Miyake-jima

Miyakejima
Native name: <span class="nickname" ">三宅島
Geography
Location Izu Islands
Coordinates 34°04′44″N 139°31′44″E / 34.079°N 139.529°E / 34.079; 139.529
Area 55.5 km2 (21.4 sq mi)
Coastline 38.5 km (23.92 mi)
Highest elevation 775 m (2,543 ft)
Highest point Oyama (Stratovolcano)
Country
Japan
Prefectures Tokyo Metropolis
(Ōshima Subprefecture)
District None
Demographics
Population 2,714 (as of January 1, 2015)
Miyake Village
三宅村
City

Location of Miyake Village in Tokyo Metropolis
(Miyake Subprefecture)
Miyake Village

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 34°5′N 139°31′E / 34.083°N 139.517°E / 34.083; 139.517Coordinates: 34°5′N 139°31′E / 34.083°N 139.517°E / 34.083; 139.517
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Tokyo Metropolis
(Miyake Subprefecture)
District None
Government
 • Mayor Akimasa Sakurada
Area
 • Total 55.50 km2 (21.43 sq mi)
Population (May 2008)
 • Total 2,406
 • Density 43.4/km2 (112/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Flower Hydrangea
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address 1774, Tsubota, Miyake-mura, Tōkyō-to[1]
100-1211
Website www.miyakemura.com

Miyake-jima (三宅島, "Miyake Island") is an island in the Izu group, southeast of Honshū, Japan.[2] The island is administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan government, and has an area of 55.50 km2, the island is 180 kilometres (110 mi) south of Tokyo. As of January 1, 2006, the population of the island is 2884. The highest point is at 815 metres (2,674 ft). Like other islands in the Izu Island group, Miyake-jima forms part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Miyake Village (三宅村 Miyake-mura) serves as the local government of the island. Village is used in the sense of a municipality in this context, which also encloses nearby tiny uninhabited Ōnoharajima west south-west of Miyake-jima. The seat of the local government is in the village (in the traditional sense) of Tsubota on the southeast coast of Miyake Island.

Mt. Oyama

Map of Miyake-jima,
with Ōnoharajima west south-west of it

The island is a granitic composite cone in origin, and the main volcano, Mount Oyama, has erupted several times in recent history. A lava flow in 1940 killed 11 people, and other eruptions occurred in 1962 and 1983.[3] On July 14, 2000, Mount Oyama began another series of eruptions, and by September, the island was completely evacuated. After a four-year period of volcanic emissions, residents were allowed to return permanently on February 1, 2005. After the eruption, there has been a constant flow of sulfuric gas coming from Mount Oyama (see link).

Climate

Miyake-jima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter.

Climate data for Miyake-jima
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 11.6
(52.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 13.8
(56.8)		 18.1
(64.6)		 21.4
(70.5)		 24.0
(75.2)		 27.1
(80.8)		 28.5
(83.3)		 26.2
(79.2)		 22.2
(72)		 18.6
(65.5)		 14.2
(57.6)		 19.77
(67.59)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.5
(49.1)		 9.2
(48.6)		 11.3
(52.3)		 15.4
(59.7)		 18.8
(65.8)		 21.6
(70.9)		 24.8
(76.6)		 26.1
(79)		 24.0
(75.2)		 19.9
(67.8)		 16.3
(61.3)		 12.1
(53.8)		 17.42
(63.34)
Average low °C (°F) 6.8
(44.2)		 6.4
(43.5)		 8.4
(47.1)		 12.4
(54.3)		 15.9
(60.6)		 19.2
(66.6)		 22.6
(72.7)		 23.9
(75)		 21.7
(71.1)		 17.4
(63.3)		 13.5
(56.3)		 9.2
(48.6)		 14.78
(58.61)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 138.3
(5.445)		 172.9
(6.807)		 248.8
(9.795)		 239.2
(9.417)		 250.4
(9.858)		 328.2
(12.921)		 196.0
(7.717)		 225.9
(8.894)		 323.6
(12.74)		 352.4
(13.874)		 255.6
(10.063)		 140.7
(5.539)		 2,872
(113.07)
Average relative humidity (%) 63 65 68 74 77 84 86 85 82 75 70 65 74.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 124.1 113.0 138.2 150.5 176.8 131.6 179.2 211.0 142.8 109.6 103.5 125.6 1,705.9
Source: NOAA (1961-1990)[4]

Culture and tourism

Miyake-jima is famous for its traditional taiko performances, known as kamitsuki kiyari taiko, as well as being home to the rare endemic Izu thrush (akakokko).[5] The island is home to an unusually rich flora and fauna with several rare species of birds and animals, although its natural habitats are constantly under threat from human and volcanic activity. Underwater, the island is valued by divers for its coral reefs and marine fauna (including the dolphin population outside nearby Mikura-jima).

The residents of the island are required to carry gas masks with them at all times, but need not wear them constantly. Raid alarms go off if there is a dramatic increase in the levels of sulfur in the air.[6]

The island was used as a penal colony during the Edo Period.

Access

The island is accessible by over-night ferry, the Sarubia Maru or the Camellia, which is operated by Tōkai Kisen. The ferry departs from Takeshiba Sanbashi Pier, near Hamamatsuchō, Tokyo at 22:30 and arrives at Miyakejima at 5:00.

There are flights connecting Miyakejima Airport and Haneda Airport with an approximate flying time of 50 minutes. Flights are also operated from Chofu Airport. The area is prone to high volume of sulfuric gas and flights had been suspended for almost eight years after the July 14, 2000 volcano eruption. Flights have again resumed during April 2008, after sulfuric gases in the air have dropped to levels below 0.2ppm.[7] There is also a helicopter that arrives via Izu Ōshima. There are also two helicopter flights operated by Tokyo Island Shuttle which originate in Aogashima and Izu Ōshima and fly to Toshima, Miyake-jima, Mikura-jima, Hachijō-jima and Aogashima.

August 31 incident

On August 31, 1945, during the Allies' occupation of Tokyo, ground gunners on Miyake-jima fired three shots at an American transport aircraft, with no casualties. These were to be amongst the last shots fired in the war.[8]

Education

The village operates its six public elementary and junior high schools.[9]

Tokyo Metropolitan Government operates Miyake High School.[10]

See also

Notes

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Miyakejima.
  1. ↑ Due to the 2000 eruption, they currently use the temporal office at 497, Ako, Miyake-mura, Tōkyō-to.
  2. ↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Izu Shotō," Japan Encyclopedia, p. 412.
  3. ↑ http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/north_asia/miyakejima/oyama.html
  4. ↑ "Miyakejima Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ asahi.com : English
  6. ↑ http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/featuredarticles/JN/miyake_fishing/miyake_fishing.pdf
  7. ↑ Archived April 30, 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Adelaide Advertiser, Sat September 1, 1945 See http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page2667581?zoomLevel=3
  9. ↑ "6 schools on Miyakejima Island resume classes" (Archive). Kyodo News, Japan Weekly Monitor. July 3, 2000. Publication date: July 10, 2000. Retrieved on May 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ http://www.miyake-h.metro.tokyo.jp/

References

External links

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