Kikai, Kagoshima

Not to be confused with Kikai Caldera.

Kikai (喜界町, Kikai-chō) is a town located on Kikaijima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Kikai 喜界町
Town
A view of Kikai Island from Hyakunodai hill
Flag Seal
Location of Kikai in Kagoshima Prefecture
Kikai
Coordinates: 28°19′19″N 129°57′44″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu (Amami Islands)
Prefecture	Kagoshima Prefecture
District	Ōshima
Government
• -Mayor	Kawashima Tateo
Area
• Total	56.82 km2 (21.94 sq mi)
Population  (1 October 2020)
• Total	6,629
• Density	117/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Flower	Agave
Phone number	0997-65-1111
Address	1746, Ōaza Wan, Kikai-chō, Ōshima-gun, Kagoshima-ken 891-6292
Website	www.town.kikai.lg.jp

In October 2020 the town had an estimated population of 6,629 and a population density of 117 persons per km². The total area is 56.82 km². The economy of the town is based on sugar cane, shōchū refining, and seasonal tourism.

Geography

Kikai occupies all of the island of Kikaijima. The climate is classified as humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, but is highest in the months of May, June and September. The town is subject to frequent typhoons.

History

The village of Kikai was established on 1 April 1908. It was upgraded to town status in 1941. As with all of the Amami Islands, the village came under the administration of the United States from 1 July 1946 to 25 December 1953.

Transport

Ports

• Kikai Port
• Soumachi Port

Airport

• Kikai Airport

Notable residents

• In 2018, the then-oldest person in the world, Nabi Tajima (born August 1900) died in a hospital in Kikai at age 117.

External links

Media related to Kikai, Kagoshima at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (in Japanese)