Yoshimi, Saitama

Coordinates: 36°2′23.6″N 139°27′13.5″E / 36.039889°N 139.453750°E / 36.039889; 139.453750
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Yoshimi
吉見町 
Clockwise from top left:Yoshimi Hundred Caves, Yoshimi Matsuyama Castle, Yoshimi road station, Kuroiwa Kofun, Yoshimi Anraku-ji
Clockwise from top left:Yoshimi Hundred Caves, Yoshimi Matsuyama Castle, Yoshimi road station, Kuroiwa Kofun, Yoshimi Anraku-ji
Flag of Yoshimi
Official seal of Yoshimi
Location of Yorshimi in Saitama Prefecture
Location of Yorshimi in Saitama Prefecture
Yoshimi is located in Japan
Yoshimi
Yoshimi
 
Coordinates: 36°2′23.6″N 139°27′13.5″E / 36.039889°N 139.453750°E / 36.039889; 139.453750
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureSaitama
DistrictHiki
Area
 • Total38.64 km2 (14.92 sq mi)
Population
 (March 2021)
 • Total18,594
 • Density480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeZelkova serrata
- FlowerChrysanthemum
- BirdEurasian skylark
Phone number0493-54-1511
Address411 Hosoya, Yoshimi-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama-ken 355-0192
WebsiteOfficial website

Yoshimi (吉見町, Yoshimi-machi) is a town located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2021, the town had an estimated population of 18,594 in 7800 households and a population density of 480 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 38.64 square kilometres (14.92 sq mi).

Geography[edit]

Located in central Saitama Prefecture on the lowlands of the upper Arakawa River, Yoshimi is noted for its strawberry production. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Saitama Prefectural Hiki Hills Nature Park.

Surrounding municipalities[edit]

Saitama Prefecture

Climate[edit]

Yoshimi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Yoshimi is 14.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1448 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.0 °C.[2]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yoshimi peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 13,045—    
1930 13,404+2.8%
1940 13,484+0.6%
1950 15,999+18.7%
1960 14,915−6.8%
1970 14,072−5.7%
1980 16,107+14.5%
1990 18,991+17.9%
2000 22,246+17.1%
2010 21,083−5.2%
2020 18,192−13.7%

History[edit]

Archaeologists have discovered numerous Kofun period remains from the third through sixth centuries AD within the borders of Yoshimi. The villages of Higashi-Yoshimi, Minami-Yoshimi, Nishi-Yoshimi and Kita-Yoshimi were created within Yokomi District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Yokomi District was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Hiki District.

On July 1, 1954, the four villages merged to become the village of Yoshimi, which was elevated to town status on November 3, 1972. Attempts to merge Yoshimi with neighboring Higashimatsuyama were rejected by referendum in 2004.

Government[edit]

Yoshimi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Yoshimi, together with the city of Higashimatsuyama and town of Kawashima, contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Saitama 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Education[edit]

Yoshimi has six public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school; however, the Musashigaoka College, a junior college, is located in Yoshimi.

Transportation[edit]

Railway[edit]

  • Yoshimi has no passenger rail service.

Highway[edit]

  • Yoshimi is not located on any national highways.

Local attractions[edit]

Notable people from Yoshimi[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Yoshimi town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Yoshimi climate data
  3. ^ Yoshimi population statistics
  4. ^ "吉見百穴" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs.

External links[edit]