is a town located in Agawa District, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 4‚861 in 2,788 households and a population density of 15 persons per km².The total area of the town is . Geography Niyodogawa is located in the Shikoku Mountains of north-central Kōchi Prefecture on the upper reaches of the Niyodo River. Neighbouring municipalities Kōchi Prefecture Ochi Tsuno Ino Ehime Prefecture Kumakōgen Climate Niyodogawa has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Niyodogawa is 13.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2688 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.1 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Niyodogawa has decreased precipitously since the 1950s and is now less than a quarter of what it was a century ago. History As with all of Kōchi Prefecture, the area of Niyodogawa was part of ancient Tosa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tosa Domain ruled by the Yamauchi clan from their seat at Kōchi Castle. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Ikegawa was established within Agawa District, Kōchi with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. Ikegawa was raised to town status on April 1, 1913. On August 1, 2005 the town of Ikegawa and the village of Agawa, both from Agawa District, and the village of Niyodo, from Takaoka District were merged to form the town of Niyodogawa. Government Niyodogawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of five members. Niyodogawa, together with the municipalities of Agawa District, contributes two members to the Kōchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kōchi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy Traditionally, agriculture, forestry and limestone mining were mainstays of the local economy. The area is noted for its production of Tosa Tea, a variety of green tea. Education Niyodogawa has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school. Transportation Railway The town does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Nishi-Sakawa Station on