Minamiyamashiro Village Hall
Tea plantations in Minamiyamashiro Village

Minamiyamashiro (南山城村, Minamiyamashiro-mura) is a village located in Sōraku District, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2023 the village has an estimated population of 2,472 in 1219 households and a population density of 39 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the village is 64.11 square kilometres (24.75 sq mi).

Geography

Minamiyamashiro is located in the far southeastern corner of Kyoto Prefecture. The Kizu River flows through the village.

Neighboring municipalities

Kyoto PrefectureKyoto Prefecture
Mie PrefectureMie Prefecture
Nara PrefectureNara Prefecture
Shiga PrefectureShiga Prefecture

Climate

Minamiyamashiro has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Minamiyamashiro is 13.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1439 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.9 °C.[2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Minamiyamashiro has declined in recent decades.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 3,599—    
1950 4,428+23.0%
1960 4,050−8.5%
1970 3,570−11.9%
1980 3,396−4.9%
1990 3,890+14.5%
2000 3,784−2.7%
2010 3,078−18.7%
2020 2,391−22.3%

History

The area of Minamiyamashiro was part of ancient Yamashiro Province. During the Edo Period, the area was art of the holdings of Yagyū Domain. It was the starting point for water transportation along the Kizugawa River, and was a shipping point for Shigaraki ware and lumber, The villages of Takayama and Ōkawara were established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The two villages merged on April 1, 1955 to form the village of Minamiyamashiro.

Government

Minamiyamashiro has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of ten members. Minamiyamashiro, collectively with the other municipalities of Sōraku District and the city of Kizugawa, contributes two members to the Kyoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Kyoto 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Minamiyamashiro is a rural area, with an economy based on agriculture, with the area noted for its production of green tea.

Education

Minamiyamashiro has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the Sōraku Tōbu kōiki rengō. The village does not have a high school

Transportation

Railways

JR West - Kansai Main Line

Highways

Local attractions

  • Japanese Heritage Site No.1 “800 Years of Japanese Tea History Walk” - On April 24, 2015, Dosenbo, Takao, Tayama, and Imayama tea plantations were selected as cultural property elements

References

External links