Hanamaki, Iwate

is a city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 94,691, and a population density of 100 persons per km², in 37,773 households. The total area of the city is . Hanamaki is famous as the birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa and for its hot spring resorts.

Geography

Hanamaki is located in central Iwate Prefecture, in the Kitakami River valley at the conflux of three rivers with the Kitakami River; the Sarugaishi-gawa from the east and the Se-gawa and Toyosawa-gawa from the west. In the west the city rises to the foothills of the Ōu Mountains with the highest peak being Mt. Matsukura at . To the east the city rises to the highest peak in the Kitakami Range, Mount Hayachine at . The largest reservoir is Lake Tase on the Sarugaishi River. Lake Hayachine on the Hienuki River is quite spectacular with steep mountains rising above it. Lake Toyosawa is in the western part of the city on the Toyosawa River. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Hayachine Quasi-National Park. A chain of 12 hot springs that lie along the edge of the Ōu Mountains form the Hanamaki Onsenkyo Village.

Neighboring municipalities

Iwate Prefecture
* Morioka
* Kitakami
* Tōno
*Ōshū
* Miyako
* Nishiwaga
* Shizukuishi
* Shiwa

Climate

Hanamaki has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification ''Cfa'') characterized by mild summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Hanamaki is . The average annual rainfall is with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around .

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hanamaki peaked at around the year 2000 and has declined since.

History

The area of present-day Hanamaki was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jōmon period. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by various samurai clans before coming under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Morioka Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. The town developed as a post station on the Ōshū Kaidō highway during the Edo period.

In the Meiji period, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the modern towns of Hanamaki and Hanamaki-Kawaguchi were created within Hienuki District, Iwate. The two towns were merged on April 10, 1929, with the merged municipality retaining the name of Hanamaki. On April 1, 1954, the villages of Yuguchi, Yumoto, Miyanome, Yasawa and Ohta were annexed by Hanamaki. An additional village, Sasama, joined the following year.

In January 2006, Hanamaki merged with the towns of Ishidoriya, Ōhasama, thus dissolving Hienuki District, and with the town of Tōwa from Waga District.

Government

Hanamaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 25 members. Hanamaki contributes four seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Iwate 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Agriculture, notably dairy farming dominates the local economy. Hanamaki is also noted for electrical appliances. The area is also noted for its many '' onsen'' (hot spring) resorts.

Education

Fuji University, a private university, is located in Hanamaki.

The city government operates 19 public elementary schools and 11 public junior high schools. There are seven public high schools operated by the Iwate Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Shinkansen
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East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Tōhoku Main Line
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East Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Kamaishi Line
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Highway

* – Hanamaki Parking Area – Hanamaki-minami Interchange – Hanamaki Junction – Hanamaki Interchange
* – Hanamaki Junction – Hanamaki Airport Interchange – Tōwa Interchange
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Airport

*Hanamaki Airport