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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Amakusa, Kumamoto
Amakusa (天草市, Amakusa-shi) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.

As of March 2024, Amakusa has an estimated population of 72,623 and a population density of 110 persons per km. The total area is 683.82 km (424.91 mi). Amakusa has the distinction of being the fastest depopulating city in Japan since the last census (2005).

Amakusa covers the majority of two main islands, Kamishima (上島, "Upper Island") and Shimoshima (下島, "Lower Island") (天草諸島), and six smaller islands and islets. The modern city of Amakusa was established on March 27, 2006, from a merger between the former cities of Hondo and Ushibuka, and the towns of Amakusa , Ariake, Goshoura, Itsuwa, Kawaura, Kuratake, Shinwa and Sumoto from Amakusa District.

Amakusa Airlines is headquartered in Amakusa.

Geography

Climate

Amakusa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heaviest from May to August. The average annual temperature in Amakusa is 18.2 °C (64.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,109.8 mm (83.06 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.3 °C (82.9 °F), and lowest in January, at around 8.6 °C (47.5 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Amakusa was 39.6 °C (103.3 °F) on 20 August 2013; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −7.0 °C (19.4 °F) on 25 January 2016.

Climate data for Ushibuka, Amakusa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1949−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 21.8
(71.2) 		23.6
(74.5) 		24.5
(76.1) 		29.2
(84.6) 		31.2
(88.2) 		33.9
(93.0) 		37.5
(99.5) 		39.6
(103.3) 		36.7
(98.1) 		34.0
(93.2) 		27.8
(82.0) 		24.0
(75.2) 		39.6
(103.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.8
(53.2) 		13.0
(55.4) 		16.1
(61.0) 		20.3
(68.5) 		24.2
(75.6) 		26.5
(79.7) 		30.4
(86.7) 		32.2
(90.0) 		29.6
(85.3) 		25.0
(77.0) 		19.6
(67.3) 		14.2
(57.6) 		21.9
(71.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 8.6
(47.5) 		9.4
(48.9) 		12.2
(54.0) 		16.3
(61.3) 		20.1
(68.2) 		23.1
(73.6) 		27.0
(80.6) 		28.3
(82.9) 		25.6
(78.1) 		21.1
(70.0) 		16.0
(60.8) 		10.8
(51.4) 		18.2
(64.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9) 		6.0
(42.8) 		8.6
(47.5) 		12.6
(54.7) 		16.6
(61.9) 		20.5
(68.9) 		24.3
(75.7) 		25.4
(77.7) 		22.7
(72.9) 		17.8
(64.0) 		12.8
(55.0) 		7.6
(45.7) 		15.0
(59.1)
Record low °C (°F) −3.0
(26.6) 		−3.4
(25.9) 		−1.6
(29.1) 		2.0
(35.6) 		9.4
(48.9) 		12.6
(54.7) 		18.0
(64.4) 		18.8
(65.8) 		14.1
(57.4) 		7.4
(45.3) 		2.8
(37.0) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		−3.4
(25.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 79.7
(3.14) 		95.4
(3.76) 		124.7
(4.91) 		158.1
(6.22) 		178.7
(7.04) 		409.6
(16.13) 		348.9
(13.74) 		200.7
(7.90) 		204.0
(8.03) 		96.5
(3.80) 		106.5
(4.19) 		96.4
(3.80) 		2,109.8
(83.06)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 1
(0.4) 		1
(0.4) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.4)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10.6 9.6 11.1 10.0 9.5 14.3 10.4 9.5 9.5 6.5 8.6 10.0 119.6
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) 0.3 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.7
Average relative humidity (%) 65 64 66 69 73 82 82 77 73 66 67 65 71
Mean monthly sunshine hours 105.4 121.7 160.9 180.9 189.7 124.1 193.1 227.9 192.0 191.0 147.2 118.4 1,954.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
Climate data for Hondo, Amakusa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.0
(71.6) 		23.2
(73.8) 		25.1
(77.2) 		29.5
(85.1) 		32.6
(90.7) 		35.2
(95.4) 		37.3
(99.1) 		37.6
(99.7) 		35.5
(95.9) 		33.3
(91.9) 		27.0
(80.6) 		25.1
(77.2) 		37.6
(99.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.7
(51.3) 		12.2
(54.0) 		15.5
(59.9) 		20.7
(69.3) 		25.2
(77.4) 		27.3
(81.1) 		31.3
(88.3) 		32.5
(90.5) 		29.1
(84.4) 		24.0
(75.2) 		18.4
(65.1) 		12.9
(55.2) 		21.7
(71.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.2
(43.2) 		7.2
(45.0) 		10.3
(50.5) 		14.9
(58.8) 		19.2
(66.6) 		22.6
(72.7) 		26.5
(79.7) 		27.3
(81.1) 		24.0
(75.2) 		18.9
(66.0) 		13.4
(56.1) 		8.3
(46.9) 		16.6
(61.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8) 		2.6
(36.7) 		5.3
(41.5) 		9.5
(49.1) 		14.0
(57.2) 		18.8
(65.8) 		22.9
(73.2) 		23.4
(74.1) 		20.2
(68.4) 		14.6
(58.3) 		9.1
(48.4) 		4.1
(39.4) 		12.2
(54.0)
Record low °C (°F) −7.0
(19.4) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		−3.1
(26.4) 		0.4
(32.7) 		6.4
(43.5) 		10.9
(51.6) 		16.6
(61.9) 		17.5
(63.5) 		11.7
(53.1) 		3.4
(38.1) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		−7.0
(19.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 83.1
(3.27) 		96.1
(3.78) 		132.6
(5.22) 		157.2
(6.19) 		169.9
(6.69) 		405.3
(15.96) 		340.5
(13.41) 		215.0
(8.46) 		195.4
(7.69) 		111.9
(4.41) 		108.4
(4.27) 		91.6
(3.61) 		2,106.3
(82.93)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.9 9.8 10.8 10.2 9.5 15.1 12.3 10.5 10.1 7.1 9.1 9.9 124.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 108.8 126.6 163.1 183.7 190.7 119.2 178.2 216.0 179.8 184.3 142.4 120.9 1,915.7
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Amakusa in 2020 is 75,783 people. Amakusa has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 122,297—    
1925 121,482−0.7%
1930 125,165+3.0%
1935 123,495−1.3%
1940 123,580+0.1%
1945 167,936+35.9%
1950 169,508+0.9%
1955 169,880+0.2%
1960 158,882−6.5%
1965 142,346−10.4%
1970 127,636−10.3%
1975 122,513−4.0%
1980 121,574−0.8%
1985 118,765−2.3%
1990 112,068−5.6%
1995 107,823−3.8%
2000 102,907−4.6%
2005 96,473−6.3%
2010 89,091−7.7%
2015 82,739−7.1%
2020 75,783−8.4%
Amakusa population statistics

Tourism

Sightseeing Spots

  • Alegria Gardens
  • Amakusa Christian Museum
  • Amakusa Dolphin Marine Land
  • Ōe Catholic Church
  • Sakitsu Church
  • Shimoda Onsen hot springs
  • Amakusa Christian Museum
    Amakusa Christian Museum
  • Ōe Catholic Church
    Ōe Catholic Church
  • Sakitsu Catholic Church
    Sakitsu Catholic Church
  • Shimoda Onsen hot springs
    Shimoda Onsen hot springs

Notable people

Sister Cities