Miho (美浦村, Miho-mura) is a village located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2020, the village had an estimated population of 14,504 in 5907 households and a population density of 218 persons per km2. The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 32.0%.[1] The total area of the village is 66.61 square kilometres (25.72 sq mi). The village holds one of the two Japan Racing Association's training centers (the other is in Ritto, Shiga).

Miho
美浦村
Miho Village as seen from the west. Lake Kasumigaura on the left.
Miho Village as seen from the west. Lake Kasumigaura on the left.
Flag of Miho
Official seal of Miho
Location of Miho in Ibaraki Prefecture
Location of Miho in Ibaraki Prefecture
Miho is located in Japan
Miho
Miho
 
Coordinates: 36°0′16.3″N 140°18′6.8″E / 36.004528°N 140.301889°E / 36.004528; 140.301889
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureIbaraki
DistrictInashiki
Area
 • Total66.61 km2 (25.72 sq mi)
Population
 (October 2020)
 • Total14,504
 • Density220/km2 (560/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeWild cherry tree
- FlowerGolden-rayed lily
Phone number029-885-0340
Address1515 Ukeryo, Miho-mura, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki-ken 300-0492
WebsiteOfficial website
Miho village hall

Geography edit

Located in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, Miho is bordered by Lake Kasumigaura to the north and east.

Surrounding municipalities edit

Ibaraki Prefecture

Climate edit

Miho has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Miho is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1344 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 °C.[2]

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Miho peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1950 9,992—    
1960 9,178−8.1%
1970 8,066−12.1%
1980 13,509+67.5%
1990 14,348+6.2%
2000 18,219+27.0%
2010 17,299−5.0%
2020 14,602−15.6%

History edit

The villages of Kihara and Anju were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two villages were merged to form the village of Miho on April 1, 1955.

Government edit

Miho has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 12 members. Miho contributes one member to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of Ibaraki 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

The economy of Miho is primarily agricultural, including aquaculture on Lake Kasumigaura.

Education edit

  • Miho has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have public high school, but the Ibaraki Prefectural Board of Education operates a special education school for the handicapped..

Transportation edit

Railway edit

  • Miho does not have any passenger rail service.

Highway edit

Local attractions edit

  • Site of Kihara Castle
  • Akadaira Shell Midden

International relations edit

Noted people from Miho edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Ibaraki prefectural official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Miho climate data
  3. ^ Miho population statistics
  4. ^ "CLAIR Council of Local Authorities for International Relations". Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-14.

External links edit

  Media related to Miho, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons