Misaki (美咲町, Misaki-chō) is a town located in Kume District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.[1] As of 31 December 2022, the town had an estimated population of 13,060 in 5867 households and a population density of 56 persons per km2.[2] The total area of the town is 232.17 square kilometres (89.64 sq mi).

Misaki
美咲町
Ohara-nishi rice terraces
Ohara-nishi rice terraces
Flag of Misaki
Official seal of Misaki
Map
Location of Misaki in Okayama Prefecture
Location of Misaki
Misaki is located in Japan
Misaki
Misaki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°59′53″N 133°57′29″E / 35.99806°N 133.95806°E / 35.99806; 133.95806
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku
San'yō
PrefectureOkayama
DistrictKume
Area
 • Total232.17 km2 (89.64 sq mi)
Population
 (December 31, 2022)
 • Total13,060
 • Density56/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1735 Harada, Misaki-cho, Kume-gun, Okayama-ken 709-3717
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerEricaceae, Chrysanthemum
TreeSakura
Misaki Town Hall

Geography

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Misaki is located on the Kibi Plateau, in the east-central part of Okayama Prefecture. Most of the town is occupied by mountains and forests. The Asahi River runs through the center of the town, and Yoshii River runs through the eastern part. The urban center of the town is the area around JR Kamenokō Station, where the town hall, shops, and public facilities are located.

Neighboring municipalities

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Okayama Prefecture

Climate

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Misaki has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with moderate snowfall. The average annual temperature in Misaki is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1501 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.2 °C.[3]

Demography

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Misaki has been as follows.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 35,218—    
1960 33,044−6.2%
1970 23,373−29.3%
1980 20,029−14.3%
1990 18,972−5.3%
2000 17,562−7.4%
2010 15,642−10.9%

History

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The area of Misaki was part of ancient Mimasaka Province. The city of Misaki was founded on March 22, 2005 by the merger of the towns of Asahi, Chūō and Yanahara, all from Kume District.[5]

Government

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Misaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of ten members. Misaki, collectively with the town of Kumenan, contributes one member to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Okayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The main industry in the area is agriculture. The main crops are rice, fruit trees such as pears and grapes, leaf tobacco, and poultry farming.

Education

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Misaki has five public elementary school and three public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railway

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  JR West (JR West) - Tsuyama Line

Highways

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Local attractions

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Sightseeing spots include JR Kamenokō Station, which has a turtle-shaped station building, Sankyu Park, which is famous for its cherry blossoms and azaleas, Makiba no Yakata, a nature experience park, and an exhibition operation that utilizes an abandoned railroad line.

References

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  1. ^ "岡山・美咲町長選、青野氏を推薦 自民県連:山陽新聞デジタル|さんデジ". 山陽新聞デジタル|さんデジ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  2. ^ "Misaki town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  3. ^ Misaki climate data
  4. ^ Misaki population statistics
  5. ^ "美咲町|市町村の情報|岡山県移住ポータルサイト おかやま晴れの国ぐらし". 岡山県移住ポータルサイト おかやま晴れの国ぐらし (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-22.
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