is a town in Kamiukena District, Ehime Prefecture,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. , the town had an estimated population of 6,922 and a population density of 12 persons per km². The total area of the town is .

Geography

Kumakōgen is located in south-central Ehime Prefecture, on the north side of the

Shikoku Mountains Shikoku Mountains () is a mountain range that runs from east to west in the central part of the Shikoku in Japan. The length of the mountain range is about 250km. The highest peak in the mountain range is Mount Ishizuchi is a mountain on the ...

, along upper reaches of the Niyodo River. It consists of many hamlets are scattered along river valleys mostly covered with forests. Mount Ishizuchi, the tallest mountain in Shikoku at 1982 meters is located on the border between

Seiyo 270px, Kaimei Gakko 270px, Aerial view of Unomachi neighborhood of Seiyo 270px, Onogahara in Seiyo is a city located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 35,456 in 17627 households and a population density of 69 ...

to the northeast. The climate is cool and wet in the summer and winters cold with snow.

Neighbouring municipalities

Ehime Prefecture * Matsuyama *

* Tōon * Saijō *

Tobe Tobe may refer to: * Tobe, a trademark for ski suits and snowmobile suits * Tobe, Ehime, a town in Japan ** Tobe ware porcelain from Tobe, Ehime * Tobe Hooper (1943–2017), American horror film director * Tobe! Polystars arcade game * Tobe Se ...

* Uchiko Kōchi Prefecture *

Ino Ino or INO may refer to: Arts and music *I-No, a character in the ''Guilty Gear'' series of video games *Ino (Greek mythology), a queen of Thebes in Greek mythology *INO Records, an American Christian music label *Ino Yamanaka, a character in th ...

* Niyodogawa * Tsuno *

Yusuhara file:Yusuhara R440 Near The End 1.JPG, 270px, Japan National Route 440 in Yusuhara is a List of towns in Japan, town located in Takaoka District, Kōchi, Takaoka District, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 3,285 a ...

Climate

Kumakōgen has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kumakōgen is 13.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2014 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.9 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,Kumakōgen population statistics
/ref> the population of Kumakōgen has decreased drastically since the 1950s and is now less than a third of what it was a century ago.

History

The area of Kumakōgen was part of ancient Iyo Province. During the Edo period, the area was divided between the holdings of Matsuyama Domain or Ōzu Domain. The village of Kumachō was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on December 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on August 20, 1901 and renamed Kuma. On August 1, 2004 Kuma merged with the villages of Mikawa, Omogo and Yanadani, all from Kamiukena District to form the town of Kumakōgen.

Government

Kumakōgen has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Kumakōgen is lumped together with the city of Matsuyama, with the combined area contributing 16 members to the Ehime Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Ehime 4th district of the

lower house A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...

of the

Diet of Japan The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

Economy

The key industry of Kumakōgen is agriculture and forestry. The town was known for its high-quality wood such as Cryptomeria and hinoki cypress grown in harsh natural conditions, and highland vegetables such as tomatoes, green peppers, and rice that take advantage of the cool summer weather. However, due to the influx of foreign lumber and the slump in lumber prices, the forestry industry has been in decline.

Education

Kumakōgen has nine public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

Kumakōgen has no passenger railway services. The nearest station to the town is

Iyo-Tachibana Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by the private transportation company Iyotetsu. Lines The station is served by the Yokogawara Line and is located 1.4 km from the te ...

on the

Iyotetsu The is the main transport provider in Matsuyama, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan. The company operates railway, tram, and bus lines, and also has many subsidiaries, which include a bank, department stores, travel agencies, and various other businesses. ...

Yokogawara Line The is a 13.2 km railway line owned by Iyotetsu. The line connects Matsuyama with Tōon in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The line runs eastwards from Matsuyama City Station, terminating at Yokogawara Station. Operations The line is electrified w ...

Highways

* * * *

Local attractions

* Taihō-ji, temple 44in the Shikoku Pilgrimage * Iwaya-ji, temple 45 in the Shikoku Pilgrimage * Goraikō Falls, one of the "One Hundred Waterfalls of Japan" *

Kamikuroiwaiwakage Site The is an archaeological site consisting of a Jōmon period rock shelter dwelling in the Mikawa, Ehime, Mikawa neighborhood of the typo of Kumakōgen, Ehime, Kumakōgen, Ehime Prefecture in the island of Shikoku Japan. The site was designated a ...

, Jomon period remains, National Historic Site File:Sugozan Daihoji 09.JPG, Taihō-ji File:Goraiko Falls in 2004.jpg, Gōraiko Falls