Kiso (木祖村, Kiso-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019[update], the village had an estimated population of 2,877 in 1116 households,[1] and a population density of 20 persons per km2. The total area of the village is 140.50 square kilometres (54.25 sq mi).
Geography
Kiso is located in west-central Nagano Prefecture, in the valley of the Kiso River.
The village has a climate characterized by characterized by cool and humid summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classificationDfb). The average annual temperature in Iijima is 5.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1860 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 18.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around -6.7 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Kiso has decreased over the past 30 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1940
4,362
—
1950
5,010
+14.9%
1960
4,899
−2.2%
1970
4,375
−10.7%
1980
4,190
−4.2%
1990
4,300
+2.6%
2000
3,596
−16.4%
2010
3,135
−12.8%
2020
2,692
−14.1%
History
Kiso village is located in former Shinano Province. The area developed as Yabuhara-juku, a post station on the Nakasendō highway connecting Edo with Kyoto during the Edo period. The present village of Kiso was established on April 1, 1889 by the establishment of the modern municipalities system.