Miyakonojō (都城市, Miyakonojō-shi) is a city in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 November 2023, the city had an estimated population of 158,235 in 72394 households, and a population density of 240 persons per km². [1] The total area of the city is 653.36 km2 (252.26 sq mi), making it the largest city in the prefecture in terms of area.

Miyakonojō
都城市
View of downtown Miyakonojo, from Miyakonojo Castle Ruin Park
View of downtown Miyakonojo, from Miyakonojo Castle Ruin Park
Flag of Miyakonojō
Official seal of Miyakonojō
Map
Location of Miyakonojō in Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyakonojō is located in Japan
Miyakonojō
Miyakonojō
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°43′10″N 131°03′42″E / 31.71944°N 131.06167°E / 31.71944; 131.06167
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureMiyazaki
Government
 • MayorMakoto Nagamine
Area
 • Total653.36 km2 (252.26 sq mi)
Population
 (November 1, 2023)
 • Total158,235
 • Density240/km2 (630/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address6-21 Himegichō, Miyakonojō-shi, Miyazaki-ken 885-8555
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerIris
TreeJapanese zelkova
Miyakonojō City Office

Geography edit

Miyakonojō is located at the southwestern tip of Miyazaki Prefecture in the Miyakonojō basin, approximately 50 km west-southwest of Miyazaki City and approximately 90 km east-northeast of Kagoshima City. The northern, western, and southern parts of the city border Kagoshima Prefecture.The Ōyodo River flows roughly from north to south through the center of the city, and the city is surrounded by the Kirishima Mountains to the west and the Wanizuka Mountains to the east.

Neighboring municipalities edit

Miyazaki Prefecture

Kagoshima Prefecture

Climate edit

Miyakonojō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), but is cooler than other cities in Miyazaki. The average temperature is 16.8 °C (62.2 °F), and it rains less than in Miyazaki City. The area's climate is influenced by its proximity to mountains.

Climate data for Miyakonojō (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1942−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 24.3
(75.7)
23.5
(74.3)
27.1
(80.8)
30.4
(86.7)
34.0
(93.2)
34.4
(93.9)
37.1
(98.8)
39.4
(102.9)
35.2
(95.4)
34.0
(93.2)
28.0
(82.4)
24.4
(75.9)
39.4
(102.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.1
(53.8)
13.7
(56.7)
16.9
(62.4)
21.6
(70.9)
25.5
(77.9)
27.1
(80.8)
31.4
(88.5)
32.1
(89.8)
29.3
(84.7)
24.8
(76.6)
19.5
(67.1)
14.2
(57.6)
22.4
(72.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.1
(43.0)
7.7
(45.9)
11.0
(51.8)
15.6
(60.1)
19.8
(67.6)
22.7
(72.9)
26.7
(80.1)
27.0
(80.6)
24.2
(75.6)
19.1
(66.4)
13.5
(56.3)
8.1
(46.6)
16.8
(62.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.9
(33.6)
2.3
(36.1)
5.7
(42.3)
10.2
(50.4)
14.9
(58.8)
19.3
(66.7)
23.2
(73.8)
23.4
(74.1)
20.4
(68.7)
14.4
(57.9)
8.4
(47.1)
2.8
(37.0)
12.2
(53.9)
Record low °C (°F) −9.8
(14.4)
−8.5
(16.7)
−5.9
(21.4)
−2.7
(27.1)
2.3
(36.1)
9.1
(48.4)
15.0
(59.0)
14.4
(57.9)
6.3
(43.3)
−0.8
(30.6)
−4.8
(23.4)
−7.8
(18.0)
−9.8
(14.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 66.1
(2.60)
106.2
(4.18)
163.3
(6.43)
184.3
(7.26)
207.8
(8.18)
559.7
(22.04)
447.0
(17.60)
320.9
(12.63)
314.2
(12.37)
131.6
(5.18)
94.0
(3.70)
74.6
(2.94)
2,694.2
(106.07)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.6 8.1 11.5 10.1 9.9 16.4 13.2 12.7 12.5 7.6 7.5 5.9 122
Average relative humidity (%) 71 70 70 70 73 82 80 79 79 75 76 73 75
Mean monthly sunshine hours 167.2 155.2 169.4 173.9 169.2 103.1 168.2 183.6 149.1 172.4 158.5 164.8 1,934.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][3]

Neighboring municipalities edit

Miyazaki Prefecture

Kagoshima Prefecture

Demographics edit

Per Japanese census data, the population of Miyakonojō in 2020 is 160,640 people.[4] Miyakonojō has been conducting censuses since 1920.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 104,733—    
1925 115,475+10.3%
1930 127,302+10.2%
1935 132,880+4.4%
1940 132,166−0.5%
1945 165,910+25.5%
1950 172,668+4.1%
1955 179,587+4.0%
1960 175,708−2.2%
1965 166,237−5.4%
1970 157,589−5.2%
YearPop.±%
1975 159,621+1.3%
1980 172,655+8.2%
1985 175,728+1.8%
1990 172,593−1.8%
1995 174,054+0.8%
2000 171,812−1.3%
2005 170,955−0.5%
2010 169,633−0.8%
2015 165,029−2.7%
2020 160,640−2.7%
Miyakonojō population statistics[4]

History edit

The area of Miyakonojō was part of ancient Hyūga Province. In 1026, near the end of the Heian period, it was site of the Shimazu Estate, the largest shōen (landed estate or manor) of medieval Japan. Expanded substantially in the first half of the 12th century, it eventually covered large portions of Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga Provinces. In 1185, Koremune no Tadahisa was appointed as jitō of the estate, and adopted the name of the manor, thus founding the Shimazu clan. The area was ruled by the Hongō clan, a cadet branch of the Shimazu, in the Muromachi period, and with a kokudaka of 40,000 koku, was the largest of the autonomous territories within Satsuma Domain in the Edo period. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Miyakonojō was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to city status on April 1, 1924.

On January 1, 2006, the towns of Takajō, Takazaki, Yamada and Yamanokuchi (all from Kitamorokata District) were merged into Miyakonojō.

Government edit

Miyakonojō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 29 members. Miyakonojō contributes six members to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy edit

Many of Miyakonojō's citizens work as farmers. They produce gobō, meat, and bell peppers. Miyakonojō is also home to some agriculture-related manufacturing.

Miyakonojō is also famous for producing traditional Japanese archery bows from the abundant bamboo in the area.[5]

Education edit

Miyakonojō has 35 public elementary schools and 19 public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has six public high schools operated by the Miyazaki Prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private high schools. The prefecture operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

Transportation edit

Railways edit

  JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line

  JR Kyushu - Kitto Line

Highways edit

Sister city relations edit

Notable resident of Miyakonojō edit

Local attractions edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Miyakonojō City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Miyakonojō population statistics
  5. ^ Miyakonojo daikyu (archery bows), Japan National Tourist Organization.
  6. ^ Oldest man marks 112th birthday, BBC News, 18 September 2007.

External links edit