Minamiawaji (南あわじ市, Minamiawaji-shi, lit. "South Awaji City") is a city in the southern part of Awaji Island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2022, the city had an estimated population of 45,489 in 19856 households, and a population density of 200 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 229.01 square kilometres (88.42 sq mi).

Minamiawaji
南あわじ市
Minamiawaji City Hall
Minamiawaji City Hall
Flag of Minamiawaji
Official seal of Minamiawaji
Map
Location of Minamiawaji in Hyōgo Prefecture
Minamiawaji is located in Japan
Minamiawaji
Minamiawaji
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°18′N 134°47′E / 34.300°N 134.783°E / 34.300; 134.783
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureHyōgo
Area
 • Total229.01 km2 (88.42 sq mi)
Population
 (July 9, 2022)
 • Total45,489
 • Density200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address22-1 Ichizenkoji, Minamiawaji-shi, Hyōgo-ken 656-0472
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

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The city of Minamiawaji occupies the southern third of Awaji Island. It is connected to Tokushima Prefecture to the south by the Ōnaruto Bridge, connecting Awaji and Oge islands, and is located facing the Kii Channel and the Gulf of Harima on the Seto Inland Sea. There are no large rivers in the city, but there are many agricultural ponds. In the eastern part of the city is Mt. Yuzuruha, the highest peak in Awaji Island with an elevation of 607.9 meters. Minamiawaji also includes the small island of Nushima (沼島, Swamp island) off the southeast coast of Awaji Island, which is only accessible by ferry.

Surrounding municipalities

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Hyogo Prefecture

Climate

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Climate data for Minamiawaji (2004−2020 normals, extremes 2004−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.3
(63.1)
20.8
(69.4)
23.3
(73.9)
28.4
(83.1)
30.8
(87.4)
35.4
(95.7)
36.1
(97.0)
37.6
(99.7)
35.2
(95.4)
30.5
(86.9)
25.5
(77.9)
21.7
(71.1)
37.6
(99.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8)
10.9
(51.6)
14.2
(57.6)
19.0
(66.2)
23.6
(74.5)
26.5
(79.7)
29.9
(85.8)
31.8
(89.2)
28.5
(83.3)
23.4
(74.1)
18.0
(64.4)
12.4
(54.3)
20.7
(69.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)
6.3
(43.3)
9.1
(48.4)
13.8
(56.8)
18.6
(65.5)
22.3
(72.1)
26.1
(79.0)
27.4
(81.3)
24.0
(75.2)
18.7
(65.7)
13.3
(55.9)
8.3
(46.9)
16.1
(61.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1)
1.9
(35.4)
4.0
(39.2)
8.4
(47.1)
13.7
(56.7)
18.8
(65.8)
23.3
(73.9)
24.0
(75.2)
20.4
(68.7)
14.6
(58.3)
8.8
(47.8)
4.2
(39.6)
12.0
(53.6)
Record low °C (°F) −4.3
(24.3)
−5.0
(23.0)
−3.3
(26.1)
−0.1
(31.8)
3.8
(38.8)
10.0
(50.0)
18.1
(64.6)
15.9
(60.6)
13.0
(55.4)
5.7
(42.3)
0.8
(33.4)
−2.1
(28.2)
−5.0
(23.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 36.8
(1.45)
58.1
(2.29)
87.5
(3.44)
89.6
(3.53)
114.9
(4.52)
170.9
(6.73)
197.3
(7.77)
143.3
(5.64)
225.2
(8.87)
185.6
(7.31)
73.8
(2.91)
73.9
(2.91)
1,417.4
(55.80)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.8 7.3 8.8 8.9 8.3 10.3 10.1 7.2 9.8 8.5 6.0 6.4 96.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 164.2 154.2 198.5 212.2 222.3 167.8 193.0 246.7 172.1 167.3 152.0 146.5 2,201.6
Source: JMA[2][3]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Minamiawaji has been declining steadily over the past 30 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 64,789—    
1970 58,072−10.4%
1980 57,744−0.6%
1990 57,526−0.4%
2000 54,979−4.4%
2010 49,853−9.3%

History

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The city of Minamiawaji is situated in ancient Awaji Province. It was ruled as part of Tokushima Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, it became part of Mihara District, Hyōgo. The town of Yura was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system April 1, 1889. On April 29, 1955 it changed its name to Nandan. The city of Minamiawaji was established on January 11, 2005, from the merger of all four towns of the former Mihara District: Nandan, Mihara, Midori, and Seidan.

Government

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Minamiawaji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Minamiawaji contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The local economy is largely rural, and is based on agriculture and commercial fishing. Minamiawaji's soil and climate make it ideal for growing onions. As such, Awaji onions are renowned across Japan as sweet and delicious.

Education

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Minamiawaji has 14 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There are also one private elementary school and one private middle school. Kibi International University's Faculty of Regional Creation Agriculture and the Kobe University Faculty of Maritime Sciences International Maritime Education and Research Center Awaji Marine Training Facility are located in Minamiawaji.

Transportation

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Railway

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Minamiawaji does not have any passenger rail service.

Highways

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Other

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Jointly with Awaji and Sumoto, the city operates a low-cost electric bike rental scheme, designed to attract visitors to stay for more than one day in order to explore the island.[5]

Local attractions

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  • Awaji Kokubun-ji, National Historic Site
  • Naruto whirlpools, which form when the changing tidal currents are forced through the Naruto Strait.
  • Mihara town in Minamiawaji is home to a puppet museum which houses numerous examples of locally crafted puppets. This art originated in the area.

Notable people from Minamiawaji

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References

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  1. ^ "Minamiawaji city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  3. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Hyōgo population statistics
  5. ^ "Rental bicycles eyed to boost tourism". Yomiuri Shimbun. Japan. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
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