Ashikita, Kumamoto


Ashikita is a town located in Ashikita District, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 15,024 in 6909 households, and a population density of 64 persons per km2. The total area of the town is.
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Geography

Ashikita is located in southwest Kumamoto Prefecture, approximately 60 km southwest of the prefectural capital at Kumamoto City. It faces the Yatsushiro Sea to the west, and the Kuma RIver flows through the town.The municipality governs the 7th largest area within the prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

Climate

Ashikita has a humid subtropical climate characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ashikita is 16.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2213 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.9 °C. Ashikita, like all regions of Kumamoto, sees the most rainfall on the island of Kyushu, particularly during the rainy season between June and July. Like most of Japan, Ashikita experiences all four seasons, including cherry blossoms from late March to April, and Autumn colors from November or December depending on the warmth of the weather. Typhoon season generally occurs between August and September, and typhoons occasionally reach Ashikita, though they often make landfall over Miyazaki or Kagoshima Prefectures to the south.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ashikita is as shown below

History

The area of Ashikita was part of ancient Higo Province. During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain, and the village of Sashiki was a post station on a highway which connected southern Kyushu with Edo. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Sashiki, Ono, Yoshio, Yunoura and Tanoura were established in Ashikita District, Kumamoto with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On November 18, 1903, Sashiki was elevated to town status, followed by Yunoura on October 1, 1951. Sashiki merged with Ono and Yoshio on January 1 1955 to form the town of Ashikita. Tanoura was elevated to town status on April 1, 1958. Ashikita annexed Yunoura on November 1, 1970 and merged with Tanoura on January 1, 2005.

Government

Ashikita has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members. Ashikita, together with the town of Tsunagi contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Areas within Ashikita

Ashikita is divided into 44 areas. Communities are often spread along rivers, following the Kuma River between Yatsushiro City and Hitoyoshi City, and following the many streams that originate in Ashikita's mountains and flow out into the Yatsushiro Sea, along the town's extensive coastline. These areas include:
  • Northern Tanoura region along the coast
  • *Kami-Tanoura and Hatato serviced by Kami-Tanoura Station on the Hisatsu Orange Railway.
  • * Kodanoura serviced by Higo-Tanoura Station on the Hisatsu Orange Railway.
  • * Imuta
  • Central Tanoura region
  • * Tanouramachi and Tanoura which can be accessed by the Tanoura IC, or by the Hisatsu Orange Railway from Otachimisaki Koen Station. Otachimisaki Park is located on the cape, with beaches, Otachimisaki Onsen, Ashikita Symbol Tower and recreational facilities. Tanoura Rest Area offers a food shop and restaurant for travelers. Tanoura Elementary School and Tanoura Junior High School can be found there.
Mountainous region east of Tanoura
  • Oiwa and Kuroiwa
  • Tachikawa, Yokoigi and Uwabara
  • Region along the Kuma River
  • * Yoshio and Ebirase serviced by Yoshio Station along the JR Hisatsu Line; Yoshio Elementary School and Yoshio Onsen are located there.
  • * Kaiji serviced by Kaiji Station on the JR Hisatsu Line; the location of Kaiji Elementary School.
  • * Ono and Tsuge - Ono Onsen Center offers an onsen, food shop and restaurant along the road to Hitoyoshi City. Ono Elementary School is located there.
  • Northern Ashikita region
  • * Michigawachi, Fushiki, Matsubae, Onita and Shiroishi with Shiroishi Station along the JR Hisatsu Line
  • * Otojiya where Ashikita High School is located.
  • Western Ashikita region
  • * Uminoura serviced by Uminoura Station on the Hisatsu Orange Railway
  • *Hakariishi and Tsurugiyama with Ebi-An shrimp restaurant, Ashikita Utasebune sailing fishing boat docks, Ashikita Total Seaside Park, Tsurugiyama Swimming Beach and Ashikita Youth Center
  • Central Ashikita region
  • * Hanaoka
  • * Sashiki is accessible by the Ashikita IC, and has the Ashikita Farmers' Market Dekopon Rest Area, where travelers can buy fresh produce and local delicacies. Sashiki Station lies along the Hisatsu Orange Railway, and on nearby Shiroyama Hill sit the Shiroyama Skydome and the Sashiki Castle Ruins Historical Park. Sashiki Elementary School and Sashiki Junior High School are also located here.
  • * Ashikita is the location of the Ashikita Town Hall and the Bayside Ashikita area, where a park and a wooden boulevard can be found.
  • Southern Ashikita region
  • * Yunoura is a residential area along the Yunoura river, serviced by Yunoura Station along the Hisatsu Orange Railway. It has both Yunoura Elementary School and Yunoura Junior High School. Yunoura Onsen and Healthy Park pool and onsen can also be found there.
  • * Meshima has the Meshima Yumemoyai Center.
  • Eastern Ashikita mountainous region
  • * Amatsuki, Shiraki, Ichinose, Kuwabara, Shioshitashi, Miyanoura and Yahata.
  • Region east of Yunoura
  • * Tagawa, Miyazaki and Toyooka
  • * Okawachi where Uchino Elementary School is located.
  • Region south of Ono
  • * Yoneda, Takaoka, Furuishi, Kunimi and Maruyama.

Economy

The economy of Ashikita is mainly agriculture and commercial fishing. Ashikita is famous for its fresh local produce, in particular dekopon oranges, and amanatsu oranges. It also has iconic sailboats called utasebune which fish for famous cutlassfish and red-footed shrimp. Other local delicacies include Ashikita beef, Otachimisaki salt, Ozeki rice and Ozeki shochu.

Education

Ashikita has five public elementary school and three public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
High Schools:
  • Ashikita High School
Junior High Schools:
  • Tanoura Junior High School
  • Sashiki Junior High School
  • Yunoura Junior High School
Elementary Schools:
  • Tanoura Elementary School
  • Sashiki Elementary School
  • Ono Elementary School
  • Yunoura Elementary School
  • Uchino Elementary School
Special needs schools:

Transportation

Railways

JR Kyushu - Hisatsu Line
Hisatsu Orange Railway
  • - - - - -

Highways

*

Local attractions

Utasebune fishing boat tours
  • Sashiki Castle Ruins, National Historic Site
  • Otachimisaki Park Beach
  • Ashikita Marine Park Beach
  • Ashikita Hoshino Tomihiro Art Museum - sister museum to Midori City Hoshino Tomihiro Art MuseumSekishokan cultural heritage site
  • Nozaka Bay
  • Sashiki Suwa Jinja Shrine
  • Yunoura Suwa Jinja Shrine
  • Tanoura Aso Jinja Shrine
The town was listed on list of anime sightseeing spots. Ashikita is the setting for the fishing anime and manga Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater. Some notable places are the Tsurugiyama Harbor, Tsurugiyama Beach, and the Tenguya Fishing Store.

Festivals and events

  • January: New Year shrine celebrations, Ashikita Town School Music Festival
  • February: Utase-hai Junior Karate Competition, Ashikita Marathon, Ashikita Utasebune Festival
  • March: Dekopon Festival, Ashikita Utase Marathon
  • April: Yunoura Suwa Jinja Shrine Festival, Sashiki Suwa Jinja Shrine Festival
  • May: Golf Tournament
  • June: Volleyball Tournament, Table Tennis Tournament
  • July: Ashikita Summer Festival Celebrations, Bowling Tournament, Clay Pigeon Shooting Tournament, Softball Tournament, Croquet Tournament, Sports Festival
  • August: Ashikita Summer Festival Celebrations, Town Dance and Fireworks Display, Baseball Tournament, Swimming Tournament, Badminton Tournament, Beach Volleyball Tournament
  • September: Golf Tournament
  • October: Ashikita International Festival, Athletics Tournament, Moon Viewing Festival Noh Performance
  • November: Ashikita Culture Festival