Mishima, Fukushima

Town in Tōhoku, Japan

Mishima Flag Seal
Location of Mishima in Fukushima Prefecture
37°28′13.1″N 139°38′40.1″E / 37.470306°N 139.644472°E / 37.470306; 139.644472
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Fukushima
District	Ōnuma
Area
• Total	90.81 km² (35.06 sq mi)
Population (March 2020)
• Total	1,590
• Density	18/km² (45/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Paulownia tomentosa
- Flower	Prunus sargentii
- Bird	Varied tit
Phone number	0241-48-5533
Address	350 Miyashita Mishima-machi, Ōnuma-gun, Fukushima-ken 969-7511
Website	Official website

Mishima (三島町, Mishima-machi) is a town located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2020^[update], the town had an estimated population of 1,590 in 755 households,^[1] and a population density of 18 persons per square kilometre (47 per square mile). The total area of the town was 90.81 square kilometres (35.06 sq mi). In 2017, Mishima was selected as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.^[2]

Geography

Mishima is located in the western portion of the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture. Most of the town is covered with forests. Traffic is concentrated along the Tadami River in the northern part of the town, and the main functions of the town such as government offices and hospitals are located in the Miyashita area. Miyashita Dam is located slightly upstream, and there is a hydroelectric power plant using the dam. The town has a number of hot springs.

Mountains: Mount Takamori
Rivers: Tadami River
Lakes: Miyashita Dam

Neighboring municipalities

Fukushima Prefecture

Climate

Mishima has a humid continental climate/oceanic climate (Köppen Dfb/Cfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mishima is 11.5 °C (52.7 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,477 mm (58.1 in) with September 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 −1.1 °C (30.0 °F).^[3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[4] the population of Mishima has declined steadily over the past 70 years.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1920	4,518	—
1930	4,728	+4.6%
1940	5,287	+11.8%
1950	7,721	+46.0%
1960	5,803	−24.8%
1970	4,108	−29.2%
1980	3,389	−17.5%
1990	2,886	−14.8%
2000	2,474	−14.3%
2010	1,926	−22.2%
2020	1,452	−24.6%

History

The area of present-day Mishima was part of ancient Mutsu Province and formed part of the holdings of Aizu Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Ōnuma District in Fukushima Prefecture. Mishima village was founded on July 1, 1955 through a merger of the villages of Miyashita and Nishikata. It was raised to town status on April 1, 1961.

Economy

Hydroelectric power generation from numerous dams on the Tadami River is the primary source of revenue for the town, along with forestry and wood products.