Miyakojima, Okinawa
| Miyakojima 宮古島市 Myaaku Naaku | ||
|---|---|---|
| City | ||
| 宮古島市 | ||
 | ||
| ||
 | ||
  Miyakojima | ||
| Coordinates: 24°48′20″N 125°16′52″E / 24.80556°N 125.28111°ECoordinates: 24°48′20″N 125°16′52″E / 24.80556°N 125.28111°E | ||
| Country | Japan | |
| Region | Kyushu | |
| Prefecture | Okinawa Prefecture | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Toshihiko Shimoji | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 204.54 km2 (78.97 sq mi) | |
| Population (December, 2012) | ||
| • Total | 54,908 | |
| • Density | 268.45/km2 (695.3/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | |
| - Tree | Banyan | |
| - Flower | Bougainvillea and Tiger's Claw | |
| - Bird | Grey-faced Buzzard | |
| - Butterfly | Paper Kite | |
| - Fish | Double-lined fusilier (Pterocaesio digramma) | |
| - Shell | Chiragra Spider Conch (Lambis chiragra) | |
| Phone number | 0980-72-3751 | |
| Address | 186 Hirara Nishizato, Miyakojima-shi 906-8501 | |
| Website | www.city.miyakojima.lg.jp(Japanese) | |
Miyakojima (宮古島市 Miyakojima-shi, Miyako: Myaaku, Okinawan: Naaku) is a city located on several islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.
The modern city of Miyakojima was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the old city of Hirara, the towns of Gusukube, Irabu and Shimoji, and the village of Ueno (all from Miyako District). As a result of the merger, Okinawa Prefecture has one remaining village.
As of December 2012 the city has an estimated population of 54,908 and a population density of 268.45 per km². The total area is 204.54 km². The city had 24,728 households.[1] The mayor of Miyakojima is Toshihiko Shimoji (born 1945), who took office in the second mayoral election of the city in 2009.[2]
The islands administed by the City of Miyakojima include:
- Miyako-jima
- Ikemajima
- Ōgamijima
- Irabujima
- Shimojishima
- Kurimajima
Climate
Miyakojima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) bordering on a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year; August is the wettest month and March is the driest.
| Climate data for Miyakojima, Okinawa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 19.8 (67.6) |
20.3 (68.5) |
22.1 (71.8) |
25.1 (77.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
29.5 (85.1) |
31.3 (88.3) |
30.9 (87.6) |
30.0 (86) |
27.6 (81.7) |
24.6 (76.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
25.87 (78.56) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.2 (63) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.3 (66.7) |
22.1 (71.8) |
24.8 (76.6) |
26.8 (80.2) |
28.3 (82.9) |
28.0 (82.4) |
27.1 (80.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
22.1 (71.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
23.1 (73.57) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 15.0 (59) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
19.7 (67.5) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.7 (76.5) |
25.9 (78.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
24.8 (76.6) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.2 (68.4) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.88 (69.59) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 141.4 (5.567) |
132.5 (5.217) |
129.5 (5.098) |
172.1 (6.776) |
193.2 (7.606) |
217.0 (8.543) |
162.5 (6.398) |
226.6 (8.921) |
199.1 (7.839) |
161.8 (6.37) |
145.2 (5.717) |
152.3 (5.996) |
2,033.2 (80.048) |
| % humidity | 73 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 84 | 86 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 79.1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 91.5 | 84.5 | 114.9 | 146.9 | 157.3 | 194.1 | 261.0 | 236.5 | 204.5 | 167.6 | 108.6 | 97.4 | 1,864.8 |
| Source: NOAA (1961-1990) [3] | |||||||||||||
Transportation
The City of Miyakojima is served by two airports. Miyako Airport is located on Miyako-jima, and Shimojishima Airport is located on Shimojishima.
Noted residents
- Arata Tomori, TV personality and doctor
- Erika Sunakawa, singer
- Hideki Irabu, baseball player
- Isamu Shimoji, singer
- Katsuyoshi Tomori, golfer
- Kazumasa Uesato, footballer
- Kenya Tomori, basketball player
- Masanobu Kikukawa, martial artist
- Mikio Shimoji, politician
- Osamu Shimabukuro, basketball player
- Tadashi Kakihana, announcer
Economy
Japan Airlines maintains a ticketing office on Miyakojima island in Miyakojima city. It is only for domestic flights.[4]
References
- ↑ "宮古島市の人口" [Population of Miyakojima City] (in Japanese). Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Miyakojima City. 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ↑ "市長プロフィール" [Profile of Mayor] (in Japanese). Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Miyakojima City. 2012. Retrieved Dec 18, 2012.
- ↑ "Miyakojima Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
- ↑ "JAL Group Offices Information." Japan Airlines. Retrieved on July 22, 2011. "MIYAKO Only Domestic Ticketing Available Address 223 Nishizato Hirara Miyako City, 906-0012" Map
External links
- Miyakojima City official website (Japanese)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miyakojima, Okinawa. |
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Miyako (Okinawa). |
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