Nishiaizu, Fukushima

Nishiaizu (西会津町, Nishiaizu-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the town had an estimated population of 6,090 in 2598 households,[1] and a population density of 20 persons per km². Approximately 66% of the population is over the age of 65.[2] The total area is 298.18 square kilometres (115.13 sq mi).

Nishiaizu

西会津町
Town
Nishiaizu Town Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Nishiaizu in Fukushima Prefecture
Nishiaizu
 
Coordinates: 37°35′19.8″N 139°38′50.9″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureFukushima
DistrictYama
Area
 • Total298.18 km2 (115.13 sq mi)
Population
 (April 2020)
 • Total6,090
 • Density20/km2 (53/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreePaulownia tomentosa
- FlowerLilium
Phone number0241-45-2211　
Address3261 Otsu Nozawa Shimokoyaue Nishiaizu-machi, Yama-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-4495
WebsiteOfficial website
Aga River in Nishiaizu

Geography

Nishiaizu is located at the far northwestern corner of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, bordered Niigata Prefecture to the north and the west. It is known as the "front door" to the Iide Mountains. About 86 percent of the total area is composed of mountains and forests.[3]

  • Mountains : Mount Mikunidake (1644 m)
  • Rivers : Aga River

Neighboring municipalities

Fukushima Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture

Climate

Nishiaizu has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nishiaizu is 11.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1548 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.9 °C.[4]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Nishiaizu has declined by one half over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 18,336—    
1970 14,200−22.6%
1980 11,490−19.1%
1990 10,122−11.9%
2000 9,075−10.3%
2010 7,362−18.9%

History

The area of present-day Nishiaizu was part of ancient Mutsu Province and formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Yama District, Fukushima Prefecture. The town of Nishiaizu was founded on July 1, 1954 through a merger of the villages of Shingo and Okugawa with the town of Nozawa and villages of Onomoto, Tosejima, Mutsuai, Shitatani, Muraoka, Kaminojiri and Hosaka in Kawanuma District. In 2006, Nishiaizu residents decided to decline a merger with the city of Kitakata.

Economy

Nishiaizu is a rural area with a local economy dependent on agriculture and forestry.

Education

Nishiaizu has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Board of Education.

  • Nishiaizu Elementary School
  • Nishiaizu High School.[6]

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Ban'etsu West Line

Highway

Local attractions
  • Enmanji Kannon-dō, the temple building is the one designated Important Cultural Property in Nishiaizu.[7]
  • Torioi-Kannon Nyohōji - the gate and four wooden statues are Fukushima Prefectural Important Cultural Properties. The temple houses one of the Aizu region's three important statues of Kannon.[8]

References
  1. Nishiaizu town official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. Fukushima Prefectural Demographics Archived 2012-09-07 at Archive.today, accessed February 13, 2009 [Japanese].
  3. Nishiaizu official website, accessed February 5, 2009 [Japanese].
  4. Nishiaizu climate data
  5. Nishiaizu population statistics
  6. , Nishiaizu official website.
  7. Japan National Cultural Properties database Archived 2008-07-30 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 5, 2009. [Japanese]
  8. Torioi-Kannon Nyohōji official website, accessed February 13, 2009. (in Japanese)

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