Nishiizu (西伊豆町, Nishiizu-chō) is a town located in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2019, the town had an estimated population of 7,798 in 3764 households,[1] and a population density of 74 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 105.52 square kilometres (40.74 sq mi).

Nishiizu
西伊豆町
Koganezaki in Nishiizu Town
Koganezaki in Nishiizu Town
Flag of Nishiizu
Official seal of Nishiizu
Map
Location of Nishiizu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Location of Nishiizu
Nishiizu is located in Japan
Nishiizu
Nishiizu
Coordinates: 34°46′N 138°47′E / 34.767°N 138.783°E / 34.767; 138.783
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu
Tōkai
PrefectureShizuoka
DistrictKamo District
Area
 • Total
105.52 km2 (40.74 sq mi)
Population
 (August 2019)
 • Total
7,798
 • Density74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeCamellia japonica
- FlowerFarfugium japonicum
Phone number0558-55-0211
Address401-1 Nishina Nishiizu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka-ken 410-3514
WebsiteOfficial website
Nishiizu Town Hall
Coastline of Nishiizu

Geography

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Sandwiched between the Amagi Mountains to the east and Suruga Bay on the Pacific Ocean to the west, Nishiizu has a hill hinterland and a rocky, indented ria coast. The area has numerous hot springs. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. Parts of the town are within the borders of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Neighboring municipalities

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Shizuoka Prefecture

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Nishiizu has been in decline over the past 60 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 15,098—    
1950 18,654 23.6%
1960 17,152−8.1%
1970 14,933−12.9%
1980 14,376−3.7%
1990 12,696−11.7%
2000 11,268−11.2%
2010 9,471−15.9%

Climate

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The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Nishiizu is 13.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2248 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.9 °C.[3]

History

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During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Nishiizu consisted of seven villages within the ancient Naka District. With the establishment of the modern municipality system of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into three villages (Nishina, Tago, and Ugusu), which became part of the Kamo District in 1896. A fourth village, Arari, was created out of Ugusu the same year.

The town of Nishiizu was founded on March 31,1956 through the merger of the villages of Tago and Nishina and in September of the same year, the villages of Ugusu and Arari were rejoined to form Kamo. Kamo was merged into Nishiizu on April 1, 2005.

Economy

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The economy of Nishiizu is dominated by tourism centered on hot spring resorts, and by commercial fishing.

Dogashima (堂ヶ島, Dōgashima) is a scenic coastal area and tourism destination in Nishiizu. It is also known as "Izu's Matsushima" due to the beauty of its scenery which features pumice cliffs, volcanic rock formations, sea caves, and uninhabited islands.[4] Points of interest include Tensodo Cave and the tombolo connecting Dogashima with the Sanshiro Islands.

Education

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Nishiizu has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

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Railway

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Nishiizu does not have any passenger railway service.

Highway

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References

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  1. ^ Nishiizu Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Nishiizu population statistics
  3. ^ climate data
  4. ^ "堂ヶ島天窓洞 | 子連れ情報 | 伊豆・下田の子ども連れおでかけ情報 | 伊豆下田温泉下田大和館 【公式HP】 | オーシャンビューのホテルと旅館をお探しの方". 堂ヶ島天窓洞 | 子連れ情報 | 伊豆・下田の子ども連れおでかけ情報 | 伊豆下田温泉下田大和館 【公式HP】 | オーシャンビューのホテルと旅館をお探しの方 (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 August 2024.
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