Kihoku, Ehime

Kihoku
鬼北町
Town

Flag

Location of Kihoku in Ehime Prefecture
Kihoku

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 33°15′N 132°41′E / 33.250°N 132.683°ECoordinates: 33°15′N 132°41′E / 33.250°N 132.683°E
Country Japan
Region Shikoku
Prefecture Ehime Prefecture
District Kitauwa
Government
  Mayor Hidefumi Kouoka
Area
  Total 241.87 km2 (93.39 sq mi)
Population (May, 2010)
  Total 11,641
  Density 52.30/km2 (135.5/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree Hinoki cypress ( Hinoki)
- Flower Azalea (躑躅 Tsutsuji)
Address 800-1 Ōaza Chikanaga, Kihoku-chō, Kitauwa-gun, Ehime-ken
798-1395
Phone number (0895) 45-1111
Website Kihoku homepage

Kihoku (鬼北町 Kihoku-chō) is a town located in Kitauwa District, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The name of the town is derived from the town's location to the north, 北, of Mt. Onigajō "鬼が城."

Geography and climate

Kihoku is located in the Onigajō mountain range. The town is composed of several villages merged into one town area. As such, it is spread out over a broad series of small valleys in the town proper. The largest town area, Hiromi, is located in a larger valley in the southwest section of the town. Other areas include Aiji in the north, Mishima centrally, and Hiyoshi in the east. Because of the higher elevation and surrounding mountains, Kihoku is generally cooler than Uwajima and Matsuyama, though at times it can be warmer. The area of Hiyoshi is higher in the mountains than Hiromi, and thus cooler. Snow falls occasionally in the winter, but rarely lasts in the town for more than a few days. Summers are hot and humid, with the rainy season lasting from mid-June to mid-July.

Nearby cities and towns

Mountains

Rivers

There are numerous rivers running through the area, the largest of which is the Hiromi River, which is a tributary of the Shimanto River, in Kōchi Prefecture.

Transportation

Route 320 connects Uwajima to Kihoku, and passes through the neighborhoods of Hiromi and Hiyoshi. Buses run from Uwajima to Hiyoshi several times a day. Kihoku is also connected to Uwajima by a single train line, which arrives once almost every hour during the day.

Industry

Agriculture

Kihoku's economy is primarily agricultural. The town's main product is rice, with many paddies throughout the area. The town contains 617 hectares of paddy land yielding around 2,476 tons of rice annually.

Pheasants

Kihoku residents are especially proud of their pheasant meat, which is a town delicacy. In addition to pheasant meat, pheasant sake is also produced. One of the main highlights of the Dechikonka festival is the massive pheasant nabemono, or pheasant stew, which is made for the festival and given away.

Additional town products
Shiitake mushrooms, chestnuts, yuzu, chickens, bancha tea, wasabi, melons, strawberries, Japanese yams, cucumbers, turmeric, milk, miso, trout, fish products, crabs, wood products and pottery

Points of interest

Events

Notable people

External links

Media related to Kihoku, Ehime at Wikimedia Commons