Awashimaura (粟島浦村, Awashimaura-mura) is a village located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the village had an estimated population of 353, and a population density of 36.1 persons per km2. The total area of the village is 9.78 square kilometres (3.78 sq mi).

Awashimaura
粟島浦村
Uchiura Harbor
Uchiura Harbor
Flag of Awashimaura
Official seal of Awashimaura
Location of Awashimaura in Niigata Prefecture
Location of Awashimaura in Niigata Prefecture
Awashimaura is located in Japan
Awashimaura
Awashimaura
 
Coordinates: 38°28′5.9″N 139°15′15.8″E / 38.468306°N 139.254389°E / 38.468306; 139.254389
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
DistrictIwafune
Area
 • Total
9.78 km2 (3.78 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2019)
 • Total
353
 • Density36/km2 (93/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0254-55-2111
Address1513-11 Hinomiyama, Awashimaura-mura, Iwafune-gun, Niigata-ken 959-3265
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerLilium maculatum
TreeMachilus
Aerial video of Awashima Island in summer
Awashimaura village hall

Geography

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The village is located on Awashima Island, located in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Murakami, Niigata, to which it is connected by ferry.

Climate

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Awashimaura has a humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Awashimaura is 12.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2059 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.5 °C.[1]

Climate data for Awashima (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.7
(56.7)
18.8
(65.8)
20.2
(68.4)
26.6
(79.9)
29.6
(85.3)
31.8
(89.2)
36.0
(96.8)
37.0
(98.6)
36.5
(97.7)
29.6
(85.3)
23.3
(73.9)
18.7
(65.7)
37.0
(98.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.5
(41.9)
5.8
(42.4)
9.1
(48.4)
14.5
(58.1)
19.7
(67.5)
23.5
(74.3)
27.1
(80.8)
29.3
(84.7)
25.6
(78.1)
20.0
(68.0)
14.2
(57.6)
8.7
(47.7)
16.9
(62.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6)
3.0
(37.4)
5.6
(42.1)
10.3
(50.5)
15.4
(59.7)
19.6
(67.3)
23.6
(74.5)
25.5
(77.9)
22.0
(71.6)
16.5
(61.7)
11.0
(51.8)
5.9
(42.6)
13.5
(56.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.5
(32.9)
0.2
(32.4)
2.1
(35.8)
6.3
(43.3)
11.5
(52.7)
16.3
(61.3)
20.9
(69.6)
22.4
(72.3)
18.7
(65.7)
12.9
(55.2)
7.6
(45.7)
3.0
(37.4)
10.2
(50.4)
Record low °C (°F) −5.8
(21.6)
−6.8
(19.8)
−3.2
(26.2)
−0.8
(30.6)
3.9
(39.0)
9.5
(49.1)
12.8
(55.0)
16.1
(61.0)
10.5
(50.9)
5.9
(42.6)
−0.6
(30.9)
−4.3
(24.3)
−6.8
(19.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 138.2
(5.44)
92.4
(3.64)
93.3
(3.67)
85.6
(3.37)
95.5
(3.76)
111.8
(4.40)
190.0
(7.48)
154.7
(6.09)
156.1
(6.15)
155.3
(6.11)
156.1
(6.15)
170.5
(6.71)
1,602.8
(63.10)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 23.5 18.1 16.4 11.9 10.4 9.5 12.3 9.9 12.5 13.9 18.1 22.4 178.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 52.1 75.2 140.4 195.1 222.5 203.8 183.8 226.5 169.1 145.9 91.8 53.9 1,763.1
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]


Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Awashimaura has declined steadily over the past 50 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 680—    
1980 595−12.5%
1990 479−19.5%
2000 449−6.3%
2010 366−18.5%
2020 353−3.6%

History

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The island of Awashima has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and fragments of Jōmon period pottery have been found. The Asuka period general Abe no Hirafu conquered the island from its native Emishi inhabitants and brought it under the control of the imperial dynasty. During the Edo period, the island passed between Murakami Domain, Shōnai Domain and direct control by the Tokugawa Shogunate several times. During the Boshin War, the Schnell brothers offloaded weapons for Shōnai Domain at Awashima. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Asahimaura was created in 1909 as part of Iwafune District, Niigata Prefecture. The epicentre of the 1964 Niigata earthquake was near Awashima, and many of the buildings in Awashimaura were damaged or destroyed.

Economy

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Awashima Island

The main industries of Awashimaura are seasonal tourism and commercial fishing.

Education

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The village has two schools, Awashimaura Village Elementary School and Awashimaura Village Junior High School.[5] There are also programs for study abroad and visiting students.[6]

Transportation

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  • Awashima Kisen Ferry
    • Iwafune (Murakami) - Uchiura (Awashimaura)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Awashimaura climate data
  2. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  3. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  4. ^ Awashimaura population statistics
  5. ^ "School Introduction". Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  6. ^ "Saltwater Study Abroad". Retrieved 2019-09-24.
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