Miharu, Fukushima

Miharu (三春町, Miharu-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 17,471 in 6348 households,[1] and a population density of 240 persons per km². The total area of the town was 72.76 square kilometres (28.09 sq mi).

Miharu

三春町
Town
Miharu Town Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Miharu in Fukushima Prefecture
Miharu
 
Coordinates: 37°26′27.6″N 140°29′33.3″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureFukushima
DistrictTamura
Area
 • Total72.76 km2 (28.09 sq mi)
Population
 (March 2020)
 • Total17,471
 • Density240/km2 (620/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeWeeping Cherry blossom
- FlowerRhododendron
- BirdJapanese bush warbler
Phone number0247-62-2111
AddressOmachi 1－2, Miharu Town, Tamura District, Fukushima Prefecture 963-7796
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

Miharu is located in Tamura District in north-central Fukushima prefecture. The town is located in an hilly region of the Abukuma Mountains, with peaks of 300–500 meters.

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Miharu has remained stable over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 22,485—    
1970 19,898−11.5%
1980 19,047−4.3%
1990 19,205+0.8%
2000 19,976+4.0%
2010 18,191−8.9%

Climate

Miharu has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Miharu is 11.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1282 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.3 °C.[3]

History

The area of present-day Miharu was part of ancient Mutsu Province. During the Edo period, the area was the castle town of Miharu Domain, a 50,000 koku han ruled by the Akita clan from 1645 until the Meiji Restoration. It was subsequently organized as part of Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province.

Miharu town was established with the formation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1955, Miharu annexed the neighboring villages of Ogisawa, Nakazuma, Nakago, Sawaishi and Kurita, all from Tamura District.

Economy

The economy of Miharu is primarily agricultural, with some chemical and light manufacturing.

Education

Miharu has six public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Fukushima Board of Education.

  • Fukushima Prefectural Tamura High School

Transportation

Railway

JR East - Ban'etsu East Line

Highway

International relations

Noted people from Miharu

Local attractions
The Takizakura tree at night
  • Takizakura Park - The name "Miharu" in Japanese means three springs. In most parts of Japan, plum, peach, and cherry trees blossom at different times, but in Miharu, they blossom almost simultaneously. Miharu is home of the Takizakura, or "waterfall cherry tree", is over 1,000 years old and brings tourists from all over Japan to see it in the springtime. It is registered as a living national treasure by the Japanese government.
  • Site of Miharu Castle

Tradition & Culture

References
  1. Miharu Town home page official statistics(in Japanese)
  2. Miharu population statistics
  3. Miharu climate data

Media related to Miharu, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons

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