Asahi, Yamagata (Nishimurayama)

Not to be confused with the former village of Asahi in the same prefecture.

Asahi (朝日町, Asahi-machi) is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the town had an estimated population and a population density of 36 persons per km². The total area of the town is 196.73 square kilometres (76 sq mi).

Asahi 朝日町
Town
Asahi Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Asahi in Yamagata Prefecture
Asahi
Coordinates: 38°18′N 140°09′E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Yamagata
District	Nishimurayama
Area
• Total	196.73 km2 (75.96 sq mi)
Population  (April 2019)
• Total	7,020
• Density	36/km2 (92/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Siebold’s beech
• Flower	Lilium rubellum
• Bird	Varied tit
• Animal	Japanese serow
Phone number	0237-67-2111
Address	1115 Miyajuku, Asahi-machi, Nishimurayama-gun, Yamagata-ken 990-1442
Website	Official website

Mount Asahi

Geography

Asahi is located in mountainous central Yamagata, and contains Mount Asahi within its borders. The Mogami River forms the western border of the town.

Neighboring municipalities

• Yamagata Prefecture
  • Nagai
  • Nishikawa
  • Ōe
  • Oguni
  • Shirataka
  • Yamanobe

Climate

Asahi has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Asahi is 8.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1715 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.7 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Asahi has declined over the past 60 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1960	15,594	—
1970	12,501	−19.8%
1980	11,109	−11.1%
1990	10,417	−6.2%
2000	9,337	−10.4%
2010	7,856	−15.9%
2020	6,366	−19.0%

History

The area of present-day Asahi was part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Nishimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The town of Asahi was established on November 1, 1954, by the merger of the town of Miyajuku with the villages of Oya, and Nishiimogawa.

Economy

The economy of Asahi is based on agriculture.

Education

Asahi has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

Asahi does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest station is Aterazawa Station in the neighboring town of Ōe.

Highway

• National Route 287

Local attractions

• Mount Asahi

External links

Media related to Asahi, Yamagata at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)