Kōshū, Yamanashi

Kōshū (甲州市, Kōshū-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city had an estimated population of 31,526 in 13,147 households,[1] and a population density of 120 persons per km². The total area of the city is 264.11 square kilometres (101.97 sq mi). The city is the home of the indigenous Koshu grape and is synonymous with viticulture and wine production in Japan.

Kōshū

甲州市
Katsunuma vineyard
Flag
Seal
Location of Kōshū in Yamanashi Prefecture
Kōshū
 
Coordinates: 35°42′15.6″N 138°43′45.9″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureYamanashi Prefecture
Government
  MayorAtsushi Tanabe (since December 2005)
Area
  Total264.11 km2 (101.97 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2019)
  Total31,526
  Density120/km2 (310/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeGrape
- FlowerCherry blossom
-BirdCettia diphone
Phone number0553-32-2111
AddressEnzan-Kamiozo 1085-1, Koshū-shi, Yamanashi-ken 404-8501
WebsiteOfficial website
Kōshū City Hall

Geography

Kōshū is in northeastern Yamanashi Prefecture, occupying the eastern portion of the Kofu Basin. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The peak of Mount Daibosatsu, 2057 meters, is within the city limits.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Kōshū has remained relatively stable over the past 30 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 38,208    
1950 47,719+24.9%
1960 43,076−9.7%
1970 38,138−11.5%
1980 37,269−2.3%
1990 37,038−0.6%
2000 36,925−0.3%
2010 33,947−8.1%

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Kōshū is 10.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1477 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.8 °C.[3]

Climate data for Katsunuma
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0)
23.5
(74.3)
26.9
(80.4)
31.9
(89.4)
34.0
(93.2)
38.5
(101.3)
39.3
(102.7)
40.5
(104.9)
37.4
(99.3)
33.4
(92.1)
24.9
(76.8)
23.0
(73.4)
40.5
(104.9)
Average high °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)
9.6
(49.3)
13.5
(56.3)
20.0
(68.0)
24.3
(75.7)
27.0
(80.6)
30.5
(86.9)
32.1
(89.8)
27.6
(81.7)
21.4
(70.5)
15.9
(60.6)
10.7
(51.3)
20.1
(68.1)
Average low °C (°F) −3.0
(26.6)
−1.8
(28.8)
1.8
(35.2)
7.3
(45.1)
12.3
(54.1)
16.6
(61.9)
20.6
(69.1)
21.5
(70.7)
17.7
(63.9)
11.0
(51.8)
4.5
(40.1)
−0.7
(30.7)
9.0
(48.2)
Record low °C (°F) −11.3
(11.7)
−10.6
(12.9)
−6.7
(19.9)
−3.7
(25.3)
1.6
(34.9)
9.4
(48.9)
13.3
(55.9)
14.0
(57.2)
6.7
(44.1)
0.7
(33.3)
−3.1
(26.4)
−18.5
(−1.3)
−11.3
(11.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 36.0
(1.42)
39.5
(1.56)
72.9
(2.87)
71.2
(2.80)
83.5
(3.29)
121.3
(4.78)
123.8
(4.87)
150.4
(5.92)
181.7
(7.15)
117.3
(4.62)
52.7
(2.07)
31.0
(1.22)
1,081.3
(42.57)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.7 5.3 9.2 8.4 9.3 11.4 11.6 9.3 10.8 8.9 5.9 3.8 98.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 198.7 186.7 193.7 202.6 192.4 149.7 167.5 197.3 148.5 158.1 176.0 197.0 2,168.2
Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency(JMA)[4]
Source 2: JMA[5]

History

Kōshū is located near the center of ancient Kai Province and contains many ruins from the Jōmon period and burial mounds from the Kofun period. During the Heian period, the area was developed in shōen under control of the Minamoto clan, which devolved into feudal holdings by the Nikaido clan and later the Takeda clan from the Kamakura through Sengoku periods. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Yamanashi District of Yamanashi Prefecture, which was later divided into Higashiyamanashi District and Nishiyamanashi District Many of these villages were consolidated into the city of Enzan, the town of Katsunuma, and the village of Yamato by April 1, 1955. The modern city of Kōshū was established on November 1, 2005, from the merger of these three municipalities.

Government

Kōshū has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city supplies two members to the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly.

Economy

Most of the area of the city is agricultural, and is especially known for its production of peaches, grapes and wine.

Education

Kōshū has 14 public elementary schools and six public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. Then prefectural also operates the Yamanashi Industrial Technology Junior College.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister cities

  • - Futtsu, Chiba – since December 1, 1977 with former Enzan City
  • - Ames, Iowa, USA – since September 20, 1993 with former Enzan City
  • - Beaune, Côte-d'Or, France[6] – since September 18, 1976 with former Katsunuma City
  • Turpan, Xinjiang, China[6] – since October 3, 2000 with former Katsunuma City

Local attractions

Places

  • Katsunuma clan residence ruins, a National Historic Site
  • Daizen-ji, Buddhist temple with a Yakushi-do designated as a National Treasure
  • Kaikinzan gold mines, Sengoku period mine and National Historic Site
  • Shakado Museum Of Jomon Culture
  • Mitake Shōsenkyō, River gorge and nationally designated Special Place of Scenic Beauty
  • Erin-ji, Buddhist temple with Japanese garden designed as a national Place of Scenic Beauty
  • Kōgaku-ji, Buddhist temple with Japanese garden designed as a national Place of Scenic Beauty

Events

Every year in autumn the "Koshu Fruit Marathon" is held. While it is called a "marathon" (the word is commonly used in Japan to describe races of varying distances) it actually consists of several shorter races, a 3.5 family race, a 10 km race, a half-marathon, and a 23 km race.[7]

Notable people

References

  1. Kōshū City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Kōshū population statistics
  3. Kōshū climate data
  4. "勝沼 年・月ごとの平年値". JMA. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  5. "勝沼 観測史上1~10位の値". JMA. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  6. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  7. Koshu Fruit Marathon website Course Retrieved on November 6, 2012 (in Japanese)

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