Kitahiroshima, Hiroshima

Summary

Kitahiroshima (北広島町, Kitahiroshima-chō) is a town in Yamagata District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2023, the town had an estimated population of 17,333 in 8333 households and a population density of 27 inhabitants per square kilometre (70/sq mi).[1] The total area of the town is 646.20 square kilometres (249.50 sq mi).

Kitahiroshima
北広島町
View of Flower Planting Dance of Mibu
View of Flower Planting Dance of Mibu
Flag of Kitahiroshima
Official seal of Kitahiroshima
Location of Kitahiroshima in Hiroshima PrefectureLocation of Kitahiroshima
Kitahiroshima is located in Japan
Kitahiroshima
Kitahiroshima
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°40′28″N 132°32′18″E / 34.67444°N 132.53833°E / 34.67444; 132.53833
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku
San'yō
PrefectureHiroshima Prefecture
DistrictYamagata
Government
 • MayorMasahiko Takeshita (since March 2005)
Area
 • Total646.20 km2 (249.50 sq mi)
Population
 (April 30, 2023)
 • Total17,333
 • Density27/km2 (69/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1234 Arita, Kitahiroshima-machi, Yamagata-gun, Hiroshima-ken 731-1595
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Kitahiroshima Town Hall
Kikkawa Motoharu castle ruins, National Historic Site
Oasa ski resort

Geography edit

Kitahiroshima is in the Chūgoku Mountains of north-central Hiroshima, bordered by Shimane Prefecture to the north. Due to its location and elevation, it is a heavy snowfall region.

Adjoining municipalities edit

Hiroshima Prefecture

Shimane Prefecture

Climate edit

Kitahiroshima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by cold winters and hot, humid summers. The average annual temperature in Kitahiroshima is 12.0 °C (53.6 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,852.7 mm (72.94 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.1 °C (75.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around 0.6 °C (33.1 °F).[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Kitahiroshima was 36.2 °C (97.2 °F) on 15 July 2018; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F) on 28 February 1981.[3]

Climate data for Ōasa, Kitahiroshima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.3
(61.3)
19.3
(66.7)
22.6
(72.7)
29.7
(85.5)
31.5
(88.7)
32.9
(91.2)
36.2
(97.2)
35.5
(95.9)
33.8
(92.8)
29.0
(84.2)
25.2
(77.4)
18.9
(66.0)
36.2
(97.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.0
(41.0)
6.4
(43.5)
11.0
(51.8)
17.2
(63.0)
22.2
(72.0)
25.0
(77.0)
28.3
(82.9)
29.5
(85.1)
25.4
(77.7)
19.9
(67.8)
14.0
(57.2)
7.8
(46.0)
17.6
(63.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.6
(33.1)
1.3
(34.3)
4.8
(40.6)
10.4
(50.7)
15.5
(59.9)
19.5
(67.1)
23.4
(74.1)
24.1
(75.4)
19.9
(67.8)
13.6
(56.5)
7.8
(46.0)
2.8
(37.0)
12.0
(53.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.5
(25.7)
−3.5
(25.7)
−1.0
(30.2)
3.4
(38.1)
8.8
(47.8)
14.5
(58.1)
19.4
(66.9)
19.7
(67.5)
15.2
(59.4)
8.0
(46.4)
2.4
(36.3)
−1.5
(29.3)
6.8
(44.3)
Record low °C (°F) −15.7
(3.7)
−18.1
(−0.6)
−13.0
(8.6)
−6.2
(20.8)
−2.0
(28.4)
3.0
(37.4)
6.8
(44.2)
10.7
(51.3)
1.4
(34.5)
−2.0
(28.4)
−5.2
(22.6)
−14.7
(5.5)
−18.1
(−0.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 120.8
(4.76)
109.9
(4.33)
140.0
(5.51)
136.4
(5.37)
158.6
(6.24)
214.2
(8.43)
276.7
(10.89)
163.2
(6.43)
202.0
(7.95)
112.6
(4.43)
91.0
(3.58)
129.3
(5.09)
1,852.7
(72.94)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 125
(49)
102
(40)
28
(11)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.4)
65
(26)
319
(126)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 15.9 14.6 13.9 10.9 9.9 12.0 13.5 10.5 11.0 8.4 10.3 15.5 146.4
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 11.1 8.9 2.7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 5.4 28.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 70.8 91.4 144.6 178.7 207.2 152.1 152.3 181.3 148.7 155.7 118.3 82.6 1,690.6
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kitahiroshima in 2020 is 17,763 people.[4] Kitahiroshima has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 34,257—    
1925 34,062−0.6%
1930 33,283−2.3%
1935 33,263−0.1%
1940 31,480−5.4%
1945 39,377+25.1%
1950 38,723−1.7%
1955 38,165−1.4%
1960 35,696−6.5%
1965 29,672−16.9%
1970 25,682−13.4%
1975 24,229−5.7%
1980 23,743−2.0%
1985 23,183−2.4%
1990 22,926−1.1%
1995 22,458−2.0%
2000 21,929−2.4%
2005 20,857−4.9%
2010 19,970−4.3%
2015 18,918−5.3%
2020 17,763−6.1%
Kitahiroshima population statistics[4]

History edit

The area of Kitahiroshima was part of an ancient Aki Province, and was part of the holdings of Hiroshima Domain during the Edo Period . Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Yamagata District, Hiroshima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Kitahiroshima was formed on February 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Chiyoda, Geihoku, Ōasa and Toyohira, all from Yamagata District.

Government edit

Kitahiroshima has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Kitahiroshima contributes one member to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hiroshima 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

The economy of Kitahiroshima is largely based on agriculture and forestry, with seasonal tourism to its ski resorts.

Education edit

Kitahiroshima has nine public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the town government, and two public high schools operated by the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education. there is also one private middle school and one private high school.

Transportation edit

Railway edit

Kitahiroshima does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Kabe Station on the JR West Kabe Line in Asakita-ku, Hiroshima

Highways edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Kitahiroshima town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kitahiroshima population statistics

External links edit

  • Official website   (in Japanese)