Kitaakita

Kitaakita (北秋田市, Kitaakita-shi) is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2019, the city had an estimated population of 31,504 in 14,021 households,[1] and a population density of 27 persons per km². The total area of the city is 1,152.76 square kilometres (445.08 sq mi).

Kitaakita

北秋田市
City
Panorama view of downtown Kitaakita
Flag
Seal
Location of Kitaakita in Akita Prefecture
Kitaakita
 
Coordinates: 40°13′33.7″N 140°22′14.9″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureAkita
Government
 • -MayorEiko Tsuya <津谷永光> (from April 2009)
Area
 • Total1,152.76 km2 (445.08 sq mi)
Population
 (November 2019)
 • Total31,504
 • Density27/km2 (71/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
• TreeBeech
• FlowerHydrangea
• BirdBlack woodpecker
Phone number0186-62-1111
AddressHanazono-chō 19-1, Kitaakita-shi, Akita-ken 018-3392
WebsiteOfficial website
Kitaakita City Hall

Geography

Kitaakita is located in the mountains of northeastern Akita Prefecture, with the Ōu Mountains on the east. Part of the city is within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Much of the city area is covered in forest. Due to its inland location, the city is noted for its heavy snowfall in winter. It is approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Akita City, the prefectural capital.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Kitaakita has been decreasing rapidly over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 64,607—    
1960 66,150+2.4%
1970 55,601−15.9%
1980 51,210−7.9%
1990 46,660−8.9%
2000 42,050−9.9%
2010 36,397−13.4%

Climate

Kitaakita has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Kitaakita is 10.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1457 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.7 °C.[3]

Climate data for Kitakita, Asahi neighborhood, altitude 29 meters
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.6
(51.1)		 17.6
(63.7)		 20.4
(68.7)		 30.0
(86.0)		 32.0
(89.6)		 34.0
(93.2)		 37.4
(99.3)		 38.5
(101.3)		 35.6
(96.1)		 26.8
(80.2)		 22.6
(72.7)		 16.0
(60.8)		 38.5
(101.3)
Average high °C (°F) 1.5
(34.7)		 2.6
(36.7)		 6.7
(44.1)		 14.4
(57.9)		 19.8
(67.6)		 24.2
(75.6)		 27.1
(80.8)		 29.2
(84.6)		 24.4
(75.9)		 18.0
(64.4)		 10.7
(51.3)		 4.4
(39.9)		 15.3
(59.5)
Average low °C (°F) −5.1
(22.8)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 2.3
(36.1)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.5
(56.3)		 18.0
(64.4)		 19.2
(66.6)		 14.0
(57.2)		 6.8
(44.2)		 1.4
(34.5)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 5.7
(42.3)
Record low °C (°F) −17.6
(0.3)		 −17.8
(0.0)		 −15.3
(4.5)		 −9.2
(15.4)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 4.9
(40.8)		 6.7
(44.1)		 9.8
(49.6)		 3.0
(37.4)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −8.8
(16.2)		 −14.5
(5.9)		 −17.8
(0.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 119.0
(4.69)		 89.9
(3.54)		 95.0
(3.74)		 101.3
(3.99)		 126.3
(4.97)		 110.1
(4.33)		 216.2
(8.51)		 192.8
(7.59)		 165.0
(6.50)		 146.6
(5.77)		 163.2
(6.43)		 147.6
(5.81)		 1,673
(65.87)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 185
(73)		 155
(61)		 71
(28)		 1
(0.4)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 10
(3.9)		 105
(41)		 540
(213)
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency（統計期間1981〜2010）[4]

History

The area of present-day Kitaakita was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who ruled the northern third of the province from Kubota Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture in 1878 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The city of Kitaakita was established on March 22, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Aikawa, Ani, Moriyoshi and Takanosu (all from Kitaakita District).

Government

Aisai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. The city contributes two members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 2 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Kitaakita is based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism.

Education
  • Akita University – Kitaakita branch campus
  • Kitaakita has ten public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Airport

Railway

Highway

Local attractions

Sister city relations

Noted people from Kitaakita

References
  1. Kitaakita City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Kitaakita population statistics
  3. Kitaakita climate data
  4. "鷹巣の平年値（年・月ごとの値）". JMA. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  5. "Isedotai Site". Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku. Jomon Japan. 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
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