Kōya (高野町, Kōya-chō) is a town located in Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2021[update], the town had an estimated population of 2,812, in 1,575 households. It had a population density of 21 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 137.03 square kilometres (52.91 sq mi). The town is known as the headquarters of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism.
Kōya
高野町 | |
|---|---|
 The Danjōgaran complex at Mount Kōya | |
 Flag  Emblem | |
 Location of Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture | |
  Kōya Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 34°13′N 135°35′E / 34.217°N 135.583°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kansai |
| Prefecture | Wakayama |
| District | Ito |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Takeji Kise (since May 2010) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 137.03 km2 (52.91 sq mi) |
| Population (November 30, 2021) | |
| • Total | 2,812 |
| • Density | 21/km2 (53/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | Oji Koyasan 636, Koya-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama-ken 648-0281 |
| Climate | Cfa/Dfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Rhododendron |
| Tree | Sciadopitys verticillata |
Geography
editKōya is located near the prefectural border at the northeastern end of Wakayama Prefecture, on the heavily-forest plateau of Mount Koya
Neighbouring municipalities
editWakayama Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
Climate
editKōya has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa/Cfa). It has warm summers, and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kōya is 11.1 °C (52.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,003.1 mm (78.86 in). June is the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.8 °C (73.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.3 °C (31.5 °F).[2]
| Climate data for Mount Kōya, Kōya (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) |
17.9 (64.2) |
19.9 (67.8) |
26.5 (79.7) |
29.6 (85.3) |
30.8 (87.4) |
33.7 (92.7) |
33.2 (91.8) |
31.1 (88.0) |
27.2 (81.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
19.7 (67.5) |
33.7 (92.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) |
4.8 (40.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
22.8 (73.0) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
23.7 (74.7) |
17.8 (64.0) |
12.2 (54.0) |
6.3 (43.3) |
15.8 (60.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) |
0.4 (32.7) |
4.0 (39.2) |
9.4 (48.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.1 (64.6) |
22.1 (71.8) |
22.8 (73.0) |
19.1 (66.4) |
13.2 (55.8) |
7.5 (45.5) |
2.2 (36.0) |
11.1 (51.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
3.7 (38.7) |
8.9 (48.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
18.4 (65.1) |
18.8 (65.8) |
15.3 (59.5) |
9.1 (48.4) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
6.7 (44.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.8 (9.0) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−5.1 (22.8) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
5.0 (41.0) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 87.6 (3.45) |
97.4 (3.83) |
141.7 (5.58) |
141.5 (5.57) |
166.6 (6.56) |
260.3 (10.25) |
256.4 (10.09) |
192.5 (7.58) |
247.5 (9.74) |
203.3 (8.00) |
108.4 (4.27) |
89.3 (3.52) |
2,003.1 (78.86) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 11.7 | 11.1 | 12.6 | 11.2 | 10.7 | 13.7 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 8.7 | 11.4 | 137.6 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 82.9 | 96.7 | 138.5 | 176.5 | 185.5 | 124.9 | 146.1 | 166.8 | 124.7 | 130.6 | 115.6 | 93.0 | 1,582.3 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[4] the population of Kōya has declined steadily over the last 70 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 9,339 | — |
| 1930 | 10,821 | +15.9% |
| 1940 | 9,973 | −7.8% |
| 1950 | 9,786 | −1.9% |
| 1960 | 9,324 | −4.7% |
| 1970 | 7,604 | −18.4% |
| 1980 | 7,326 | −3.7% |
| 1990 | 6,611 | −9.8% |
| 2000 | 5,355 | −19.0% |
| 2010 | 3,979 | −25.7% |
History
editThe area of the modern town of Kōya was within ancient Kii Province. It has long been associated with the Shingon Buddhist temple complex on Mount Kōya, which was founded in 816AD. The village of Kōya was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system in April 1889. It was given town status in November 1918. The village of Fuki was annexed by Kōya in June 1958.
Government
editKōya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 10 members. Kōya collectively with the town of Kudyama, contributes one member to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Wakayama 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
editThe economy of Kōya is centered on tourism. Since there are many temples, there are many people involved in Buddhist professions such as monks. There are many tourism related industry workers such as innkeepers, souvenir shops, and Buddhist equipment stores.
Education
editKōya has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. One public high school is operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education. Koyasan University, a private university affiliated with Shingon Buddhism is located in the town.
Transportation
editRailway
edit Nankai Electric Railway – Nankai Kōya Line
Nankai Electric Railway – Nankai Cable Line
Highways
editLocal attractions
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kōya Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
- ^ Kōya population statistics
External links
editMedia related to Kōya, Wakayama at Wikimedia Commons
- Kōya official website (in Japanese)
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