Iwami (岩美町,Iwami-chō) is atown located inIwami District,Tottori Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 December 2022[update], the town had an estimatedpopulation of 10,998 in 4429 households and apopulation density of 90 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 122.32 square kilometres (47.23 sq mi). Iwami lies entirely within theSan'in Kaigan Geopark.[2] Iwami is San'in Kaigan's biggest international beach resort.
Iwami 岩美町 | |
|---|---|
 Iwami Town Office | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Iwami in Tottori Prefecture | |
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  Iwami Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates:35°35′N134°20′E / 35.583°N 134.333°E /35.583; 134.333 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūgoku San'in |
| Prefecture | Tottori |
| District | Iwami |
| Area | |
• Total | 122.32 km2 (47.23 sq mi) |
| Population (December 1, 2022) | |
• Total | 10,998 |
| • Density | 90/km2 (230/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 675-1 Uradome, Iwami-chō, Tottori-ken 681-8501 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Iris |
| Tree | Pine |
Geography
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Located in easternTottori, Iwami faces theSea of Japan to the north. The surrounding landscape is dominated by low-lying hills and slopes; much of the built town and residential areas are located in flatter land between the heights. The north of the town borders onto Uradome Beach, though much of the rest of the coast consists of rough rocky outcrops and small inlets and bays. 15 km of this, collectively known as the Uradome Coast, is part of theSanin Kaigan National Park.[3] The Gamō River runs through the centre of the town. Iwami is around 30 minutes by train from the prefectural capital ofTottori City, and is the third stop by train heading east on theTottori-Hamasaka line.Hyōgo Prefecture and Iwami'ssister town ofShin'onsen are relatively nearby as well.
Weather in Iwami can be quite changeable, with summer temperatures peaking at over 30 degrees Celsius in August and dropping as low as -2 degrees in January and February. Whilst relatively tectonically stable for Japan, the area is prone to the occasionaltyphoon during the season.
Neighbouring municipalities
editTottori Prefecture
Climate
editIwami has aHumid climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Iwami is 14.2 °C (57.6 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,197.5 mm (86.52 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C (78.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.7 °C (38.7 °F).[4] Its record high is 37.6 °C (99.7 °F), reached on 22 August 2018, and its record low is −8.5 °C (16.7 °F), reached on 9 February 2018.[5]
| Climate data for Iwami (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.5 (67.1) | 22.4 (72.3) | 28.3 (82.9) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.4 (88.5) | 34.3 (93.7) | 37.1 (98.8) | 37.6 (99.7) | 36.1 (97.0) | 32.7 (90.9) | 26.5 (79.7) | 23.1 (73.6) | 37.6 (99.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) | 8.4 (47.1) | 12.3 (54.1) | 18.1 (64.6) | 22.9 (73.2) | 25.7 (78.3) | 29.5 (85.1) | 31.0 (87.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 21.7 (71.1) | 16.4 (61.5) | 10.6 (51.1) | 19.3 (66.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4.0 (39.2) | 6.9 (44.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 16.9 (62.4) | 20.8 (69.4) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.8 (78.4) | 21.8 (71.2) | 16.3 (61.3) | 11.2 (52.2) | 6.2 (43.2) | 14.2 (57.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.3 (32.5) | 0.0 (32.0) | 1.7 (35.1) | 5.9 (42.6) | 11.1 (52.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 21.1 (70.0) | 21.7 (71.1) | 17.8 (64.0) | 11.8 (53.2) | 6.7 (44.1) | 2.3 (36.1) | 9.7 (49.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −6.4 (20.5) | −8.5 (16.7) | −5.5 (22.1) | −2.4 (27.7) | 2.2 (36.0) | 6.6 (43.9) | 11.4 (52.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 7.9 (46.2) | 2.3 (36.1) | −0.2 (31.6) | −6.8 (19.8) | −8.5 (16.7) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 225.1 (8.86) | 153.5 (6.04) | 149.9 (5.90) | 114.4 (4.50) | 136.8 (5.39) | 161.2 (6.35) | 202.3 (7.96) | 137.9 (5.43) | 265.4 (10.45) | 186.3 (7.33) | 199.8 (7.87) | 271.4 (10.69) | 2,197.5 (86.52) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 21.9 | 16.4 | 14.5 | 11.3 | 10.7 | 11.3 | 12.6 | 10.2 | 13.3 | 12.1 | 15.9 | 20.6 | 170.8 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 54.8 | 76.4 | 132.5 | 182.2 | 205.0 | 153.6 | 168.7 | 207.9 | 139.6 | 142.8 | 100.3 | 66.9 | 1,627.7 |
| Source:Japan Meteorological Agency[5][4] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[6] the population of Iwami has been decreased steadily since the 1950s.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 17,121 | — |
| 1930 | 17,672 | +3.2% |
| 1940 | 16,474 | −6.8% |
| 1950 | 20,519 | +24.6% |
| 1960 | 19,350 | −5.7% |
| 1970 | 16,817 | −13.1% |
| 1980 | 15,969 | −5.0% |
| 1990 | 15,342 | −3.9% |
| 2000 | 14,015 | −8.6% |
| 2010 | 12,324 | −12.1% |
History
editThe area of Iwami was part of ancientInaba Province. During theEdo period, the area was part of the holdings ofTottori Domain ruled by a branch of theIkeda clan from their seat atTottori Castle.Iwami District, Tottori was established after theMeiji restoration and divided into several villages with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1,1896. The town of Iwami was established on July 1, 1954 by the merger of two towns (Uradome and Iwai) and seven villages.
Government
editIwami has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral town council of twelve members. Iwami contributes one member to the Tottori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part ofTottori 1st district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Economy
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The majority of the town's working population is connected with thecommercial fishing industry, notablysquid fishing boats oraquaculture. Agriculture is also important, with the most common crop being rice. Iwami also has a locally renownedonsen (hot spring), the Iwai onsen.
Education
editIwami has three publicelementary schools and onejunior high school operated by the town government, and one publichigh school operated by the Tottori Prefectural Board of Education.
Transportation
editRailway
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Highways
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Sister cities
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Shin'onsen, Japan, since July 1, 1964- Kunigami, Japan, since July 16, 2023
Local attractions
edit- Iwai temple ruins, National Historic Site
- Iwami Onsen
- Uradome Coast, National Place of Scenic Beauty
Culture
editIwami served as the model for the fictional town of Iwatobi, the setting for theanime seriesFree!. Iwami has used the series to promote tourism to the town.[7][8]
Noted people from Iwami
edit- Komakichi Matsuoka, politician
References
edit- ^"Iwami town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^""What is San'in Kaigan Geopark" on the official website of San'in Kaigan Geopark (in Japanese)". Archived fromthe original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved2014-11-05.
- ^"鳥取県岩美町：岩美町の紹介". Archived fromthe original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved2008-03-30.
- ^ab気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）.JMA. RetrievedMarch 25, 2022.
- ^ab観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）.JMA. RetrievedMarch 25, 2022.
- ^Iwami population statistics
- ^Dong, Bamboo (October 15, 2013)."Town of Iwami Offers Exclusive Free! Merchandise and Iwatobi-chan Scarecrow".Anime News Network. RetrievedNovember 13, 2015.
- ^Stimson, Eric (November 13, 2015)."Seaside Town of Iwami Celebrates Upcoming Free! Prequel".Anime News Network. RetrievedNovember 12, 2015.
External links
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Media related toIwami, Tottori at Wikimedia Commons- Iwami official website(in Japanese)
