Ashikita, Kumamoto


Ashikita is a town located in Ashikita District, Kumamoto, Japan.
Ashikita is situated on the south west coast of the island of Kyushu in Southern Japan, and it is known for its attractive coastlines, beaches and its production of citrus fruit.
Ashikita is famous for its fresh local produce, in particular dekopon oranges, and amanatsu oranges. It also has iconic sailboats called utasebune which fish for famous cutlassfish and red-footed shrimp. Other local delicacies include Ashikita beef, Otachimisaki salt, Ozeki rice and Ozeki shochu.

Geography

Ashikita Town is located approximately 60km southwest of Kumamoto City.
Historically, Ashikita was located in the Higo Domain of Kyushu. Modern Ashikita Town was created by merging the old towns of Tanoura and Ashikita, and the villages of Ono and Yoshio.
The town is bordered to the north by Yatsushiro City. To the south lie Tsunagi Town and Minamata City and to the east runs the Kuma river, separating Ashikita from Kuma Village and Hitoyoshi City.
The municipality governs the 7th largest area within the prefecture.

Climate

Ashikita, like all regions of Kumamoto, experiences large differences in temperature, from an average high in August of 33 degrees celsius, to an average low in January of 0 degrees. In addition, Kumamoto Prefecture as a whole sees the most rainfall on the island of Kyushu, particularly during the rainy season between June and July. Like most of Japan, Ashikita experiences all four seasons, including cherry blossoms from late March to April, and Autumn colors from November or December depending on the warmth of the weather.
Typhoon season generally occurs between August and September, and typhoons occasionally reach Ashikita, though they often make landfall over Miyazaki or Kagoshima Prefectures to the south.

Areas within Ashikita

Ashikita is divided into 44 areas. Communities are often spread along rivers, following the Kuma River between Yatsushiro City and Hitoyoshi City, and following the many streams that originate in Ashikita's mountains and flow out into the Yatsushiro Sea, along the town's extensive coastline. These areas include:



Mountainous region east of Tanoura
















Municipal Government
During the Sengoku Period, the Ashikita region was located within the Higo Domain, which also contained the areas of present-day Yatsushiro and Kuma.
Sashiki Area, located in the heart of Ashikita Town, was part of the Kuma Road that connected Kuma, South Kumamoto with Edo during the Edo period, and was lined with inns and rest houses, though in present day Ashikita this is no longer the case.

Modern History

Roads

Highways:
National roads:
Major prefectural roads:
Highway rest areas
Kyushu Railway Company
Hisatsu Orange Railway
Sanko Bus
Fureai Tsukuru Bus
Operates Mon~Sat, except for holidays. ¥200 flat fare.
① Ashikita Town Hall to Shiraishi, Oiwa
② Michi-no-Eki Ashikita Dekopon to Furuishi
③ Michi-no-Eki Ashikita Dekopon to Hyakki and Nagasaki
④ Ashikita Town Hall to Ono Onsen Center
⑤ Ashikita Town Hall to Tagawa
⑥ Ashikita Town Hall to Tsurugiyama Swimming Beach and Ashikita Youth Center
⑦ Michi-no-Eki Ashikita Dekopon to Meshima
⑧ Uwabara to Kaiji Station
⑨ Ashikita Town Hall to Michi-no-Eki Tanoura, Otachimisaki Onsen and Yokoigi
⑩ Ashikita Town Hall to Michi-no-Eki Tanoura, Otachimisaki Onsen and Kami Imuta
⑪ Ashikita Town Hall to Michi-no-Eki Tanoura, Otachimisaki Onsen and Sugisako
The Fureai Tsukuru Bus Service is run by the Ashikita Town Hall. Many routes pass through the town hall, Sashiki Station, Michi-no-Eki Dekopon and Yunoura Station. To disembark at more remote areas, passengers should inform the driver of their destination when they board, and can request that they stop when it is safe.

Airport Access

Aso-Kumamoto Airport can be accessed by car, using one of the airport's carparking companies. Alternatively, by taking a train to Yatsushiro Station or Shin-Yatsushiro Station, passengers can change to the Super Banpeiyu Bus service from either station, which stops in front of the airport.
Fukuoka International Airport can be accessed by bullet train from Shin-Yatsushiro Station or Shin-Minamata Station

Education

High Schools:
Junior High Schools:
Elementary Schools:
Special needs schools:
Tourist Spots
As of April 2019: