Hinoemata, Fukushima

Coordinates: 37°1′26.9″N 139°23′20.2″E / 37.024139°N 139.388944°E / 37.024139; 139.388944
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Hinoemata
檜枝岐村
Hinoemata Village Hall
Hinoemata Village Hall
Flag of Hinoemata
Official seal of Hinoemata
Location of Hinoemata in Fukushima Prefecture
Location of Hinoemata in Fukushima Prefecture
Hinoemata is located in Japan
Hinoemata
Hinoemata
 
Coordinates: 37°1′26.9″N 139°23′20.2″E / 37.024139°N 139.388944°E / 37.024139; 139.388944
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureFukushima
DistrictMinamiaizu
Area
 • Total390.46 km2 (150.76 sq mi)
Population
 (January 2020)
 • Total556
 • Density1.4/km2 (3.7/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0241-75-2311
Address880 Shimonohara, Hinoemata-mura, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima-ken 967-0525
ClimateDfb
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerAsian skunk cabbage
TreeChamaecyparis obtusa
Hiuchigatake (2356 m) and Ozegahara

Hinoemata (檜枝岐村, Hinoemata-mura) is a village located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2020, the village had an estimated population of 556, and a population density of 1.5 persons per km². The total area of the village was 390.46 square kilometres (150.76 sq mi). It is locally famous for its soba (buckwheat noodles) and known nationally for its kabuki performances and as a gateway to the Oze marshlands.

Geography[edit]

Located in the southwestern corner of Fukushima prefecture, Hinoemata is surrounded by the mountains Komagatake, Mount Taishaku, and Hiuchigatake (the highest mountain in northwestern Japan). Between these mountains runs the Hinoemata River. It is known for having the lowest population density of any municipality in Japan.

  • Mountains: Aizu-Komagatake (2133 m), Mount Taishaku (2060 m), Hiuchigatake (2356 m)
  • Rivers: Hinoemata River
  • Lakes: Ozegahara

Neighboring municipalities[edit]

Climate[edit]

Hinoemata has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hinoemata is 6.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1050 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -5.2 °C.[1]

Climate data for Hinoemata (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.3
(50.5)
14.0
(57.2)
17.5
(63.5)
25.2
(77.4)
29.6
(85.3)
31.2
(88.2)
32.5
(90.5)
32.5
(90.5)
31.1
(88.0)
26.9
(80.4)
22.0
(71.6)
19.7
(67.5)
32.5
(90.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.1
(31.8)
0.9
(33.6)
4.8
(40.6)
11.5
(52.7)
18.5
(65.3)
21.8
(71.2)
25.2
(77.4)
26.3
(79.3)
21.8
(71.2)
15.8
(60.4)
9.7
(49.5)
3.2
(37.8)
13.3
(55.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)
−3.5
(25.7)
−0.2
(31.6)
5.3
(41.5)
11.7
(53.1)
15.8
(60.4)
19.6
(67.3)
20.3
(68.5)
16.2
(61.2)
10.1
(50.2)
4.2
(39.6)
−1.0
(30.2)
7.9
(46.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −7.6
(18.3)
−7.9
(17.8)
−4.7
(23.5)
0.5
(32.9)
5.6
(42.1)
10.7
(51.3)
15.3
(59.5)
15.9
(60.6)
12.0
(53.6)
5.6
(42.1)
0.0
(32.0)
−4.8
(23.4)
3.4
(38.1)
Record low °C (°F) −18.7
(−1.7)
−18.2
(−0.8)
−17.0
(1.4)
−10.2
(13.6)
−4.0
(24.8)
2.0
(35.6)
5.4
(41.7)
6.6
(43.9)
−0.2
(31.6)
−5.1
(22.8)
−10.0
(14.0)
−16.0
(3.2)
−18.7
(−1.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 131.3
(5.17)
114.9
(4.52)
91.6
(3.61)
80.2
(3.16)
89.5
(3.52)
121.8
(4.80)
207.4
(8.17)
166.9
(6.57)
160.1
(6.30)
155.1
(6.11)
103.8
(4.09)
145.5
(5.73)
1,560
(61.42)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 325
(128)
281
(111)
212
(83)
92
(36)
3
(1.2)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
39
(15)
259
(102)
1,221
(481)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 18.1 16.0 14.9 11.8 11.8 14.0 15.9 13.7 13.1 12.8 14.4 18.4 174.9
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 22.1 20.1 20.4 12.8 0.6 0 0 0 0 0 2.9 14.6 93.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 48.8 68.0 106.1 137.2 178.2 132.5 133.5 151.3 115.4 109.8 92.9 64.2 1,337.8
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Hinoemata peaked around the year 1960 and since declined to pre-1930 levels.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 463—    
1930 532+14.9%
1940 691+29.9%
1950 786+13.7%
1960 983+25.1%
1970 851−13.4%
1980 765−10.1%
1990 702−8.2%
2000 757+7.8%
2010 637−15.9%
2020 504−20.9%

History[edit]

The area of present-day Hinoemata was part of ancient Mutsu Province and formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Minamiaizu District in Fukushima Prefecture. Hinoemata was formed on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Economy[edit]

The economy of Hinoemata is primarily agricultural.

Education[edit]

Hinoemata has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the village government.

  • Hinoemata Elementary School
  • Hinoemata Junior-High School

Transportation[edit]

Highway[edit]

Bus[edit]

Hinoemata is served by a single local bus line connecting it with Aizukogenozeguchi and Aizu-Tajima stations in neighboring Minami-Aizu Town.[5]

Local attractions[edit]

  • Okutadami Dam (Hinoemata is situated on the east bank of the dam lake.) While half the dam is technically within Hinoemata the dam is not accessible to the public from the Hinoemata side due to mountainous terrain.
  • Hinoemata Hot Spring
  • Sanjō Falls
  • Takeda Hisayoshi Memorial Hall

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hinoemata climate data
  2. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  3. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  4. ^ Hinoemata population statistics
  5. ^ "路線バス時刻表(Pdf版)".

External links[edit]