Mihama, Fukui

Coordinates: 35°36′2.2″N 135°56′26.1″E / 35.600611°N 135.940583°E / 35.600611; 135.940583
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Mihama
美浜町
Mihama Town Hall
Mihama Town Hall
Flag of Mihama
Official seal of Mihama
Location of Mihama in Fukui Prefecture
Location of Mihama in Fukui Prefecture
Mihama is located in Japan
Mihama
Mihama
 
Coordinates: 35°36′2.2″N 135°56′26.1″E / 35.600611°N 135.940583°E / 35.600611; 135.940583
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Hokuriku)
PrefectureFukui
DistrictMikata
Area
 • Total152.35 km2 (58.82 sq mi)
Population
 (August 2018)
 • Total9,643
 • Density63/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0770-32-1111
Address25-25, Goichi, Mihama-cho, Mikata-gun, Fukui-ken 919-1192
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.town.mihama.fukui.jp
Symbols
FlowerRhododendron
TreePine
Mikata's five lakes

Mihama (美浜町, Mihama-chō) is a town located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2018, the city had an estimated population of 9,643 in 3175 households and the population density of 63 persons per km².[1] The total area of the town was 152.35 square kilometres (58.82 sq mi).

Geography[edit]

Mihama is located in southwestern Fukui Prefecture, bordered by Shiga Prefecture to the south and the heavily indented ria coast of Wakasa Bay of Sea of Japan to the north. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities[edit]

Climate[edit]

Mihama has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mihama is 15.0 °C (59.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,196.2 mm (86.46 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.3 °C (39.7 °F).[2]

Climate data for Mihama (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0)
21.3
(70.3)
24.9
(76.8)
29.9
(85.8)
33.5
(92.3)
35.6
(96.1)
38.1
(100.6)
38.2
(100.8)
36.1
(97.0)
31.5
(88.7)
26.0
(78.8)
23.8
(74.8)
38.2
(100.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0)
8.2
(46.8)
11.9
(53.4)
17.3
(63.1)
22.1
(71.8)
25.4
(77.7)
29.7
(85.5)
31.4
(88.5)
27.4
(81.3)
21.9
(71.4)
16.5
(61.7)
10.8
(51.4)
19.2
(66.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.3
(39.7)
4.6
(40.3)
7.6
(45.7)
12.6
(54.7)
17.5
(63.5)
21.4
(70.5)
25.6
(78.1)
27.0
(80.6)
23.1
(73.6)
17.6
(63.7)
12.2
(54.0)
7.0
(44.6)
15.0
(59.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)
0.9
(33.6)
3.2
(37.8)
7.8
(46.0)
13.0
(55.4)
17.8
(64.0)
22.3
(72.1)
23.5
(74.3)
19.5
(67.1)
13.6
(56.5)
8.0
(46.4)
3.3
(37.9)
11.2
(52.1)
Record low °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)
−6.8
(19.8)
−4.1
(24.6)
−0.7
(30.7)
4.2
(39.6)
7.9
(46.2)
14.2
(57.6)
15.2
(59.4)
10.1
(50.2)
3.8
(38.8)
−0.7
(30.7)
−3.5
(25.7)
−6.8
(19.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 257.1
(10.12)
161.9
(6.37)
148.1
(5.83)
122.6
(4.83)
141.0
(5.55)
143.1
(5.63)
192.7
(7.59)
175.1
(6.89)
226.3
(8.91)
162.7
(6.41)
170.7
(6.72)
297.3
(11.70)
2,196.2
(86.46)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 22.8 17.9 15.6 12.0 11.3 11.4 12.6 9.8 12.6 12.7 15.0 21.2 174.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 61.5 78.0 133.5 172.6 190.8 144.3 161.2 212.0 151.0 144.7 106.9 71.5 1,628
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Mihama has declined in recent decades.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 13,157—    
1980 13,036−0.9%
1990 13,222+1.4%
2000 11,630−12.0%
2010 10,563−9.2%
2020 9,179−13.1%

History[edit]

Mihama is part of ancient Wakasa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Obama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, it was organised into part of Mikata District in Fukui Prefecture. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the villages of Kitasaigō, Minamisaigō, Mimi, and Santō were established. The four villages merged to form the town of Mihama on February 11, 1954.

On August 9, 2004, a non-radioactive steam leak killed five and burnt twelve others in the nearby Mihama Nuclear Power Plant; the high-pressure steam pipe lost 85% of its wall thickness and failed five days before its first inspection since 1976.[5]

Economy[edit]

The economy of Mihama, previously dependent on commercial fishing and agriculture, is now very heavily dependent on the nuclear power industry. The closure of the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant since the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster has crippled the local economy.

Education[edit]

Mihama has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation[edit]

Railway[edit]

Highway[edit]

International relations[edit]

Local attractions[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Official website of Mihama Town" (in Japanese). Japan: Mihama Town. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  4. ^ Mihama population statistics
  5. ^ "Piping rupture caused by flow accelerated corrosion".

External links[edit]