Sakuho (佐久穂町, Sakuho-machi) is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019, the town had an estimated population of 11,076 in 4330 households,[1] and a population density of 59 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 188.15 square kilometres (72.65 sq mi).

Sakuho
佐久穂町
Sakuho Town Hall
Sakuho Town Hall
Flag of Sakuho
Official seal of Sakuho
Location of Sakuho in Nagano Prefecture
Location of Sakuho in Nagano Prefecture
Sakuho is located in Japan
Sakuho
Sakuho
 
Coordinates: 36°9′39.5″N 138°29′0.1″E / 36.160972°N 138.483361°E / 36.160972; 138.483361
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
PrefectureNagano
DistrictMinamisaku
Area
 • Total188.15 km2 (72.65 sq mi)
Population
 (April 2019)
 • Total11,076
 • Density59/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
Phone number0267-86-2525
Address569 Takano-machi, Sakuho-machi, Minamisaku-gun, Nagano-ken 384-0697
Websitehttp://www.town.sakuho.nagano.jp/
Shirakoma Pond in Sakuho

Geography

edit
 
Yoji Dam in the town

Located in eastern Nagano prefecture, Sakuho stretches from west to east. It is situated in the Saku Basin, between the high peaks Mount Arafune and Mount Tateshina. The Shinano River flows through, and the mountainous parts of the town are located in the Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park and the Myogi-Arafune-Saku Kogen Quasi-National Park.

  • Mountains: Mount Morai
  • Rivers: Chikuma River, Ōishi River, Nukui River
  • Lakes: Futago Pond, Shirakoma Pond

Surrounding municipalities

edit

Climate

edit

The town has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Sakuho is 10.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1661 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.2 °C.[2]

Demographics

edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Sakuho has declined gradually over the past 50 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 17,267—    
1970 14,969−13.3%
1980 14,228−5.0%
1990 13,842−2.7%
2000 13,622−1.6%
2010 12,070−11.4%
2020 10,218−15.3%

History

edit

The area of present-day Sakuho was part of ancient Shinano Province. The villages of Kaisei and Sakai were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, merging to form the town of Sakuho on February 1, 1955. Sakuho was created by the merger of Saku and the village of Yachiho on March 20, 2005.

Education

edit

Sakuho has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the city government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

edit

Railway

edit

Highway

edit

Local attractions

edit

References

edit
edit