Kami (香美町, Kami-chō) is a town located in Mikata District, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2022, the town had an estimated population of 16,256 in 6368 households and a population density of 44 persons per km².[1] The total area of the town is 368.77 square kilometres (142.38 sq mi). The Ojiro neighborhood of the town is designated as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Japan. Kami is the birthplace of Tajiri-go, a Tajima Cattle who is the ancestor of more than 99.9% of Japanese Black wagyu.

Kami
香美町
Kami Town Hall
Kami Town Hall
Flag of Kami
Official seal of Kami
Location of Kami in Hyōgo Prefecture
Location of Kami in Hyōgo Prefecture
Kami is located in Japan
Kami
Kami
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°38′N 134°38′E / 35.633°N 134.633°E / 35.633; 134.633
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureHyōgo
DistrictMikata
Government
 • MayorHayato Hamagami
Area
 • Total
368.77 km2 (142.38 sq mi)
Population
 (March 31, 2022)
 • Total
16,256
 • Density44/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-870 Kasumi, Kasumi-ku, Kami-cho, Mikata-gun, Hyōgo-ken 669-6592
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerSakura
TreeFagus crenata
Castanopsis
Kasumi Coast
Tajima Cattle in Ojiro, Kami Town
Rice Terraces of Ueyama in Ojiro, Kami Town

Geography

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Kami is located in the northern part of Hyōgo Prefecture and the Kinki region, facing the Sea of Japan in the north. It lies entirely within the San'in Kaigan Geopark.[2] In addition, the mountainous area in the south is within the borders of the Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park. The area is part of the snow country and is characterized by heavy accumulations of snow in winter.

Neighbouring municipalities

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Hyōgo Prefecture

Tottori Prefecture

Climate

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Kami has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is significantly higher in summer than in winter, though on the whole lower than most parts of Honshū, and there is no significant snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kami is 14.7 °C (58.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,213.5 mm (87.15 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C (79.2 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.5 °C (40.1 °F).[3] The highest temperature ever recorded in Kami was 38.0 °C (100.4 °F) on 11 August 1994; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −6.4 °C (20.5 °F) on 26 February 1981.[4]

Climate data for Kasumi, Kami (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1)
21.5
(70.7)
27.1
(80.8)
32.6
(90.7)
32.3
(90.1)
36.1
(97.0)
37.1
(98.8)
38.0
(100.4)
36.4
(97.5)
31.6
(88.9)
25.6
(78.1)
23.8
(74.8)
38.0
(100.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0)
8.4
(47.1)
11.7
(53.1)
17.1
(62.8)
21.9
(71.4)
24.6
(76.3)
28.8
(83.8)
30.3
(86.5)
26.3
(79.3)
21.3
(70.3)
16.1
(61.0)
10.7
(51.3)
18.8
(65.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
4.7
(40.5)
7.5
(45.5)
12.5
(54.5)
17.2
(63.0)
20.9
(69.6)
25.1
(77.2)
26.2
(79.2)
22.4
(72.3)
17.1
(62.8)
11.9
(53.4)
7.0
(44.6)
14.8
(58.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1)
1.5
(34.7)
3.5
(38.3)
8.0
(46.4)
12.9
(55.2)
17.5
(63.5)
22.1
(71.8)
23.0
(73.4)
19.2
(66.6)
13.6
(56.5)
8.5
(47.3)
3.9
(39.0)
11.3
(52.3)
Record low °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)
−6.4
(20.5)
−4.4
(24.1)
−0.1
(31.8)
4.7
(40.5)
9.2
(48.6)
14.3
(57.7)
16.2
(61.2)
10.1
(50.2)
3.5
(38.3)
0.9
(33.6)
−4.4
(24.1)
−6.4
(20.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 260.4
(10.25)
163.7
(6.44)
154.2
(6.07)
104.5
(4.11)
112.0
(4.41)
145.3
(5.72)
183.8
(7.24)
153.1
(6.03)
251.4
(9.90)
172.3
(6.78)
204.4
(8.05)
295.7
(11.64)
2,213.5
(87.15)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 87
(34)
63
(25)
11
(4.3)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
37
(15)
202
(80)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 22.6 17.0 15.3 11.4 10.5 10.8 12.2 9.7 12.8 12.3 16.3 21.1 172
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 8.0 5.8 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.3 18.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 56.9 74.3 132.6 183.7 204.0 151.1 160.9 202.8 138.8 134.0 97.2 68.5 1,603.9
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][3]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Kami in 2020 is 16,064 people.[5] Kami has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 31,838—    
1925 31,607−0.7%
1930 31,646 0.1%
1935 31,292−1.1%
1940 31,627 1.1%
1945 34,890 10.3%
1950 35,414 1.5%
1955 34,855−1.6%
1960 33,745−3.2%
1965 31,096−7.9%
1970 28,321−8.9%
1975 27,571−2.6%
1980 26,694−3.2%
1985 25,964−2.7%
1990 25,136−3.2%
1995 24,298−3.3%
2000 23,271−4.2%
2005 21,439−7.9%
2010 19,697−8.1%
2015 18,070−8.3%
2020 16,064−11.1%
Kami population statistics[5]

History

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The area of the modern town of Kami was within ancient Tajima Province.In the Edo Period, it was divided between Izushi Domain, Toyooka Domain and tenryo territory under direct administration of the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Kasumi (香住) was created within Mikami District, which later became Kinosaki District, Hyōgo. It was raised to town status on October 1, 1925. The town of Kami was formed by the merger of Kasumi with the towns of Mikata and Muraoka, both from Mikata District on April 1, 2005.

Government

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Kami has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Kami, together with the town of Shin'onsen contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Hyōgo 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Kami has a mixed economy of commercial fishing and agriculture. It is one of then leading fishing ports for snow crab. The town is known for its production of "Tajima beef".

Education

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Kami has ten public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government and two public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

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Railway

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  JR WestSan'in Main Line

Highway

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Sister cities

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Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ "Kami town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ "What is San'in Kaigan Geopark" on the official website of San'in Kaigan Geopark (in Japanese)
  3. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  4. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Kami population statistics
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