Azumino, Nagano


Azumino is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 97,761 in 39744 households. and a population density of 290 persons per km². Its total area is.

Etymology of Azumino

Azumino is a combination of two words, "Azumi" and "no". "Azumi" comes from the Azumi people, who are said to have moved to the "no" in ancient times. The Azumi people originally lived in northern Kyushu, and were famed for their skills in fishing and navigation. "The Azumi people" can be translated as "the people who live on the sea." The reason why the seafaring people migrated to this mountainous region is a mystery.

Geography

Azumino is located in the Azumino Plateau on the northwestern end of the Matsumoto Basin, between mountain ranges to the west and east. The range of mountains on the western border is known as the Northern Alps and is popular among hikers all over Japan. To the south is the city of Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture's second largest city. To the north lies the city of Ōmachi, and north of Ōmachi is the village of Hakuba. Hakuba was the site of many of the ski events during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Mount Jōnen at is the highest elevation in the city.

Surrounding municipalities

Per Japanese census data, the population of Azumino has increased rapidly over the past 40 years.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters. The average annual temperature in Azumino is 11.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1192 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.3 °C. The mountainous portions of the city are considered part of the snow country of Japan, with heavy accumulations of snow in winter.

History

The area of present-day Azumino was part of ancient Shinano Province. The area was part of the holdings of Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The modern city of Azumino was established on October 1, 2005 by the merger of the town of Akashina, the towns of Hotaka and Toyoshina, and the villages of Horigane and Misato.

Government

Azumino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Education

Azumino has ten public elementary schools and seven public middle schools. The city has four public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

Domestic