Matsumae, Hokkaido

This article is about the town. For the district, see Matsumae District, Hokkaido.
Matsumae
松前町
Town
Matsumae Castle (July 2004)
Matsumae Castle (July 2004)
Flag of Matsumae
Flag
Official seal of Matsumae
Emblem
Location of Matsumae in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido
Location of Matsumae in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido
Matsumae is located in Japan
Matsumae
Matsumae
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 41°26′N 140°7′E / 41.433°N 140.117°E / 41.433; 140.117
CountryJapan
PrefectureHokkaido
DistrictMatsumae
Government
 • MayorHideo Ishiyama (石山　英雄)
Area
 • Total293.11 km2 (113.17 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total7,843
 • Density27/km2 (69/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
Postal code(s)
049-1592
Area code0139
City hall addressAza Fukiyama 248, Matsumae-chō, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaidō
049-1592
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.town.matsumae.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
FlowerCherry blossom
TreePine

Matsumae (松前町, Matsumae-chō) is a town located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The former home of the Matsumae Han, it has an Edo period castle, Matsumae Castle, the only one in Hokkaido, and Ryūun-in.

The total area of the town is 293.11 square kilometres (113.17 sq mi).

History

The Matsumae Folding Screen, depicts in detail the castle town bustling with trade circa 1754-1764.
  • 1900: Fukuyama town was founded.
  • 1940: Fukuyama changed its name to Matsumae.
  • 1953: Matsumae Line opened.
  • 1954: Matsumae town, Oshima village, Osawa village, and Kojima village were merged to form Matsumae town.
  • 1988: Matsumae Line was abolished.[1]

Geography

The town is located on the southern end of the Matsumae Peninsula. In addition the town governs the two islands in the Tsugaru Strait, Oshima and Kojima.[2]

Along with Kaminokuni, Hokkaido, and Fukushima, Hokkaido, Matsumae shares a border with Mount Daisengen, and contains the newest and shortest climbing route to the summit of the mountain.[3]

Climate

Climate data for Matsumae, Hokkaido (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.1
(52.0) 		13.8
(56.8) 		15.3
(59.5) 		23.3
(73.9) 		25.7
(78.3) 		29.3
(84.7) 		33.3
(91.9) 		34.2
(93.6) 		31.5
(88.7) 		24.9
(76.8) 		20.3
(68.5) 		15.8
(60.4) 		34.2
(93.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.9
(35.4) 		2.4
(36.3) 		5.8
(42.4) 		11.0
(51.8) 		15.9
(60.6) 		20.0
(68.0) 		23.7
(74.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		23.1
(73.6) 		17.3
(63.1) 		10.7
(51.3) 		4.5
(40.1) 		13.5
(56.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.5
(31.1) 		−0.1
(31.8) 		3.0
(37.4) 		7.9
(46.2) 		12.5
(54.5) 		16.6
(61.9) 		20.6
(69.1) 		22.7
(72.9) 		19.8
(67.6) 		14.1
(57.4) 		7.8
(46.0) 		1.9
(35.4) 		10.5
(50.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.0
(26.6) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		0.1
(32.2) 		4.7
(40.5) 		9.4
(48.9) 		13.5
(56.3) 		18.1
(64.6) 		20.0
(68.0) 		16.7
(62.1) 		10.9
(51.6) 		4.8
(40.6) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		7.7
(45.8)
Record low °C (°F) −11.6
(11.1) 		−10.4
(13.3) 		−7.9
(17.8) 		−3.7
(25.3) 		2.2
(36.0) 		6.3
(43.3) 		10.6
(51.1) 		12.6
(54.7) 		7.6
(45.7) 		2.7
(36.9) 		−6.1
(21.0) 		−11.4
(11.5) 		−11.6
(11.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 87.1
(3.43) 		72.9
(2.87) 		63.9
(2.52) 		73.5
(2.89) 		97.5
(3.84) 		80.0
(3.15) 		124.9
(4.92) 		157.5
(6.20) 		155.2
(6.11) 		115.5
(4.55) 		122.0
(4.80) 		106.0
(4.17) 		1,251.3
(49.26)
Average rainy days 18.4 15.5 13.3 10.3 10.2 8.7 10.4 9.8 11.5 12.4 15.7 18.9 155.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 46.9 66.7 132.3 175.7 173.4 159.2 137.4 170.3 171.1 153.3 82.1 50.1 1,518.5
Source 1: JMA[4]
Source 2: JMA[5][6]

Demographics

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 7,843 and a density of 26.7 persons per km2.

Culture and lifestyle

Surrounding Matsumae Castle is Matsumae Park, which features over 10,000 cherry trees of over 250 varieties, and is ranked among the top cherry blossom viewing spots in the country.[7]

Education

High school

  • Hokkaido Matsumae High School (the southernmost high school in Hokkaido)[8]

Sister cities

References

  1. ^ Matsumae Line Archived 2015-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "gotyuuikudasai" (in Japanese). 松前町役場. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  3. ^ "大千軒岳情報 ｜ 渡島総合振興局森林室西部森林室". www.oshima.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  4. ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  5. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  6. ^ https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1618277904043102208 [bare URL]
  7. ^ "Matsumae". www.japan-guide.com. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  8. ^ Hokkaido Matsumae High School
  9. ^ Sister cities of Omihachiman
  10. ^ Interaction with sister city, Matsumae
  11. ^ Sister cities of Date

Media related to Matsumae, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons