Ōzu, Kumamoto

Town in Kyushu, Japan

Ōzu Flag Seal
Location of Ōzu in Kumamoto Prefecture
32°52′N 130°52′E / 32.867°N 130.867°E / 32.867; 130.867
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Kumamoto Prefecture
District	Kikuchi
Area
• Total	99.09 km² (38.26 sq mi)
Population (October 1, 2016)
• Total	33,793
• Density	340/km² (880/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
Website	www.town.ozu.kumamoto.jp

Ōzu (大津町, Ōzu-machi) is a town located in Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

As of October 1, 2016, the town has an estimated population of 33,793 and a density of 340 persons per km². The total area is 99.09 km².

The town is known for its Azalea (tsutsuji) Festival in the spring. There is a large Honda factory located near Ozu that employs people from around the world.^[1] Ozu is also known for its sweet potatoes (karaimo).^[2] The town also has one of the oldest homes in Kikuchi District that opens twice a year for tourists, a racing track, and is located on the edge of the caldera that surrounds Mount Aso.^[2]

Ozu was affected by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.

References

^ "Honda to raise retirement age to 65 in recognition of demographic shift". The Japan Times. 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
^ ^a ^b "Experience Japan's Bushido Culture in Ozu Town, Kumamoto | Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization". www.visit-kyushu.com. Retrieved 2022-10-21.