Wakasa (若狭町, Wakasa-chō) is a town located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2018, the city had an estimated population of 14,577 and the population density of 82 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 178.49 square kilometres (68.92 sq mi).

Wakasa
若狭町
Wakasa Town Hall
Wakasa Town Hall
Flag of Wakasa
Official seal of Wakasa
Location of Wakasa in Fukui Prefecture
Location of Wakasa in Fukui Prefecture
Wakasa is located in Japan
Wakasa
Wakasa
 
Coordinates: 35°32′56.2″N 135°54′29.4″E / 35.548944°N 135.908167°E / 35.548944; 135.908167
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Hokuriku)
PrefectureFukui
DistrictMikatakaminaka
Area
 • Total178.49 km2 (68.92 sq mi)
Population
 (April 2018)
 • Total14,577
 • Density82/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols 
Phone number0770-45-1111
Address1-1 Chuo, Wakasa-cho, Mikatakaminaka-gun, Fukui-ken 919-1393
Websitewww.town.fukui-wakasa.lg.jp
Mikata five lakes
Annotated aerial view of the Mikata Five Lakes in Wakasa, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (2018/2023). Measurements refer to maximum depth.

Geography

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Wakasa is located in southwestern Fukui Prefecture, bordered by Shiga Prefecture to the south and the heavily indented ria coast of Wakasa Bay of Sea of Japan to the north. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities

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Climate

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Wakasa has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Wakasa is 14.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2115 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.7 °C.[1]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Wakasa has declined over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 18,090—    
1980 18,114+0.1%
1990 17,835−1.5%
2000 17,313−2.9%
2010 16,099−7.0%
2020 14,003−13.0%

History

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Wakasa is part of ancient Wakasa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Obama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, it was organised into part of Mikatakaminaka District in Fukui Prefecture. The town of Wakasa was formed on March 31, 2005 by the merger of the former towns of Mikata, from Mikata District, and Kaminaka, from Onyū District.

Economy

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The economy of Wakasa is dependent on commercial fishing, agriculture and seasonal tourism.

Education

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Wakasa has ten public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Fukui Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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Highway

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Notable people

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  • Tsutomu Sakuma (1879-1910), was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy and a pioneer submarine commander[3]

Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ Wakasa climate data
  2. ^ Wakasa population statistics
  3. ^ Trevor N. Dupuy|Dupuy, Trevor N. Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography, New York, 1992
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