Tsunan

Tsunan (津南町, Tsunan-machi) is a town located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the town had an estimated population of 9,349 in 3480 households,[1] and a population density of 54.2 persons per km². The total area of the town was 170.21 square kilometres (65.72 sq mi).

Tsunan
津南町
Central Tsunan
Central Tsunan
Flag of Tsunan
Official seal of Tsunan
Location of Tsunan in Niigata
Location of Tsunan in Niigata
Tsunan is located in Japan
Tsunan
Tsunan
 
Coordinates: 37°0′51.4″N 138°39′9.1″E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
PrefectureNiigata
DistrictNakauonuma
Area
  Total170.21 km2 (65.72 sq mi)
Population
 (March 31, 2020)
  Total9,349
  Density55/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number025-765-3111
Address585 Shimofunato, Tsunan-machi, Nakauonuma-gun, Niigata-ken 949-8201
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdJapanese bush-warbler
FlowerChrysanthemum morifolium
TreePaulownia tomentosa
Ryu-ga-Kubo springs
Akasawa neighborhood in Tsunan

Geography

Tsunan is located in southwestern Niigata Prefecture, in a mountainous area bordering northern Nagano Prefecture. The town is located on a river terrace of the Shinano River with the town hall at an elevation of 241 meters; however, much of the town area is mountainous, with Mount Naeba (2143 meters) is partly located within the town limits. Due to its geographical location between the Sea of Japan and the surrounding Japanese Alps, it has one of the highest annual snowfalls in Japan. There are numerous ski resorts within the region.

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Tsunan has a Humid subtropical climate with continental influences (Köppen Cfa/Dfa) characterized by hot, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tsunan is 10.9 °C (51.6 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,954.0 mm (76.93 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.8 °C (74.8 °F), and lowest in January, at around −1.2 °C (29.8 °F).[2]

Climate data for Tsunan (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.1
(55.6)
17.3
(63.1)
19.8
(67.6)
28.1
(82.6)
30.8
(87.4)
33.7
(92.7)
34.8
(94.6)
35.0
(95.0)
33.8
(92.8)
31.8
(89.2)
23.5
(74.3)
19.6
(67.3)
35.0
(95.0)
Average high °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2)
2.6
(36.7)
6.3
(43.3)
13.4
(56.1)
20.3
(68.5)
23.5
(74.3)
26.9
(80.4)
28.4
(83.1)
24.0
(75.2)
17.8
(64.0)
11.6
(52.9)
5.0
(41.0)
15.1
(59.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.2
(29.8)
−0.9
(30.4)
2.1
(35.8)
8.0
(46.4)
14.9
(58.8)
19.0
(66.2)
22.7
(72.9)
23.8
(74.8)
19.6
(67.3)
13.5
(56.3)
7.3
(45.1)
1.7
(35.1)
10.9
(51.6)
Average low °C (°F) −4.4
(24.1)
−4.8
(23.4)
−2.0
(28.4)
3.3
(37.9)
9.8
(49.6)
15.1
(59.2)
19.3
(66.7)
20.1
(68.2)
15.9
(60.6)
9.6
(49.3)
3.5
(38.3)
−1.4
(29.5)
7.0
(44.6)
Record low °C (°F) −15.8
(3.6)
−16.5
(2.3)
−14.2
(6.4)
−8.1
(17.4)
0.1
(32.2)
6.8
(44.2)
10.5
(50.9)
11.5
(52.7)
5.5
(41.9)
−0.9
(30.4)
−5.8
(21.6)
−11.1
(12.0)
−16.5
(2.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 234.1
(9.22)
146.9
(5.78)
119.3
(4.70)
88.8
(3.50)
97.6
(3.84)
130.4
(5.13)
199.9
(7.87)
172.9
(6.81)
181.2
(7.13)
165.3
(6.51)
161.1
(6.34)
241.3
(9.50)
1,954
(76.93)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 436
(172)
313
(123)
191
(75)
58
(23)
3
(1.2)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
26
(10)
290
(114)
1,301
(512)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 23.3 19.0 18.4 13.2 12.0 13.0 14.9 12.9 14.2 14.1 16.5 21.3 192.8
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 23.7 18.7 18.4 9.2 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 2.4 16.6 89.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 53.1 71.4 101.1 157.3 196.2 145.5 136.6 178.6 124.7 120.0 99.2 69.5 1,447
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Tsunan has declined steadily over the past 70 years and is now considerably less than it was a century ago.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 16,326    
1930 18,751+14.9%
1940 21,843+16.5%
1950 21,684−0.7%
1960 20,072−7.4%
1970 16,092−19.8%
1980 13,841−14.0%
1990 12,955−6.4%
2000 12,389−4.4%
2010 10,881−12.2%
2020 8,989−17.4%

History

The area of present-day Tsunan was part of ancient Echigo Province and was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into various villages within Nakauonuma District, Niigata The town of Tsunan was established on January 1, 1955 by the merger of the villages of Tomaru, Kamigō, Ashigasaki, Akinari, Nakafukami and Shimofunato.

Government

Tsunan town hall

Tsunan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Tsunan, together with the city of Tōkamachi, collectively contributes two member to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Niigata 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is dominated by agriculture. The area is known for its rice, sake, tomatoes, sunflowers, and buckwheat noodles. The town is also within commuting distance of neighbouring Tōkamachi.

Education

Tsunan has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. There is one public high school operated by the Niigata Prefecture Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

JR East - Iiyama Line

Highway

Local attractions

References

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