Fukui (city)
Fukui (福井市, Fukui-shi) is the capital city of Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2018, the city had an estimated population of 264,217, and a population density of 69.2 persons per km², in 102,935 households.[1] Its total area is 536.41 square kilometres (207.11 sq mi). Most of the population lives in a small central area; the city limits include rural plains, mountainous areas, and suburban sprawl along the Route 8 bypass.
Fukui
福井市 | |
|---|---|
 From top left: Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins, Kitanosho Castle, Fukui Castle and Fukui Prefectural Government, Cherry trees along the Asuwa River, Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| |
 Location of Fukui in Fukui Prefecture | |
  Fukui | |
| Coordinates: 36°3′50.6″N 136°13′10.5″E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūbu (Hokuriku) |
| Prefecture | Fukui |
| Government | |
| • - Mayor | Shin'ichi Higashimura |
| Area | |
| • Total | 536.41 km2 (207.11 sq mi) |
| Population (July 1, 2017) | |
| • Total | 264,217 |
| • Density | 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| City symbols | |
| -Tree | Pine |
| -Flower | Hydrangea |
| Phone number | 0776-20-5111 |
| Address | 3-10-1 Ōte, Fukui-shi, Fukui-ken 910-8511 |
| Website | www |
Geography
Fukui is located in the coastal plain in north-central part of the prefecture. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west and the Ryōhaku Mountains to the east. The Kuzuryū River flows through the city.
Neighbouring municipalities
- Fukui Prefecture
History
Fukui was part of ancient Echizen Province, and developed as a castle town and centre of Fukui Domain during the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. Fukui Domain played a key role in the Meiji restoration. The modern city of Fukui was founded with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889.
During the pre-war period, Fukui grew to become an important industrial and railroad centre. Factories in the area produced aircraft parts, electrical equipment, machine motors, various metal products and textiles. Fukui was largely destroyed on June 19, 1945 during the Bombing of Fukui during World War II. Of the city's 1.9 Sq. Miles at the time, 84.8% of Fukui was destroyed, per the United States Army Air Forces's Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific War)
Fukui was again devastated by a major earthquake in 1948.
On February 1, 2006, the town of Miyama (from Asuwa District), the town of Shimizu, and the village of Koshino (both from Nyū District) were merged into Fukui.
Fukui's city status was elevated into a core city on April 1, 2019.[2]
Government
Fukui has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 32 members. The city also contributes 12 members to the Fukui Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, Fukui forms part of Fukui 1st district, a single-member constituency of the House of Representatives in the national Diet of Japan.
Climate
Fukui has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is high throughout the year, and is especially heavy in December and January.
| Climate data for Fukui, Fukui | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
6.4 (43.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.6 (72.7) |
25.7 (78.3) |
29.8 (85.6) |
31.5 (88.7) |
26.9 (80.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
9.5 (49.1) |
18.6 (65.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
2.7 (36.9) |
5.9 (42.6) |
12.5 (54.5) |
17.5 (63.5) |
21.2 (70.2) |
25.4 (77.7) |
26.7 (80.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
15.9 (60.6) |
10.5 (50.9) |
5.5 (41.9) |
14.0 (57.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −0.2 (31.6) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
1.8 (35.2) |
7.7 (45.9) |
12.7 (54.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
21.7 (71.1) |
22.6 (72.7) |
18.4 (65.1) |
11.6 (52.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
2.2 (36.0) |
10.2 (50.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 306.9 (12.08) |
193.2 (7.61) |
148.1 (5.83) |
141.1 (5.56) |
145.8 (5.74) |
204.7 (8.06) |
220.0 (8.66) |
133.6 (5.26) |
216.8 (8.54) |
162.4 (6.39) |
202.7 (7.98) |
293.0 (11.54) |
2,368.3 (93.25) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 136 (54) |
93 (37) |
20 (7.9) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
46 (18) |
296 (117.3) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 79 | 73 | 69 | 70 | 76 | 77 | 75 | 78 | 77 | 78 | 81 | 76 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 58.8 | 73.6 | 130.5 | 164.3 | 196.1 | 147.7 | 167.3 | 204.1 | 140.7 | 145.4 | 104.5 | 68.6 | 1,601.6 |
| Source: NOAA (1961-1990)[3] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Fukui has remained relatively steady over the past 40 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1873 | 39,784 | — |
| 1970 | 231,901 | +482.9% |
| 1980 | 259,638 | +12.0% |
| 1990 | 270,911 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 269,557 | −0.5% |
| 2010 | 266,796 | −1.0% |
| Source: Fukui population statistics, Japanese Imperial Commission (1873) | ||
Economy
The economy of Fukui is mixed. The city is a regional commercial and finance centre; however, manufacturing, agriculture and commercial fishing also are contributors to the local economy.
Industry
Fukui is home to several companies, including:
- Matsuura Machinery, an international heavy machinery manufacturing company[4]
- Morinaga Hokuriku Dairy, a dairy products subsidiary of Morinaga Milk Industry
- Emori Shoji, a trading house with strong ties to China
- Kumagai Gumi, a large general construction company, was founded and has its registered head office in the city.[5]
- Keifuku Bus
Education
Universities and colleges
Secondary schools
- Fujishima Senior High School
- Koshi Senior High School
- Fukui Commercial Senior High School
- Usui Senior High School
- Asuwa Senior High School
- Michimori Senior High School
- Kagaku-Gijutsu Senior High School
- Fukui Norin Senior High School
- Hokuriku Senior High School
- Fukui University of Technology - Fukui Senior High School
- Jin-ai Girl's Senior High School
- Keishin Senior High School
- Fukui Minami Senior High School
Other schools
- Fukui Prefectural School for the Blind
- Fukui Prefectural School for the Deaf
- A North Korean school: Hokuriku Korean Elementary and Junior High School (北陸朝鮮初中級学校).[6]
Transport
Railway
.svg.png.webp)
West Japan Railway Company (JR West) - Hokuriku Shinkansen (under construction)- West Japan Railway Company (JR West) - Hokuriku Main Line
- West Japan Railway Company (JR West) - Etsumi-Hoku Line (Kuzuryū Line)
- Echizen-Hanandō - Rokujō - Asuwa - Echizen-Tōgō - Ichijōdani - Echizen-Takada - Ichinami - Kowashōzu - Miyama - Echizen-Yakushi - Echizen-Ōmiya - Hakariishi
Fukui Railway - Fukubu Line
Echizen Railway - Mikuni Awara
- Fukui - Shin-Fukui - Fukuiguchi - Matsumoto Machiya - Nishi-Betsuin - Tawaramachi - Fukudaimae-Nishi-Fukui - Nikkakagaku-Mae - Yatsushima - Nittazuka - Nakatsuno - Jin'ai Ground-Mae - Washizuka-Haribara
- Echizen Railway - Katsuyama Eiheiji Line
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Visitor attractions
- Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins, one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Japan
- Yōkōkan Garden
- Fukui Castle
- Fukui Fine Arts Museum
- Kitanosho Castle
- Asuwa River
- Harmony Hall Fukui
- Fukui International Activities Plaza
- "Yoroppaken", creator of Fukui's trademark dish, sauce katsudon (ソースカツ丼)
- Peace Pagoda, the second of its kind in the world, inaugurated in 1959
Twin towns – sister cities
Fullerton, United States (1989)
Kumamoto, Japan- New Brunswick, United States (1982)
Winsen (Luhe), Germany
Gallery
Yōkōkan Garden
The Yōkōkan Kantei
Fukui Castle
Fukui District Court
Fukui International Activities Plaza
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References
- Official home page
- "平成31年4月 中核市『福井市』誕生！". Official website of Fukui. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
- "Fukui Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- "Company Profile". Matsuura Machinery. Retrieved on May 7, 2019.
- "Corporate Profile Archived 2017-12-09 at the Wayback Machine." Kumagai Gumi. Retrieved on August 31, 2017."
- https://web.archive.org/web/20031121113413/http://www.hks35.ac.jp/
- "市政情報". city.fukui.lg.jp (in Japanese). Fukui. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fukui, Fukui. |
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Fukui, Fukui. |
- Official website (in Japanese)
Geographic data related to Fukui (city) at OpenStreetMap
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