Kamikoani is located in the flatlands of north-central Akita Prefecture. Due to its inland location, the village is noted for its heavy snowfall in winter.
Neighboring municipalities
Akita Prefecture
*Akita
*Kitaakita
*Noshiro
*Mitane
*Gojōme
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kamikoani peaked at around the year 1960 and has been in steady decline since then.
Climate
Mitane has a Humid continental climate with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Kamikoani is 9.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1626 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -3.2 °C.
In February 2008, a male doctor who had been working in remote areas for more than 20 years started working in Kamikoani. He said "This village is the last place in my career as a doctor. I want to continue medication as I have love and interest for people." before working. In fourth month after starting, he intimated his intention of resigning, and quit two months later. In 2009, Yukiko Arisawa, a 61-year-old female doctor, started working Kamikoani, after working on isolated islands and in Thailand. She intimated her intention of resigning in March 2010, but postponed until March 2011 because of concerns that it would take time to find a replacement. For these sudden resignations, Kouhou Kamikoani, the official public relations magazine published by the village office, reported that the doctors suffered from constant harassment by the local villagers. According to the magazine, she had bullying phone calls, and her efforts were criticized. When she installed a light with a sensor in front of her house to deal with patients at night, she was accused of wasting tax money, even though she had paid for the light and the monthly electricity bill herself. Another villager said "I wonder how you could go shopping with having patients waiting." when she went to buy sandwiches because she had no time to have lunch. She managed to have only 18 holidays in 2009, but some people said "How can you have a holiday on weekdays?" and criticized when she had a holiday on August 17. And, someone scattered defamatory leaflet in front of her house.
