Shōnai, Yamagata

Shōnai 庄内町
Town
Wind Farm in Shonai Wind Farm in Shonai
Flag of Shōnai Flag Official seal of Shōnai Seal
Location of Shōnai in Yamagata Prefecture Location of Shōnai in Yamagata Prefecture
Shōnai
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Yamagata
District	Higashitagawa
Area
• Total	249.17 km2 (96.21 sq mi)
Population (October 2015)
• Total	21,793
• Density	87.5/km2 (227/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Camellia japonica
- Flower	Fritillaria camschatcensis
- Bird	Eurasian skylark
Phone number	0234-43-2211
Address	132-1 Amarume-cho, Shōnai-machi, Higashitagawa-gun, Yamagata-ken 999-7781
Website	Official website

File:Shonai town hall.JPG

Shōnai town hall

Shōnai (庄内町, Shōnai-machi) is a town located in Higashitagawa District, Yamagata Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.

As of October 2015, the town has an estimated population of 21,793 and a population density of 87.5 persons per km². The total area is 249.17 square kilometres (96 sq mi).

Geography

Shōnai is located in the coastal plains of north-central Yamagata Prefecture. The Mogami River flows through the town. Mount Gassan, the highest of the Three Mountains of Dewa is at the intersection of the borders of Shōnai, Tsuruoka, Ōkura and Nishikawa.

Neighboring municipalities

• Yamagata Prefecture
  • Tsuruoka, Yamagata
  • Sakata, Yamagata
  • Mikawa, Yamagata
  • Tozawa, Yamagata
  • Ōkura, Yamagata
  • Nishikawa, Yamagata

Climate

Shōnai 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.

History

The area of present-day Shōnai was part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Higashitagawa District, Yamagata Prefecture. The town of Amarume was established on April 1, 1889, and the town of Karikawa on April 1, 1937. Karikawa merged with the neighboring villages of Kiyokawa and Tachiyazawa on October 1, 1954 and was renamed Tachikawa. On July 1, 2005 the towns of Tachikawa and Amarume merged to form the new town of Shōnai.

Economy

The economy of Shōnai is based on agriculture.

Education

Shōnai has five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Uetsu Main Line
  • Nishibukuro - Amarume - Kita-Amarume
• JR East - Rikuu West Line
  • Kiyokawa - Karikawa - Minamino - Amarume

Highway

• National Route 47
• National Route 345

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

Twin towns — Sister cities

• Korsakov, Russia, since July 23, 1992

External links

• Official website (Japanese)