Yurihonjō

Yurihonjō (由利本荘市, Yurihonjō-shi) is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2020, the city has an estimated population of 76,077 in 30,639 households,[1] and a population density of 63 persons per km². The total area of the city is 1,209.60 square kilometres (467.03 sq mi).

Yurihonjō

由利本荘市
City
Yurihonjō City Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Yurihonjō in Akita Prefecture
Yurihonjō
 
Coordinates: 39°23′9.1″N 140°2′55.8″E
CountryJapan
RegionTōhoku
PrefectureAkita
Area
 • Total1,209.60 km2 (467.03 sq mi)
Population
 (January 2020)
 • Total76,077
 • Density63/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeZelkova serrata
- FlowerSakura
Phone number0184-24-3321
Address17 Ozaki Yurihonjō-shi, Akita-ken 015-8501
WebsiteOfficial website
Mt. Chokai photographed from the top of Okojoland Ski Area.

Geography

Yurihonjō is located in southwest corner of Akita Prefecture, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west, and by Yamagata Prefecture to the south. It is the largest municipality in Akita Prefecture in terms of area, covering approximately one-tenth the area of the prefecture, or about half the area of Kanagawa Prefecture. Part of the city is within the borders of the Chōkai Quasi-National Park.[2]

Neighboring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Yurihonjō peaked in the 1950s and has been in decline since then.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 76,001—    
1930 84,681+11.4%
1940 89,937+6.2%
1950 109,672+21.9%
1960 109,032−0.6%
1970 95,428−12.5%
1980 95,748+0.3%
1990 95,489−0.3%
2000 92,843−2.8%
2010 85,230−8.2%

Climate

Yurihonjō has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) 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 Yurihonjō is 11.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1752 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.2 °C.[4]

History

The area of present-day Yurihonjō was part of ancient Dewa Province, dominated by the Mogami clan during the Sengoku period. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, part of the area came under the control of Honjō Domain, Kameda Domain and Yashima Domain, with a very small portion under direct rule by the shogunate (tenryō). After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Yuri District, Akita Prefecture in 1878, and the town of Honjō was formed with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Honjō was raised to city status on March 31, 1954.

The city of Yurihonjō was established on March 22, 2005, from the merger of the city of Honjō, and the towns of Chōkai, Higashiyuri, Iwaki, Nishime, Ōuchi, Yashima and Yuri (all from Yuri District). Just after the merger, the new city of Yurihonjō had 126 representatives in its new city assembly, more than the whole of Tokyo.

Government

After the merger, Yurihonjō had a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city assembly with 126 members (more than Tokyo Metropolis). The city legislature currently has 26 members. The city contributes three members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Akita District 3 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Yurihonjō is based on agriculture and commercial fishing.

Companies headquartered in Yurihonjo
  • TDK Yurihonjo

Education

Yurihonjō has 15 public elementary schools and 10 public middle schools operated by the city government and five public high schools operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped. Akita Prefectural University also has a campus in the city.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company - Uetsu Main Line

Yuri Kōgen Railway – Chōkai Sanroku Line

Highway

Seaports
  • Port of Honjō

Local attractions
  • Amasagi Village (天鷺村, Amasagi-mura)
Amasagi Village is a complete tourist center in the town of Iwaki, northern Yurihonjō. It is centered on an historical facility, and it contains the samurai residence of the Unuma family (transferred from its original site), and a museum with collections of furniture and samurai armor.
  • Akata Giant Buddha Statue (赤田大仏, Akata Daibutsu)
A large standing Buddha statue.
  • Honjō Park (本荘公園, Honjō Kōen)
Each year a large cherry blossom festival (April) and Azalea festival (May) take place here.
  • Yashio Park (八塩いこいの森, Yashio Ikoi no Mori)
This park is famous for its yellow cherry blossom trees and it holds a firework display in May during full bloom.
One of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls, grassy park, and hiking trails in the mountains near Mt. Chōkai.
  • One Thousand Jizō (千体地蔵, Sentai Jizō)
One thousand stone statues of Jizō line the side of a hill in Oriwatari, Ōuchi.
  • Yashima Ski Area (矢島スキー場, Yashima Sukī-jō)
A small but popular ski area on the lower slopes of the Mount Chōkai. It is especially popular with snowboarders.
  • Minami Yurihara Highland (南由利原高原, Minami Yurihara Kōgen)
A large plateau of outstanding natural beauty on the Akita side of Mount Chōkai. It includes numerous rental cottages and an amusement area.
  • Taki Hot Spring (滝温泉, Taki Onsen) in the Ōuchi area is reputed to cure minor pains and many sufferers stay there long-term.
  • Yurihonjo Arena

Honjō Marina & Koyoshi River
  • Rowing
There are 500 metre & 1000 metre rowing courses at the mouth of the Koyoshi River. A major public regatta takes place here each year in September. Three high schools in Yurihonjō have their own rowing clubs with a history of success in national rowing championships.
  • Marina, Sailing
Honjō has a wide beach with an adjacent yachting harbour.

Local events
  • Fireworks
A fireworks festival is held every summer near the mouth of the Koyoshi River.
  • Naked Festival (裸参り, Hadaka Matsuri)
This religious event takes place in January in which a group of men and boys walk up the Shinzan mountain through the snow to Shinzan Shrine. They wear only loincloths and thin shoes.
In March each year visitors can follow a map of public displays of the traditional Hina dolls at over 50 different locations around the city.

Mount Chōkai

Mount Chōkai (鳥海山, Chōkai-san) is an inactive volcano that stands alone on the border between Akita Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture. It is 2,236m high[5] and is the second highest mountain in the Tōhoku area. It is popular with skiers, hikers and climbers.

There are two main trails for climbing Mount Chōkai from the Akita side. One trailhead is in Nikaho, south of Yurihonjō. The other, in Yurihonjō, starts at the Haraikawa (秡川) Parking Area. A one-way hike from the Haraikawa commonly takes 3 hours and there are bungalows and camping sites on the lower slopes of this trail.

The mountain has its own unique Alpine plants and vegetation such as Chōkai Thistle (チョウカイアザミ) and Chōkai Fusuma (チョウカイフスマ).

Local crafts, arts, and food
There are four independent sake breweries in Yurihonjō: Akita Homare, Yuri Masamune, Tenju, and Dewanofuji.
  • Honjō Udon (本荘うどん)
Dried noodles which are eaten hot or cold. The texture of Honjō Udon is tough.
  • Gotenmari ball (ごてんまり, Gotenmari)
These elaborate decorative balls are made from silk thread and are a popular souvenir of Yurihonjō.
  • Honjō Lacquer (本荘塗り, Honjō-nuri)
A number of craftsmen in Yurihonjō produce traditional lacquerware.
  • Honjō Oiwake (本荘追分)
This is a traditional folk song, known as min'yō, which is reputed to be one of the most difficult for singers to master. A national Honjō Oiwake competition is held in Yurihonjō every year over 2 days in September.
  • Mountain vegetables (山菜, sansai)
The foothills of Mount Chōkai produce many varieties of wild mountain vegetables and in spring and autumn it is common to see cars parked on the side of the road as people stop to pick them. Popular mountain vegetables are yamaudo (山ウド), bamboo shoots (笹タケノコ, sasa takenoko) and warabi (ワラビ).

Sister city relations

Noted people from Yurihonjō

Notes
  1. Yurihonjō City official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. (PDF) http://www.pref.akita.lg.jp/www/contents/1260411310720/files/22_p.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Yurihonjō population statistics
  4. Yurihonjō climate data
  5. "鳥海山登山ガイド". Mt. Chokai WEB. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  6. "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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