is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 70,312 in 29068 households and a population density of 1300 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is . It is well known to Japanese horse racing fans because it is home to one of the two Japan Racing Association's training centers and the famous jockey brothers, Yutaka Take and Koshiro Take who were also born in Rittà Â.
Located in the southern part of Shiga prefecture, Rittà  is located on Japan's main transportation arteries. The Tà Âkaidà  Shinkansen, JR Tà Âkaidà  Main Line, Meishin Expressway, Shin-Meishin Expressway, Japan National Route 1 and Japan National Route 8 all pass through the city. The opening of highway interchanges and new train station has led to increasing urbanization, as the city is within commuting distance of Kyoto and Osaka, and is relatively close to Nagoya to the east. About half of them city area is mountainous.
Shiga Prefecture
Rittà  has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Rittà  is 14.0 ðC. The average annual rainfall is 1430 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 ðC, and lowest in January, at around 2.5 ðC.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Rittà  increased rapidly since the 1960s.
Rittà  is part of ancient à Âmi Province. In 1487, during the Sengoku period, the area of Magari, which today is part of Rittà Â, was the site of a battle between the shogun Ashikaga Yoshihisa against Rokkaku Takayori and allied ninja from Iga and Kà Âka ikki. The forces of Rokkaku, Iga, and Kà Âka defeated those of the shogun, and the ninja gained significant fame from their military actions.
During the Edo Period, much of the area which became Rittà  was under control of either Zeze Domain or was tenryo territory directly administered by the Tokugawa shogunate. The area was organized into villages within Kurita District, Shiga with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On October 1, 1954 the villages of Konze, Hayama, Haruta and Daihà  were merged to create the town of Rittà Â.
The kanji characters for Rittà  are "chestnut" (æ Â; kuri) and "East" (æ±; higashi), despite the fact that Rittà  is located in western Japan and is not known for chestnut trees. The name was taken from its location in the eastern portion of former Kurita District (æ Â太é¡; Kurita-gun).
The Japan Racing Association opened the Ritto Horse Training Center on November 11, 1969, and has been one of the two major training centers for race horses in Japan.
Rittà  was raised to city status on October 1, 2001.
Rittà  has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Rittà  contributes two members to the Shiga Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Shiga 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
The economy of Rittà  was formerly centered on agriculture; however due to its location near the major population centers of Kyoto and Osaka and on major transportation arteries, it is increasing industrialized, with the city government aggressively pursuing the development of industrial parks. Sekisui Chemical and Nissin Foods are major employers.
Rittà  has nine public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government. There are two public high schools operated by the Shiga Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
JR West â Biwako Line
JR West â Kusatsu Line