Hioki (日置市, Hioki-shi) is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2024, the city had an estimated population of 46,348 in 22706 households, and a population density of 180 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 253.01 km2 (97.69 sq mi).

Hioki
日置市
Ijūin city from the Joyama Park in 2020
Ijūin city from the Joyama Park in 2020
Flag of Hioki
Official seal of Hioki
Map
Location of Hioki in Kagoshima Prefecture
Location of Hioki
Hioki is located in Japan
Hioki
Hioki
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°38′01″N 130°24′09″E / 31.63361°N 130.40250°E / 31.63361; 130.40250
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKagoshima
Government
 • MayorTakamitsu Miyaji
Area
 • Total
253.01 km2 (97.69 sq mi)
Population
 (July 1, 2024)
 • Total
46,348
 • Density180/km2 (470/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-100 Kori Ijuin-machi, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima-ken 899-2592
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerPrunus mume
TreePinus thunbergii
Hioki City Hall
Myoenji Mairi Samurai Procession with Tokushige Shrine

Geography

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Hioki is located in the central part of Kagoshima Prefecture, in the mid-west of the Satsuma Peninsula. The western part of the city faces the East China Sea, and is home to Fukiagehama Beach, one of Japan's three largest sand dunes. Kutajima Island, an uninhabited island about 12 kilometers offshore from Fukiagehama, is within the city limits.

Adjacent municipalities

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Kagoshima Prefecture

Climate

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Hioki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in summer, especially the months of June and July. The average annual temperature in Hioki is 17.3 °C (63.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,265.0 mm (89.17 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.3 °C (81.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F).[2] Its record high is 36.3 °C (97.3 °F), reached on 19 August 2013, and its record low is −6.3 °C (20.7 °F), reached on 19 February 1977.[3]

Climate data for Higashiichiki, Hioki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3)
23.2
(73.8)
24.7
(76.5)
29.4
(84.9)
30.6
(87.1)
33.2
(91.8)
36.3
(97.3)
36.3
(97.3)
35.5
(95.9)
32.9
(91.2)
28.1
(82.6)
23.6
(74.5)
36.3
(97.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)
13.3
(55.9)
16.1
(61.0)
20.4
(68.7)
24.1
(75.4)
26.4
(79.5)
30.2
(86.4)
31.6
(88.9)
29.3
(84.7)
25.1
(77.2)
19.8
(67.6)
14.4
(57.9)
21.9
(71.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.5
(45.5)
8.6
(47.5)
11.5
(52.7)
15.6
(60.1)
19.4
(66.9)
22.8
(73.0)
26.6
(79.9)
27.3
(81.1)
24.6
(76.3)
19.8
(67.6)
14.6
(58.3)
9.5
(49.1)
17.3
(63.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
3.6
(38.5)
6.4
(43.5)
10.5
(50.9)
14.8
(58.6)
19.6
(67.3)
23.6
(74.5)
23.9
(75.0)
20.7
(69.3)
15.0
(59.0)
9.5
(49.1)
4.7
(40.5)
12.9
(55.3)
Record low °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3)
−6.3
(20.7)
−3.4
(25.9)
−0.1
(31.8)
5.4
(41.7)
11.0
(51.8)
17.0
(62.6)
16.4
(61.5)
10.0
(50.0)
1.6
(34.9)
−2.1
(28.2)
−4.2
(24.4)
−6.3
(20.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 75.8
(2.98)
99.4
(3.91)
151.1
(5.95)
174.3
(6.86)
187.1
(7.37)
516.3
(20.33)
310.2
(12.21)
240.6
(9.47)
243.6
(9.59)
92.2
(3.63)
111.4
(4.39)
98.4
(3.87)
2,265
(89.17)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10.2 9.6 12.3 10.2 10.0 15.1 10.9 10.3 10.2 7.2 9.0 9.5 124.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 116.1 133.3 162.3 180.6 183.9 112.0 192.5 220.8 186.7 191.2 156.1 126.2 1,964.9
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Hioki in 2020 is 47,153 people.[4] Hioki began its first census in 1960, and the brief exodus ended in the 1970s, after which the population remained relatively stable until 2020.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 67,756—    
1965 60,027−11.4%
1970 54,656−8.9%
1975 52,250−4.4%
1980 52,022−0.4%
1985 53,025+1.9%
1990 52,675−0.7%
YearPop.±%
1995 52,791+0.2%
2000 53,391+1.1%
2005 52,411−1.8%
2010 50,831−3.0%
2015 49,249−3.1%
2020 47,153−4.3%
Hioki population statistics[4]

History

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Hioki is part of ancient Satsuma Province and was one of the centers of the Shimazu clan during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It was part of the holdings of Satsuma Domain in the Edo period. On April 1, 1889, the villages of Nakaijuin, Shimoijuin, Higashiichiki, Hioki, Yoshiri, Nagayoshi in Hiki District and Isaku in Ata District were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Nakaijuin was raised to town status in April 1922, becoming the town of Ijuin, followed by Isaku in December 1922 and Higashiichiki in April 1937. Hioki and Yoshiri merged in April1955 to form the town of Hiyoshi ad Isaku and Nagayoshi merged to form the town of Fukiage. The city of Hioki was established on May 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Fukiage, Higashiichiki, Hiyoshi and Ijūin (all from Hioki District).

Government

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Hioki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Hioki contributes two members to the Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kagoshima 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Hioki has a mixed economy of commerce, agriculture, light manufacturing and commercial fishing.

Education

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Hioki has 15 public elementary schools and five public junior high schools by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private combined junior/senior high school.

Transportation

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Railways

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  JR Kyushu - Kagoshima Main Line

‹See TfM›Yunomoto - ‹See TfM›Higashi-Ichiki - ‹See TfM›Ijūin

Highways

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Sister cities

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Local attractions

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Fukiage Beach

Festivals

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  • Ijuin Ume Marathon
  • Myoenji Mairi

Notable people from Hioki

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References

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  1. ^ "Hioki City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Hioki population statistics
  5. ^ "姉妹都市・友好都市|鹿児島県日置市".
  6. ^ Chan, Jade (5 September 2012). "MoU signing formalises ties between MPSJ and Japanese city". thestar.com.my. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
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