is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 30,128 in 13487 households, and a population density of 120 persons per km². The total area of the city is . The city's name is atypical for a Japanese place, in that it is written in hiragana rather than kanji (see hiragana cities). Geography Tsugaru is located on the west coast of Tsugaru Peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan. The Iwaki River flows through the city. Parts of the city are within the borders of Tsugaru Quasi-National Park. Neighbouring municipalities Aomori Prefecture Hirosaki Goshogawara Ajigasawa Tsuruta Nakadomari Climate The city has a cold humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tsugaru is 10.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1298 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.3 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Tsugaru has decreased steadily over the past 60 years. History The area of Tsugaru was part of the holdings of the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain in the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Nishitsugaru District, Aomori. With the post-Meiji restoration establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the area became part of Nishitsugaru District, Aomori on April 1, 1889. The village of Kizukuri was raised to town status on May 1, 1901. Kizuki expanded by merging with the neighboring villages of Koshimizu, Shibata, Kawayoke, Shussei, Tateoka and part of Narusawa on March 30, 1955. The city of Tsugaru was established on February 11, 2005, from the merger of the town of Kizukuri, and the villages of Inagaki, Kashiwa, Morita and Shariki (all from Nishitsugaru District). Government Tsugaru has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. Tsugaru contributes one member to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy The economy of Tsugaru is heavily dependent on agriculture and commercial fishing. The city serves as a minor regional commercial center. Agricultural produce includes rice, apples, melons, watermelons, and Brasenia. Education Tsugaru has seven public elementary schools