Wakasa, Fukui

Wakasa (若狭町, Wakasa-chō) is a town located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2018, the city had an estimated population of 14,577 and the population density of 82 persons per km². The total area of the town was 178.49 square kilometres (68.92 sq mi).

Wakasa 若狭町
Town
Wakasa Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Wakasa in Fukui Prefecture
Wakasa
Coordinates: 35°32′56.2″N 135°54′29.4″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	Fukui
District	Mikatakaminaka
Area
• Total	178.49 km2 (68.92 sq mi)
Population  (April 2018)
• Total	14,577
• Density	82/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
Phone number	0770-45-1111
Address	1-1 Chuo, Wakasa-cho, Mikatakaminaka-gun, Fukui-ken 919-1393
Website	www.town.fukui-wakasa.lg.jp

Mikata five lakes

Annotated aerial view of the Mikata Five Lakes in Wakasa, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (2018/2023). Measurements refer to maximum depth.

Geography

Wakasa is located in southwestern Fukui Prefecture, bordered by Shiga Prefecture to the south and the heavily indented ria coast of Wakasa Bay of Sea of Japan to the north. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities

• Fukui Prefecture
  • Mihama
  • Obama
• Shiga Prefecture
  • Takashima

Climate

Wakasa has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Wakasa is 14.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2115 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.7 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Wakasa has declined over the past 40 years.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1970	18,090	—
1980	18,114	+0.1%
1990	17,835	−1.5%
2000	17,313	−2.9%
2010	16,099	−7.0%
2020	14,003	−13.0%

History

Wakasa is part of ancient Wakasa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Obama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, it was organised into part of Mikatakaminaka District in Fukui Prefecture. The town of Wakasa was formed on March 31, 2005 by the merger of the former towns of Mikata, from Mikata District, and Kaminaka, from Onyū District.

Economy

The economy of Wakasa is dependent on commercial fishing, agriculture and seasonal tourism.

Education

Wakasa has ten public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Fukui Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

• JR West - Obama Line
  • Kiyama, Mikata, Fujii, Tomura, Ōtoba, Wakasa-Arita, Kaminaka

Highway

• Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway
• National Route 27
• National Route 162
• National Route 203

Notable people

• Tsutomu Sakuma (1879-1910), was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy and a pioneer submarine commander

Local attractions

• Kumakawa-juku, one of the nationally protected Groups of Traditional Buildings
• Mikata Five Lakes
• Torihama shell mound
• Wakasa Mikata Jomon Museum
• Shimofunazuka Kofun, Kamifunazuka Kofun, Nakatsuka Kofun, Nishizuka Kofun, Jōnozuka Kofun, National Historic Sites

External links

• Media related to Wakasa, Fukui at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (in Japanese)