Minamiawaji

{{Infobox settlement | name = Minamiawaji | official_name = | native_name = {{lang|ja|南あわじ市}} | native_name_lang = ja | settlement_type = City | other_name =  | image_skyline = Minamiawaji City Office Main Building.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = Minamiawaji City Hall | image_flag = Flag of Minamiawaji, Hyogo.svg | image_seal = Emblem of Minamiawaji, Hyōgo.svg | seal_type = Emblem  | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-point = none | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Minamiawaji in Hyōgo Prefecture | map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan | coordinates = {{coord|34|18|N|134|47|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =   | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Kansai | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Hyōgo | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 =  | established_title =  | established_date = | extinct_title = Now part of | extinct_date = | founder = | named_for =  | seat_type =  | seat =  | government_footnotes =  | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Kazuhiro Morimoto | leader_title1 = Vice Mayor | leader_name1 =  | total_type =  | unit_pref = Metric  | area_magnitude =  | area_footnotes =  | area_total_km2 = 229.01 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note =  | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m =  | population_footnotes =  | population_total = 45,489 | population_as_of = July 9, 2022 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = | pop_est_as_of =  | timezone1 = JST | utc_offset1 = +09:00  | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type =  | area_code =  | blank_name_sec1 = City hall address | blank_info_sec1 = 22-1 Ichizenkoji, Minamiawaji-shi, Hyōgo-ken 656-0472  | blank_name_sec2 = Climate | blank_info_sec2 = Cfa  | website = {{Official website|1=https://www.city.minamiawaji.hyogo.jp/}} | footnotes = | module = }}

{{nihongo|'''Minamiawaji'''|南あわじ市|Minamiawaji-shi|lit. "South Awaji City"}} is a city in the southern part of Awaji Island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. {{As of|2022|06|01}}, the city had an estimated population of 45,489 in 19856 households, and a population density of 200 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Minamiawaji-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.minamiawaji.hyogo.jp/soshiki/shimin/jinkou.html|title= Minamiawaji city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|229.01|sqkm|sqmi}}.

==Geography== The city of Minamiawaji occupies the southern third of Awaji Island. It is connected to Tokushima Prefecture to the south by the Ōnaruto Bridge, connecting Awaji and Oge islands, and is located facing the Kii Channel and the Gulf of Harima on the Seto Inland Sea. There are no large rivers in the city, but there are many agricultural ponds. In the eastern part of the city is Mt. Yuzuruha, the highest peak in Awaji Island with an elevation of 607.9 meters. Minamiawaji also includes the small island of {{nihongo|Nushima|沼島|Swamp island}} off the southeast coast of Awaji Island, which is only accessible by ferry.

=== Surrounding municipalities === Hyogo Prefecture * Sumoto

===Climate=== {{Weather box |width=Auto |collapsed = Y |single line = Y |metric first = Y |location = Minamiawaji (2004−2020 normals, extremes 2004−present) |Jan record high C = 17.3 |Feb record high C = 20.8 |Mar record high C = 23.3 |Apr record high C = 28.4 |May record high C = 30.8 |Jun record high C = 35.4 |Jul record high C = 36.1 |Aug record high C = 37.6 |Sep record high C = 35.2 |Oct record high C = 30.5 |Nov record high C = 25.5 |Dec record high C = 21.7 |Jan high C = 9.9 |Feb high C = 10.9 |Mar high C = 14.2 |Apr high C = 19.0 |May high C = 23.6 |Jun high C = 26.5 |Jul high C = 29.9 |Aug high C = 31.8 |Sep high C = 28.5 |Oct high C = 23.4 |Nov high C = 18.0 |Dec high C = 12.4 |Jan mean C = 5.8 |Feb mean C = 6.3 |Mar mean C = 9.1 |Apr mean C = 13.8 |May mean C = 18.6 |Jun mean C = 22.3 |Jul mean C = 26.1 |Aug mean C = 27.4 |Sep mean C = 24.0 |Oct mean C = 18.7 |Nov mean C = 13.3 |Dec mean C = 8.3 |Jan low C = 1.7 |Feb low C = 1.9 |Mar low C = 4.0 |Apr low C = 8.4 |May low C = 13.7 |Jun low C = 18.8 |Jul low C = 23.3 |Aug low C = 24.0 |Sep low C = 20.4 |Oct low C = 14.6 |Nov low C = 8.8 |Dec low C = 4.2 |Jan record low C = -4.3 |Feb record low C = -5.0 |Mar record low C = -3.3 |Apr record low C = -0.1 |May record low C = 3.8 |Jun record low C = 10.0 |Jul record low C = 18.1 |Aug record low C = 15.9 |Sep record low C = 13.0 |Oct record low C = 5.7 |Nov record low C = 0.8 |Dec record low C = -2.1 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 36.8 |Feb precipitation mm = 58.1 |Mar precipitation mm = 87.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 89.6 |May precipitation mm = 114.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 170.9 |Jul precipitation mm = 197.3 |Aug precipitation mm = 143.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 225.2 |Oct precipitation mm = 185.6 |Nov precipitation mm = 73.8 |Dec precipitation mm = 73.9 |year precipitation mm = 1417.4 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 4.8 |Feb precipitation days = 7.3 |Mar precipitation days = 8.8 |Apr precipitation days = 8.9 |May precipitation days = 8.3 |Jun precipitation days = 10.3 |Jul precipitation days = 10.1 |Aug precipitation days = 7.2 |Sep precipitation days = 9.8 |Oct precipitation days = 8.5 |Nov precipitation days = 6.0 |Dec precipitation days = 6.4 |Jan sun = 164.2 |Feb sun = 154.2 |Mar sun = 198.5 |Apr sun = 212.2 |May sun = 222.3 |Jun sun = 167.8 |Jul sun = 193.0 |Aug sun = 246.7 |Sep sun = 172.1 |Oct sun = 167.3 |Nov sun = 152.0 |Dec sun = 146.5 |year sun = 2201.6 |source 1 = JMA<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=63&block_no=1337&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=63&block_no=1337&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = March 1, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Demographics== Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-hyogo.php Hyōgo population statistics]</ref> the population of Minamiawaji has been declining steadily over the past 30 years.

{{Historical populations | 1960 | 64789 | 1970 | 58072 | 1980 | 57744 | 1990 | 57526 | 2000 | 54979 | 2010 | 49853 |align = none | footnote = }}

==History== The city of Minamiawaji is situated in ancient Awaji Province. It was ruled as part of Tokushima Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji restoration, it became part of Mihara District, Hyōgo. The town of Yura was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system April 1, 1889. On April 29, 1955 it changed its name to Nandan. The city of Minamiawaji was established on January 11, 2005, from the merger of all four towns of the former Mihara District: Nandan, Mihara, Midori, and Seidan.

==Government== Minamiawaji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Minamiawaji contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

==Economy== The local economy is largely rural, and is based on agriculture and commercial fishing. Minamiawaji's soil and climate make it ideal for growing onions. As such, Awaji onions are renowned across Japan as sweet and delicious.

==Education== Minamiawaji has 14 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There are also one private elementary school and one private middle school. Kibi International University's Faculty of Regional Creation Agriculture and the Kobe University Faculty of Maritime Sciences International Maritime Education and Research Center Awaji Marine Training Facility are located in Minamiawaji.

== Transportation == === Railway === Minamiawaji does not have any passenger rail service.

=== Highways === * 25px|link=|alt= Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway * {{jct|country=JPN|Route|28}}

===Other=== Jointly with Awaji and Sumoto, the city operates a low-cost electric bike rental scheme, designed to attract visitors to stay for more than one day in order to explore the island.<ref>{{cite news | title = Rental bicycles eyed to boost tourism | newspaper = Yomiuri Shimbun | location = Japan | date = 19 July 2010 | url = http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T100718001401.htm | access-date = 2 August 2010}}</ref>

==Local attractions== * Awaji Kokubun-ji, National Historic Site * Naruto whirlpools, which form when the changing tidal currents are forced through the Naruto Strait. * Mihara town in Minamiawaji is home to a puppet museum which houses numerous examples of locally crafted puppets. This art originated in the area.

==Notable people from Minamiawaji == *Kiichiro Higuchi, general in the Imperial Japanese Army *Shintarō Hirase, marine biologist *Yoichirō Hirase, marine biologist *Ōuchi Hyōei, economist *Tokubei Kuroda, marine biologist *Kento Masaki, paralympic judo practitioner *Kazuyuki Okitsu, voice actor *Shohé Tanaka, physicist

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Minamiawaji, Hyogo|Minamiawaji, Hyōgo}} * {{osmrelation-inline|901543}} * [http://www.city.minamiawaji.hyogo.jp Minamiawaji City official website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Minamiawaji, Hyogo}} Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture Category:Port settlements in Japan Category:Populated coastal places in Japan Category:Minamiawaji