Hyūga, Miyazaki

Hyūga
日向市
City

Top left: Umagase in Nippo Coast Quasi National Park. Top right: Statue of Bokushu Wakayama in Hyūga. Middle left: View of platform at Hyugashi Station. Middle right: Hyottoko dancing event in August. Bottom: Old Traditional Town in Mimitsu.

Flag

Location of Hyūga in Miyazaki Prefecture
Hyūga

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 32°25′N 131°37′E / 32.417°N 131.617°E / 32.417; 131.617Coordinates: 32°25′N 131°37′E / 32.417°N 131.617°E / 32.417; 131.617
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Miyazaki Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Kenji Kuroki
Area
 • Total 336.29 km2 (129.84 sq mi)
Population (November 2015)
 • Total 63,011
 • Density 188/km2 (490/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Osmanthus
 • Flower Sunflower
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address 10-5 Honmachi, Hyūga-shi, Miyazaki-ken
883-8555
Website www.city.hyuga.miyazaki.jp

Hyūga (日向市 Hyūga-shi) is a port city in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1951 with the joint merger of Tomishima Town and Iwawaki Village.[1]

As of February 2014, the city has an estimated population of 63,676 and a population density of 189 persons per km². The total area is 336.29 km².

On February 25, 2006, the town of Tōgō (from Higashiusuki District) was merged into Hyūga.

Hyūga is a port city known for the production of Go stones and for beaches, many of which are popular surfing spots

History

Archaeologists working in Hyūga have reported finding artifacts such as stone tools and stone piles from as much as 30,000 years ago, the Japanese Paleolithic period. There is also evidence of inhabitation during the Jomon Period. Archaeological digs uncovering pottery from this time period continue today in parts of the city.[2]

Demographics

As of November 2015, Hyūga had a total population of 63,011 people; 30,150 males and 32,861 females.[3]

Population of Hyūga
YearPop.±% p.a.
1991 58,190—    
1992 58,208+0.03%
1993 58,309+0.17%
1994 58,530+0.38%
1995 58,802+0.46%
1996 58,906+0.18%
1997 59,025+0.20%
1998 59,026+0.00%
1999 58,991−0.06%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 58,996+0.01%
2001 59,056+0.10%
2002 59,187+0.22%
2003 59,156−0.05%
2004 59,112−0.07%
2005 58,648−0.78%
2006 63,272+7.88%
2007 63,011−0.41%
2008 62,776−0.37%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2009 62,874+0.16%
2010 62,804−0.11%
2011 62,619−0.29%
2012 62,648+0.05%
2013 62,225−0.68%
2014 61,879−0.56%
2015 63,011+1.83%
In 2006, Togo was merged into the city, adding about 1750 people to the population. This accounts for part of the increase in that year.
Source: [3][4]

Geography

Hyūga is mainly centered around Hyūgashi Station. The greater Hyūga area is 336.29 km², much larger than the city limits as a result of mergers with other smaller towns such as Togo and Mimitsu. Hyūga City is a small port city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, just south of Nobeoka. The city itself is located on flatlands between the Kyushu Mountains and the Hyūga Sea. The area along Cape Hyūga with its exposed hexagonal pillar rocks and ria (saw tooth) coastline are designated as part of the Nippo-Kaigan Quasi-National Park. A bit south are famous beaches such as Ise-ga-hama, Okura-ga-hama, and Kane-ga-hama, known for their surfing.

Climate

Hyūga has a mild, but humid subtropical climate with no dry season. The climate is comparable to the southern coastal areas of the United States or southern Europe. The average summer daytime temperature is about 30 °C (86 °F) with 80% humidity. The average winter daytime temperature is about 13 °C (56 °F) with 60% humidity. Early summer is marked with the rainy season in June and July. This is followed by a hot, humid summer and daily sunshine, but is often accompanied by typhoons. Winter is mild with small amounts of rain.

Districts

Shinmachi(新町) is Hyūga's downtown area. Hyūga City has been engaged in large scale urban renewal, slowly widening roads, creating new businesses, beautifying, and modernizing the city center. As such, Shinmachi is relatively new and modern. This region is centered around Hyūgashi Station.

The southern part of Hososhima is centered around Hyūga's commercial fishing port between Komenoyama and Makishimayama. This is an older less frequented part of Hyūga. The streets are narrow and there are numerous old Edo style buildings.

The northern part of Hososhima is far more industrial. This region has several manufactoring plants and large areas for storage of goods and raw materials. Hososhima Industrial Port currently serves as the main international port in northern Miyazaki Prefecture handling materials and goods import and export in the region. Hososhima Industrial Port is designated as a Special Major Port and was selected as a focus port by the Japanese government in 2010. There continues to be major development and expansion of the port and its available services. Hososhima Port was selected by the Japanese government as Port of the Year 2015.

Mimitsu is a port town to the south of Hyūga which merged in 1955. It is famous for Washi and fishing. It is also supposedly the port from which the first Japanese Emperor, Jimmu, launched his military expedition to conquer Yamato and establish it as the center of power.

150 years ago, it was a prosperous commercial port that was a hub for trade with the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, with so many houses belonging to merchants and shipping agents crowded together that people used to refer to the thousand houses of Mimitsu (Mimitsu-sengen). It fell into sharp decline with the advent of railroads. In 1986, it was designated as a national important preservation district for groups of historic buildings, and much of the 19th-century atmosphere, including traditional buildings, earthen walls, and stone pavements, remains.[5]

Tōgō is a small mountain town which merged with Hyūga in February 25, 2006. Togo was the home town of Bokusui Wakayama.

Neighboring cities and towns

Kadogawa, Misato, Tsuno, Kijō

Shopping

Sister cities

Education

High schools

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

Transport

Hyugashi Station
Hososhima Port, Hyūga City, Miyazaki Prefecture

Rail

Hyūga is served by the Nippo Main Line, a line run by JR Kyushu which serves eastern and southern Kyushu. This provides access to other parts of Miyazaki Prefecture, and other areas of Kyushu as far as Kagoshima and Fukuoka.

Stations on the Nippo Main Line: Hyugashi Station, Zaikoji Station, Minami-Hyuga Station, Mimitsu Station

Bus

Miyazaki Kotsu serves Hyūga and nearby areas. It has local routes, as well as routes connecting to nearby Nobeoka (via Kadogawa Town), as well as routes from Hyūga to Misato Town and Shiba Village.

The Puratto Bus community bus service runs through central Hyūga.

The Hakko Liner express bus service connects Hyūga and northern Miyazaki to Fukuoka.

Notable people from Hyūga

References

  1. ↑ "町村の廃置分合" [Municipality Splitting and Merging] (in Japanese). Hyūga City. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Hyūga Historical Compilation Committee, ed. (1 October 2010). 日向市史通史編 [An Overview History of Hyūga City] (in Japanese). Hyūga, Miyazaki, Japan.
  3. 1 2 "日向市ホームページ" [Hyūga City Homepage] (in Japanese). Hyūga City. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "人口の推移" [Population Change] (in Japanese). Hyūga City. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Hyūga - Japan National Tourism Organization Official Website (in English)

External links

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