Ibusuki, Kagoshima

Summary

Ibusuki (指宿市, Ibusuki-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, founded on April 1, 1954. In March 1, 2012, the city had an estimated population of 43,931, with 19,119 households and a population density of 294.82 persons per km2. However the census of 2020 confirmed a population decline to 39,011 [1][2] and by October 2022 there were only 17,537 households . The total area is 148.81 km2 (57.46 sq mi) and shares a border with Ei, a town to its north.

Ibusuki
指宿市
Ibusuki City Montage
Ibusuki City Montage
Flag of Ibusuki
Official seal of Ibusuki
Location of Ibusuki in Kagoshima Prefecture
Location of Ibusuki in Kagoshima Prefecture
Ibusuki is located in Japan
Ibusuki
Ibusuki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°15′10″N 130°37′59″E / 31.25278°N 130.63306°E / 31.25278; 130.63306
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKagoshima Prefecture
First official recorded702 AD
City settledApril 1, 1954
Government
 • MayorAkashi Uchikoshi (from February 2022) [3]
Area
 • Total148.81 km2 (57.46 sq mi)
 as of July 1, 2021[1]
Population
 (2020 census)
 • Total39,011 [1][2]
 • Estimate 
(October 1, 2022 [3])
37,760 [3]
 • Density294.82/km2 (763.6/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2424 Jutchō, Ibusuki-shi, Kagoshima-ken
891-0497
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.city.ibusuki.lg.jp
Symbols
BirdJapanese white-eye
ButterflyGreat orange tip
FishSkipjack tuna
FlowerHibiscus and rapeseed
TreeJapanese box and sacred garlic pear

On January 1, 2006, the towns of Kaimon and Yamagawa (both from Ibusuki District) were merged into Ibusuki.

Ibusuki can be accessed by Routes 226 and 269 and the Ibusuki Skyline drive. The city's main railroad station is Ibusuki Station.

Ibusuki is famous for black-sand spas known as sunamushi onsen and the fine noodle sōmen nagashi.[1]

Ibusuki has a sister city relationship with Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

Sunset in Ibusuki
Ibusuki from Kagoshima Bay towards Mount Kaimon

Geography edit

Points of interest include:[3]

The city includes the following districts from the west:

  • Kaimonjutcho
  • Kaimonkawashiri
  • Kaimonsenta
    • From Kaimonjutcho and Kaimonkawashiri to Lake Ikeda
  • Ikeda
  • Iwamoto
  • Komaki
  • Yamagawaokachogamizu
  • Kaimonueno
  • Yamagawatoshinaga
  • Yamagawaoyama
    • to the west of Yamagawaogawa from Nishi-Ōyama rail station to Lake Unagi
  • Yamagawaogawa
    • extends from near the sea almost to Lake Unagi a volcanic crater
  • Yamagawanarikawa
  • Surrounds of Lake Unagi to the northern aspects Yamagawa harbour
  • Nishikata
  • Higashikata
  • Yamagawafukumoto
    • coast at entrance to Kagoshima Bay and includes southern aspects Yamagawa harbour
  • Yamagawaasahicho
  • Shinnishikata
    • Northern inland area
  • Junicho
    • Almost from Lake Unagi to the east, mainly inland but reaching the coast at northern aspect Yamagawa harbour
  • Omure
  • Minato

Yunohama

  • Kiirenukumicho
  • Yamagawayamashitacho

Geology edit

The city has many volcanoes and hot springs of the Ibusuki Volcanic Field. The Yamagawa Binary Power Station uses local geothermal power to contribute a maximum of 4990 kilowatts as a "green energy" source.[4]

Climate edit

Ibusuki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in summer, especially the months of June and July. The average annual temperature in Ibusuki is 18.3 °C (64.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,602.1 mm (102.44 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 28.1 °C (82.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 8.7 °C (47.7 °F).[5] Its record high is 36.8 °C (98.2 °F), reached on 18 August 2020, and its record low is −3.4 °C (25.9 °F), reached on 25 January 2016.[6] Due to its marine subtropical climate, the city is the northern limit in Japan where cycads grow naturally.[1]

Climate data for Ibusuki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 23.5
(74.3)
24.0
(75.2)
26.4
(79.5)
28.7
(83.7)
32.4
(90.3)
33.2
(91.8)
35.5
(95.9)
36.8
(98.2)
35.3
(95.5)
33.5
(92.3)
29.0
(84.2)
24.3
(75.7)
36.8
(98.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 13.2
(55.8)
14.5
(58.1)
17.5
(63.5)
21.9
(71.4)
25.6
(78.1)
27.6
(81.7)
31.7
(89.1)
32.6
(90.7)
30.1
(86.2)
25.6
(78.1)
20.4
(68.7)
15.3
(59.5)
23.0
(73.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 8.7
(47.7)
9.8
(49.6)
12.6
(54.7)
16.5
(61.7)
20.4
(68.7)
23.6
(74.5)
27.5
(81.5)
28.1
(82.6)
25.5
(77.9)
20.8
(69.4)
15.7
(60.3)
10.8
(51.4)
18.3
(65.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
5.2
(41.4)
7.8
(46.0)
11.5
(52.7)
15.7
(60.3)
20.3
(68.5)
24.2
(75.6)
24.7
(76.5)
21.8
(71.2)
16.7
(62.1)
11.4
(52.5)
6.6
(43.9)
14.2
(57.6)
Record low °C (°F) −3.4
(25.9)
−3.0
(26.6)
−1.6
(29.1)
0.9
(33.6)
6.9
(44.4)
11.8
(53.2)
17.0
(62.6)
17.6
(63.7)
12.6
(54.7)
6.5
(43.7)
2.7
(36.9)
−1.8
(28.8)
−3.4
(25.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 93.0
(3.66)
133.4
(5.25)
192.2
(7.57)
232.3
(9.15)
237.9
(9.37)
592.0
(23.31)
352.8
(13.89)
204.1
(8.04)
239.2
(9.42)
107.4
(4.23)
120.3
(4.74)
97.5
(3.84)
2,602.1
(102.44)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.3 9.9 12.6 10.7 10.3 16.1 11.0 10.5 11.0 7.7 8.4 8.6 126.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 123.0 134.1 158.5 175.8 176.3 105.7 196.6 221.2 177.3 182.0 153.0 136.1 1,938.3
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[6][5]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data, the population of Ibusuki in 2020 is 39,011 people.[2] Since the census began in Ibusuki in 1950, the town's population has been slowly declining, with no signs of picking up until 2020 but the latest data suggests further decline.[3]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 67,977—    
1955 66,420−2.3%
1960 63,118−5.0%
1965 59,615−5.5%
1970 55,832−6.3%
1975 55,282−1.0%
1980 55,140−0.3%
1985 54,781−0.7%
1990 52,292−4.5%
1995 50,529−3.4%
2000 48,750−3.5%
2005 46,822−4.0%
2010 44,401−5.2%
2015 41,831−5.8%
2020 39,011−6.7%
Ibusuki population statistics[2]

Culture edit

Transport edit

Twin cities edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "About Ibusuki City (in Japanese)". Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  2. ^ a b c d Ibusuki population statistics
  3. ^ a b c d e "Ibusuki City official website (in Japanese)". Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  4. ^ Kondo, Saki; Oyama, Hiroshi; Yamada, Shigeto (2019). "Yamagawa Binary Power Station Geothermal ORC plant in Japan" (PDF). GRC Transactions. 43.
  5. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  6. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

External links edit

  • Ibusuki City official website (in Japanese)
  • Kagoshima Prefectural Visitors Bureau official website (in English)
  •   Ibusuki travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Photos of the sand baths at Ibusuki and area attractions

(in Japanese)