Kakogawa, city in south central Japan, on Honshu Island, in southern Hyogo Prefecture. It is situated on the Kako River near the coast of Harima Sound (an arm of the Inland Sea), about 40 km (about 25 mi) west of downtown Kobe. Kakogawa is part of the Harima Coastal Industrial Zone that extends along the coast of Harima Sound from Akashi to Ako. Industrial products of Kakogawa include steel, wool fabric, silk thread, and chemical fertilizer. The city is a stop on the Tokaido-San'yo Shinkansen, one of Japan's three high-speed “bullet” trains. It is also a rail hub for conventional passenger and freight lines. The Kakurin Temple of the Buddhist Tendai sect is located in Kakogawa. The city also contains many kofun (grave mounds) dating from between the 4th and 6th centuries.
According to legend, Kakogawa was founded by order of Prince Shotoku, a statesman of the Asuka period (AD 552-710). During the Edo period (1603-1867), Kakogawa developed as a river port and post-station town (a settlement catering to travelers) on the San'yodo, a historic highway linking southern Honshu to Edo (now Tokyo). Population (1999) 264,824.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Kakogawa Information info
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