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Takaoka
Takaoka; 高岡市
	; Flag
	; Flag
	Location of Takaoka in Toyama
	; Takaoka
	Coordinates: 36°45′N 137°2′E / 36.75°N 137.033°E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Toyama
	Government
- Mayor	Keiichiro Tachibana
	Area
- Total	209.38 km2 (80.8 sq mi)
Population; (2007)	179,070
- Density	855/km2 (2,214.4/sq mi)
	City Symbols
- Tree	Koshinohigan-Sakura
- Flower	Katakuri (Katakago)
Website	City of Takaoka
Phone number	0766-20-1111
	Address 7-50, Hirokōji, Takaoka-shi, Toyama-ken; 933-8601

Great Buddha of Takaoka

Toide Tanabata Festival (Toide, Takaoka)

Takaoka (高岡市, Takaoka-shi^?) is a city located in Toyama, Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 170,164 and the density of 1,130.28 persons per km². The total area is 150.55 km². Takaoka is the second largest city in Toyama prefecture.

The city was founded on April 1, 1889.

Every autumn, the city has a "Man'yō Festival" in which poems from the Man'yōshū are recited. The city tram line is also called the "Man'yō" line.

Takaoka bronzeware (高岡銅器, Takaoka dōki^?) is a traditional product of the city. It supplies most of bells and statues of Buddhist temples in the whole country. The city is also home to a large bronze Buddha, 15.85 meters tall from ground to halo, and the national treasure Zuiryū-ji Temple (瑞龍寺, zuiryū-ji^?).

[edit] Mergers

On November 1, 2005 the town of Fukuoka, from Nishitonami District, was merged into the city of Takaoka. Nishitonami District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

[edit] Transportation

Takaoka is served by JR West's Takaoka Station with the Hokuriku Main Line, the Himi Line, and the Jōhana Line. Within the city, Manyōsen's Shin-Minato Harbor and Takaoka Kidō lines offer transport.

[edit] Sister Cities

[edit] Notable persons

Fujiko Fujio - manga artist duo
Tadamasa Hayashi - art dealer
Yojiro Takita - film maker. 2008 Film 'Okuribito' won Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.