The town extends approximately 11 kilometers north to south and 9 kilometers east to west, and is located on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea in southeastern Yamaguchi Prefecture. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Setonaikai National Park.
Hirao has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Hirao is 16.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1678 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.6 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Hirao has been steady for the past 50 years.
The area of Hirao was part of an ancient Suō Province. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Chōshū Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Hirao within Kumage District, Yamaguchi was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Hirao was elevated to town status on April 1, 1903. On January 1, 1955 Tabuse annexed the villages of Ono, Saga and Sone.
Government
Hirao has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Hirao, together with the towns of Kaminoseki and Tabuse contributes one member to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Yamaguchi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Hirao has a rural economy based on agriculture and commercial fishing. There is one small industrial park.
Education
Hirao has two public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education.
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