Geography
Ashikita Town is located approximately 60 km southwest ofClimate
Ashikita, like all regions of Kumamoto, experiences large differences in temperature, from an average high in August of 33 degrees celsius (the 3rd highest average in Japan), to an average low in January of 0 degrees. In addition, Kumamoto Prefecture as a whole sees the most rainfall on the island of Kyushu, particularly during the rainy season between June and July. Like most of Japan, Ashikita experiences all four seasons, including cherry blossoms from late March to April, and Autumn colors from November or December depending on the warmth of the weather. Typhoon season generally occurs between August and September, and typhoons occasionally reach Ashikita, though they often make landfall over Miyazaki orAreas within Ashikita
Ashikita is divided into 44 areas. Communities are often spread along rivers, following the Kuma River between Yatsushiro City and Hitoyoshi City, and following the many streams that originate in Ashikita's mountains and flow out into theGovernance
Municipal Government * Mayor: Kazunari Takezaki (instated 23 January 2005, 3rd term as mayor) * Town Council Members: 16 in total (elected until 2014)History
During the Sengoku Period (1467-1615), the Ashikita region was located within the Higo Domain, which also contained the areas of present-day Yatsushiro and Kuma. Sashiki Area, located in the heart of Ashikita Town, was part of the Kuma Road that connected Kuma, South Kumamoto with Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period, and was lined with inns and rest houses, though in present day Ashikita this is no longer the case.Modern History
* 1 April 1889: The following villages were established in accordance with the Town and Villages Act: Ashikita-gun Sashiki Village, Ono Village, Yoshio Village, Yunoura Village, Tanoura Village * 18 November 1903: Sashiki Village becomes Sashiki Town * 1 October 1951: Yunoura Village becomes Yunoura Town * 1 January 1955: Sashiki Town, Ono Village and Yoshio Village are merged to create Ashikita Town * 1 April 1958: Tanoura Village becomes Tanoura Town * 1 November 1970: Ashikita Town and Yunoura Town are merged to form Ashikita Town * 1 January 2005: Ashikita Town and Tanoura Town are merged in accordance with the New Town Act to form Ashikita TownEconomy
* Fishing is plentiful, particularly specialist fishing on sail boats called ''utasebune'' (打瀬船) * Agriculture is focussed particularly on plentiful citrus fruits ** The farming of ''amanatsu'' (甘夏) citrus fruit began in old Tanoura Town in 1949. It has become the largest producer of ''amanatsu'' fruit in Japan ** Currently, the production of citrus fruit known as ''shiranui'' (不知火) or ''dekopon'' (デコポン) is increasingFamous Products
* ''Dekopon'' fruit * ''Amanatsu'' fruit * Ozeki rice * Ozeki beef * Ashikita ''shochu'' (sake) * ''Tachiuo'' fish (cutlass fish) * ''Ashiakaebi'' shrimp (red-footed shrimp)Transport
Roads
Highways: * Minami-Kyushu Expressway: Tanoura IC, Ashikita IC leading to Kumamoto City and Fukuoka City to the north, and to Minamata City in the south. National roads: * National 3rd road * National 219th road Major prefectural roads: * Kumamoto 27th Ashikita-Kuma Line * Kumamoto 56th Minamata Line Highway rest areas (道の駅 ''michi-no-eki'') * Tanoura Michi-no-eki * Ashikita Dekopon Michi-no-eki *Ono Onsen Center long the Ashikita-Kuma LineTrains
Kyushu Railway Company * Hisatsu Line: Kaiji Station, Yoshio Station, Shiraishi Station * The Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train runs between Shin-Yatsushiro Station (新八代駅 ''shin-yatsushiro eki'') and Shin-Minamata Station (新水俣駅 ''shin-minamata eki''), passing through tunnels across Ashikita. Hisatsu Orange Railway * Hisatsu Orange Railway Line: Kamitanoura Station, Tanoura Otachimisaki-koen Station, Higo-Tanoura Station, Uminoura Station, Sashiki Station, Yunoura StationBuses
Sanko Bus (産交バス) * Tanoura - Ashikita - Tsunagi Town - Minamata City Fureai Tsukuru Bus (ふれあいツクールバス) Operates Mon~Sat, except for holidays. ¥200 flat fare. ① Ashikita Town Hall to Shiraishi, Oiwa ② Michi-no-Eki Ashikita Dekopon to Furuishi ③ Michi-no-Eki Ashikita Dekopon to Hyakki and Nagasaki ④ Ashikita Town Hall to Ono Onsen Center ⑤ Ashikita Town Hall to Tagawa ⑥ Ashikita Town Hall to Tsurugiyama Swimming Beach and Ashikita Youth Center ⑦ Michi-no-Eki Ashikita Dekopon to Meshima ⑧ Uwabara to Kaiji Station ⑨ Ashikita Town Hall to Michi-no-Eki Tanoura, Otachimisaki Onsen and Yokoigi (Mon & Thurs only) ⑩ Ashikita Town Hall to Michi-no-Eki Tanoura, Otachimisaki Onsen and Kami Imuta (Tues & Fri only) ⑪ Ashikita Town Hall to Michi-no-Eki Tanoura, Otachimisaki Onsen and Sugisako (Wed, Sat only) The Fureai Tsukuru Bus Service is run by the Ashikita Town Hall. Many routes pass through the town hall, Sashiki Station, Michi-no-Eki Dekopon and Yunoura Station. To disembark at more remote areas, passengers should inform the driver of their destination when they board, and can request that they stop when it is safe.Airport Access
Aso-Kumamoto Airport can be accessed by car, using one of the airport's carparking companies. Alternatively, by taking a train to Yatsushiro Station or Shin-Yatsushiro Station, passengers can change to the Super Banpeiyu Bus service from either station, which stops in front of the airport. Fukuoka International Airport can be accessed by bullet train from Shin-Yatsushiro Station or Shin-Minamata StationEducation
High Schools: * Ashikita High School (熊本県立芦北高等学校) Junior High Schools: * Tanoura Junior High School (田浦中学校) * Sashiki Junior High School (佐敷中学校) * Yunoura Junior High School (湯浦中学校) Elementary Schools: * Tanoura Elementary School (田浦小学校) * Sashiki Elementary School (佐敷小学校) * Ono Elementary School (大野小学校) * Kaiji Elementary School (海路小学校) * Yunoura Elementary School (湯浦小学校) * Uchino Elementary School (内野小学校) Special needs schools: * Ashikita special needs school (熊本県立芦北支援学校) (for students with disabilities)Tourism and Landmarks
Tourist Spots * ''Utasebune'' fishing boat tours * Sashiki Castle Ruins * Otachimisaki Park Beach * Ashikita Marine Park Beach * Ashikita Hoshino Tomihiro Art Museum - sister museum to Midori City Hoshino Tomihiro Art Museum * ''Sekishokan'' (赤松館) cultural heritage site * Nozaka Bay * Sashiki Suwa Jinja Shrine * Yunoura Suwa Jinja Shrine * Tanoura Aso Jinja ShrineFestivals and Events
As of April 2019: * April: Yunoura Suwa Jinja Shrine Festival, Sashiki Suwa Jinja Shrine Festival * May: Golf Tournament * June: Volleyball Tournament, Table Tennis Tournament * July: Ashikita Summer Festival Celebrations, Bowling Tournament, Clay Pigeon Shooting Tournament, Softball Tournament, Croquet Tournament, Sports Festival * August: Ashikita Summer Festival Celebrations, Town Dance and Fireworks Display, Baseball Tournament, Swimming Tournament, Badminton Tournament, Beach Volleyball Tournament * September: Golf Tournament * October: Ashikita International Festival, Athletics Tournament, Moon Viewing Festival ''Noh'' Performance * November: Ashikita Culture Festival * December: * January: New Year shrine celebrations, Ashikita Town School Music Festival * February: ''Utase-hai'' Junior Karate Competition, Ashikita Marathon, Ashikita ''Utasebune'' Festival * March: ''Dekopon'' Festival, Ashikita ''Utase'' MarathonSee also
* 2020 Kyushu floodsReferences
External links
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