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Aridagawa
有田川町
Town
Aridagawa Town hall
Aridagawa Town hall
Flag of Aridagawa
Official seal of Aridagawa
Location of Aridagawa in Wakayama Prefecture
Location of Aridagawa in Wakayama Prefecture
Aridagawa is located in Japan
Aridagawa
Aridagawa
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°3′N 135°13′E / 34.050°N 135.217°E / 34.050; 135.217
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureWakayama
DistrictArida
Government
 • MayorMasataka Nakayama
Area
 • Total351.84 km2 (135.85 sq mi)
Population
 (November 30, 2021)
 • Total25,940
 • Density74/km2 (190/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2018-4 Shimotsuno, Aridagawa-cho, Arida-gun, Wakayama-ken, Japan 643-0021
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdVaried tit
FlowerCosmos
TreeCitrus unshiu
Aragijima rice terraces

Aridagawa (有田川町, Aridagawa-chō) is a town located in Arida District, in central Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2021, the town had an estimated population of 25,940 in 10680 households and a population density of 74 persons per km².[1] The total area of the town is 351.84 square kilometres (135.85 sq mi).

Geography[edit]

Aridagawa is located in the north-center of Wakayama prefecture, with the Aridagawa River running through the center of the town. Although there are some flatlands along the Aridagawa River, most of the town tends to be mountainous.

  • Mountains: Mt. Washigamine (589m)
  • Flatlands: Aridagawa Plain
  • Rivers: Aridagawa River (Futagawa Dam)It was established on January 1, 2006, by the merger of the towns of Kanaya, Kibi and Shimizu, all from Arida District.

Neighboring municipalities[edit]

Wakayama Prefecture

Arida, Kainan, Tanabe
Arida District: Yuasa, Hirogawa
Kaisō District: Kimino
Hidaka District: Hidakagawa
Ito District: Katsuragi

Nara Prefecture

Yoshino District: Nosegawa

Climate[edit]

Aridagawa has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aridagawa is 13.9 °C (57.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,097.3 mm (82.57 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.2 °C (77.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.9 °C (37.2 °F).[2] The area is subject to typhoons in summer.

Climate data for Shimizu, Aridagawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.2
(66.6)
21.0
(69.8)
23.4
(74.1)
29.6
(85.3)
31.8
(89.2)
34.3
(93.7)
36.6
(97.9)
37.0
(98.6)
34.2
(93.6)
30.5
(86.9)
24.9
(76.8)
23.6
(74.5)
37.0
(98.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.0
(46.4)
9.3
(48.7)
13.3
(55.9)
19.0
(66.2)
23.7
(74.7)
26.2
(79.2)
29.9
(85.8)
31.2
(88.2)
27.6
(81.7)
21.9
(71.4)
16.3
(61.3)
10.6
(51.1)
19.8
(67.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
3.8
(38.8)
7.1
(44.8)
12.3
(54.1)
17.2
(63.0)
20.9
(69.6)
24.6
(76.3)
25.2
(77.4)
21.8
(71.2)
15.9
(60.6)
10.1
(50.2)
5.0
(41.0)
13.9
(57.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7)
−0.9
(30.4)
1.6
(34.9)
6.2
(43.2)
11.4
(52.5)
16.6
(61.9)
20.7
(69.3)
21.1
(70.0)
17.6
(63.7)
11.4
(52.5)
5.3
(41.5)
0.7
(33.3)
9.2
(48.6)
Record low °C (°F) −9.4
(15.1)
−8.3
(17.1)
−5.3
(22.5)
−2.8
(27.0)
0.2
(32.4)
5.8
(42.4)
11.6
(52.9)
13.1
(55.6)
7.4
(45.3)
0.3
(32.5)
−2.3
(27.9)
−5.2
(22.6)
−9.4
(15.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 80.7
(3.18)
97.7
(3.85)
145.6
(5.73)
156.9
(6.18)
184.0
(7.24)
263.4
(10.37)
303.5
(11.95)
215.9
(8.50)
262.3
(10.33)
188.9
(7.44)
114.9
(4.52)
83.6
(3.29)
2,097.3
(82.57)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 10.1 9.8 11.9 10.6 10.8 13.5 12.0 10.4 11.1 10.2 8.1 9.9 128.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 93.8 104.4 145.0 179.2 188.4 122.6 155.4 191.1 141.2 143.6 125.8 102.3 1,703
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Aridagawa has been declining steadily over the past 70 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 34,171—    
1930 35,379+3.5%
1940 35,886+1.4%
1950 41,621+16.0%
1960 38,049−8.6%
1970 32,478−14.6%
1980 30,944−4.7%
1990 29,870−3.5%
2000 29,563−1.0%
2010 27,173−8.1%

History[edit]

Aridagawa was established on January 1, 2006, by the merger of the towns of Kanaya, Kibi and Shimizu, all from Arida District.

Government[edit]

Aridagawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members. Hidaka collectively with the other municipalities of Arida District, contributes two members to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Wakayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy[edit]

The economy of Aridagawa is dominated by agriculture (horticulture), especially with citrus fruits. The town is also a major producer of sanshō pepper.

Education[edit]

Aridagawa has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education..

Transportation[edit]

Railway[edit]

JR WestKisei Main Line

Highways[edit]

Local attractions[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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