Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Explained

Minamiashigara
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:City
Image Blank Emblem:Emblem of Minamiashigara, Kanagawa.svg
Blank Emblem Type:Emblem
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:35.3167°N 145°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Kantō
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Kanagawa
Leader Title:Mayor
Area Total Km2:77.12
Population Total:40947
Population As Of:May 1, 2021
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec1:City Symbols
Blank1 Name Sec1:- Tree
Blank1 Info Sec1:Camellia sasanqua
Blank2 Name Sec1:- Flower
Blank2 Info Sec1:Japanese gentian
Blank1 Name Sec2:Address
Blank1 Info Sec2:Sekimoto 440-banchi, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa-ken 250-0192

right|thumb|260px|Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 40,947 and a population density of 530 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 77.12sqkm.[2]

Geography

Minamiashigara is located in the mountainous west of Kanagawa Prefecture, with most of the city located within either the Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park or the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Surrounding Municipalities

Kanagawa Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture

Climate

Minamiashigara has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Minamiashigara is 13.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2221 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.2 °C.[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Minamiashigara peaked around the year 2000 and is now slowly declining.

History

The area that is now known as Minamiashigara was under control of the later Hōjō clan in the Sengoku period, and part of Odawara Domain during the Edo period.

After the Meiji Restoration, the establishment of the modern municipalities system created Minamiashigara, Fukusawa, Okamoto and Kitaashigara villages within Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture. The development of the area was spurred by the opening of the Oyama Mountain Railway (present-day Izuhakone Railway Daiyūzan Line) on October 15, 1925. Minamiashigara was elevated in status to that of a town on April 1, 1940, and annexed neighboring Fukusawa, Okamoto and Kitaashigara villages in 1955. It was elevated to city status on April 1, 1972.

Government

Minamiashigara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members. Minamiashigara, collectively with the municipalities of Ashigarakami District, contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kanagawa 17th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Minamiashigara is based on forestry and agriculture (primarily green tea and mikan). Fujifilm and Asahi Breweries have factories in Minamiashigara to make use of its abundant fresh water.

Education

Minamiashigara has six public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has one public high school operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

20px Izuhakone Railway - Daiyūzan Line

Bus

Highway

Minamiashigara is not located on any national highway. Kanagawa Prefectural Route 74 provided the primary connection with neighboring Odawara and Kanagawa Prefectural Route 78 with the Ōi-Matsuda Interchange on the Tōmei Expressway

Sister city relations

Local attractions

Noted people from Minamiashigara

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minamiashigara city official statistics. Japan. ja.
  2. Web site: Profile of Minamiashigara City. Minamiashigara City. Japan. Japanese. 6 May 2017.
  3. Web site: Minamiashigara climate: Temperature Minamiashigara & Weather By Month . 2023-10-16 . en.climate-data.org.
  4. Web site: Kanagawa (Japan): Cities, Towns and Villages in Prefecture - Population Statistics, Charts and Map . 2023-04-15 . www.citypopulation.de.