lines
JR Central
Takayama Main Line: Hida-Osaka Station