Minamiechizen, Fukui
Geography
Minamiechizen is located in central Fukui Prefecture, bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the west, Shiga Prefecture to the south and the Sea of Japan to the west. Parts of the coastal area of the town are within the borders of the Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park.
Neighbouring municipalities
- Gifu Prefecture
- Fukui Prefecture
- Shiga Prefecture
Climate
Minamiechizen has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Minamiechizen is 13.1 °C (55.6 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,608.2 mm (102.69 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C (77.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 1.7 °C (35.1 °F). Parts of the town are located within the extremely heavy snowfall area of Japan.
Climate data for Imajō, Minamiechizen (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 17.9 (64.2) |
18.5 (65.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
30.3 (86.5) |
33.0 (91.4) |
33.9 (93.0) |
36.8 (98.2) |
36.9 (98.4) |
35.6 (96.1) |
30.7 (87.3) |
25.4 (77.7) |
22.5 (72.5) |
36.9 (98.4) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 5.4 (41.7) |
6.2 (43.2) |
10.9 (51.6) |
17.5 (63.5) |
22.5 (72.5) |
25.7 (78.3) |
29.4 (84.9) |
31.1 (88.0) |
26.6 (79.9) |
20.9 (69.6) |
15.0 (59.0) |
8.5 (47.3) |
18.3 (65.0) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.7 (35.1) |
1.9 (35.4) |
5.4 (41.7) |
11.3 (52.3) |
16.4 (61.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
24.4 (75.9) |
25.4 (77.7) |
21.2 (70.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
9.6 (49.3) |
4.3 (39.7) |
13.1 (55.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.0 (30.2) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
0.7 (33.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
10.7 (51.3) |
15.9 (60.6) |
20.5 (68.9) |
21.2 (70.2) |
17.2 (63.0) |
10.9 (51.6) |
5.2 (41.4) |
1.0 (33.8) |
8.9 (48.0) |
Record low °C (°F) | −11.8 (10.8) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
0.4 (32.7) |
6.0 (42.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.5 (52.7) |
6.1 (43.0) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 317.9 (12.52) |
187.1 (7.37) |
177.5 (6.99) |
145.8 (5.74) |
151.8 (5.98) |
173.8 (6.84) |
254.9 (10.04) |
182.0 (7.17) |
224.5 (8.84) |
182.7 (7.19) |
229.9 (9.05) |
380.4 (14.98) |
2,608.2 (102.69) |
Average snowfall cm (inches) | 177 (70) |
143 (56) |
43 (17) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
79 (31) |
442 (174) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 22.1 | 17.6 | 15.7 | 13.1 | 11.6 | 12.7 | 13.5 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 12.6 | 15.7 | 21.6 | 179.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 15.9 | 14.6 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 7.4 | 42.8 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 54.9 | 75.7 | 121.7 | 167.8 | 192.8 | 140.8 | 149.3 | 191.0 | 135.9 | 135.7 | 105.7 | 65.7 | 1,526.6 |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency |
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Minamiechizen has declined over the past 50 years.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1970 | 14,442 | — |
1980 | 13,820 | −4.3% |
1990 | 13,804 | −0.1% |
2000 | 13,221 | −4.2% |
2010 | 11,551 | −12.6% |
2020 | 10,002 | −13.4% |
History
Minamiechizen is part of ancient Echizen Province. During the Edo period, the area was mostly part of the holdings of Fukui Domain and Nishio Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, and the establishment of the modern municipalities it was organised into part of Nanjō District in Fukui Prefecture. Minamiechizen was formed on 1 January 2005, by the merger of the two former towns of Imajō and Nanjō, and the former village of Kōno (all from Nanjō District).
Economy
The economy of Minamiechizen is mixed, with agriculture and commercial fishing prominent.
Education
Minamiechizen has four public elementary schools and there middle schools operated by the city government. The town does not have public high school.
Transportation
Railway
JR West surrendered ownership of the Hokuriku Main Line in Minamiechizen to third-sector company Hapi-line Fukui on 16 March 2024. Hapi-line Fukui
Highway
Local attractions
- Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park
- Somayama Castle, National Historic Site
References
- ^ "Official statistics of Minamiechizen" (in Japanese). Japan: Minamiechizen town. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
- ^ Minamiechizen population statistics
- ^ "並行在来線「ハピラインふくい」開業 記念グッズに目輝かせるファンも" [Parallel conventional line "Hapi-Line Fukui" opens as commemorative goods go on sale]. Fukui Keizai Shimbun. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
External links
- Media related to Minamiechizen, Fukui at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Minamiechizen Tourism website (in Japanese)