Yanaizu, Fukushima

Yanaizu 柳津町
Town
Yanaizu Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Yanaizu in Fukushima Prefecture
Yanaizu
Coordinates: 37°31′33.8″N 139°43′10.6″E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima
District	Kawanuma
Area
• Total	175.82 km2 (67.88 sq mi)
Population  (December 2018)
• Total	3,415
• Density	19/km2 (50/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Willow
- Flower	Paulownia tomentosa
- Bird	Japanese bush warbler
Phone number	0241-42-2112
Address	234 Shimohiraotsu Yanaizu, Yanaizu-machi, Kawanuma-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-7201
Website	Official website

Tadami River in Yanaizu

Enzō-ji

Yanaizu (柳津町, Yanaizu-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2018, the town had an estimated population of 3,415 in 1,293 households , and a population density of 20.6 persons per km². The total area of the town was 175.82 square kilometres (67.88 sq mi).

Geography

Yanaizu is located in the northern portion of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, in a valley bordered by the Tadami River and the Takitani River.

• Mountains : Mount Hakase
• Rivers : Tadami River, Takitani River

Neighboring municipalities

Fukushima Prefecture

• Nishiaizu
• Aizubange
• Aizumisato
• Shōwa
• Mishima
• Kaneyama

Climate

Yanaizu has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Yanaizu is 11.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1428 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.9 °C.

Demographics

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

Census Year	Population
1970	6,817
1980	5,678
1990	5,343
2000	4,669
2010	4,009

History

The area of present-day Yanaizu was part of ancient Mutsu Province. The area formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the area was organized as part of Kawanuma District, Fukushima Prefecture. The village of Yanaizu was founded with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1898. Yanaizu annexed the neighboring villages of Kurado and Iitani on May 1, 1921. The village was raised to town status on May 20, 1942. On March 31, 1955, Yanaizu annexed the neighboring village of Nishiyama from Ōnuma District, Fukushima.

Economy

The economy of Yanaizu is based primarily on agriculture, with seasonal tourism.

Education

Yanaizu has two public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Tadami Line

• Aizu-Yanaizu - Gōdo - Takiya

Highway

• National Route 49
• National Route 252
• National Route 400

Local attractions

• Enzō-ji, Buddhist temple, the site of a Hadaka Matsuri every January 7. This festival was featured in the NHK World program "Out & About" on February 10, 2008.
• Saitō Kiyoshi Art Museum
• Yanaizu Onsen
• Nishiama Onsen

External links

Media related to Yanaizu, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)