Ayabe, Kyoto

Summary

Ayabe (綾部市, Ayabe-shi) is a city located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2022, the city had an estimated population of 31,082 in 13,660 households and a population density of 90 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 347.10 square kilometres (134.02 sq mi).

Ayabe
綾部市
Gunze memorial hall
Gunze memorial hall
Flag of Ayabe
Official seal of Ayabe
Location of Ayabe in Kyoto Prefecture
Location of Ayabe in Kyoto Prefecture
Ayabe is located in Japan
Ayabe
Ayabe
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°18′N 135°16′E / 35.300°N 135.267°E / 35.300; 135.267
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureKyoto
First official recorded471 AD
Town settledApril 1, 1889
City settledAugust 1, 1950
Government
 • MayorZenya Yamazaki
Area
 • Total347.10 km2 (134.02 sq mi)
Population
 (March 31, 2022)
 • Total31,082
 • Density90/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-8 Wakatakecho, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto-fu 623-8501
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese grosbeak
Flowerume
TreePine

Geography edit

Ayabe is situated in the mountains of Northern Kyoto Prefecture, with the Yura River flowing through the center of the city.

Climate edit

Ayabe has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ayabe is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1639 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C.[2]

Neighbouring municipalities edit

History edit

Ayabe is part of ancient Tanba Province. Per the Nihon Shoki and other historical sources, the area was settled during the Kofun period by the Hata clan, immigrants from mainland Asia who brought with the technology of sericulture and weaving. In the Heian period, the area was developed into a number of shōen landed estates by the Five regent houses in Kyoto. In the Sengoku period, the area came under the control of Akechi Mitsuhide , and in the Edo Period, it was the center of Ayabe Domain and the small Yamaga Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Ayabe was established within Ikaruga District, Kyoto on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on August 1, 1950, and the city borders expanded in 1955 and 1956 to encompass all of former Ikaruga District.

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ayabe has declined steadily over the past 60 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 51,258—    
1970 44,983−12.2%
1980 42,552−5.4%
1990 40,595−4.6%
2000 38,881−4.2%
2010 35,836−7.8%
2020 31,846−11.1%

Government edit

 
Ayabe City Hall

Ayabe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Ayabe contributes one member to the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kyoto 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

 
Gunze Head Office

Ayabe has a mixed economy of agriculture and light manufacturing, with several industrial parks in the city. The area was known from ancient times for weaving cloth, and the leading apparel manufacturer Gunze's registered headquarters are in Ayabe.[4] It is known for the founding of Ōmoto.

Education edit

Ayabe has ten public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Kyoto Prefectural Department of Education. Kyoto Prefectural Agricultural College has a campus in the city.

Transportation edit

 
Ayabe Station

Railways edit

Conventional lines edit

  JR WestSan'in Main Line

  JR WestSan'in Main Line

Roads edit

Expressways edit

Japan National Route edit

Twin towns and sister cities edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Ayabe city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Ayabe climate data
  3. ^ Ayabe population statistics
  4. ^ "Business Locations". Gunze. Retrieved 2021-07-04. Registered Head Office 1 Zeze, Aono-cho, Ayabe, Kyoto 623-8511, Japan
  5. ^ "International Exchange: List of Sister Cities / Kyoto prefecture Multilingual Site". Pref.kyoto.jp. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  6. ^ See also Status of Jerusalem

External links edit

  •   Media related to Ayabe, Kyoto at Wikimedia Commons
  • Ayabe City official website (in Japanese)
  • Ayabe city Tourism Guide Archived 2020-06-17 at the Wayback Machine