Tanabe, Wakayama

City in Kansai, Japan
Tanabe
Flag of Tanabe
Flag
Official seal of Tanabe
Seal
Location of Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture
Location of Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture
Map
Symbols
BirdJapanese white-eye
FlowerUme
TreeUbamegashi (Quercus phillyraeoides)
Tanabe city hall

Tanabe (Japanese: 田辺市, Tanabe-shi, pronounced [tanabe]) is a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 November 2021[update], the city had an estimated population of 70,972 in 35076 households and a population density of 69 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 1,026.91 square kilometres (396.49 sq mi). Tanabe is the second largest city in Wakayama in terms of population, and the largest in the Kansai region of Japan in terms of area.

Geography

Tanabe is located the south-central Kii Peninsula and faces to the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Kii Mountains to the north and east. The coastline is intricate and forms Tanabe Bay. Tenjinzaki is at the northern end of the bay, and Shirahama is on the south side. The climate is moderated by the effects of the Kuroshio Current offshore.

Neighboring municipalities

Wakayama Prefecture

Nara Prefecture

Climate

Tanabe has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tanabe is 16.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2348 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.9 °C.[2] The area is subject to typhoons in summer.

Climate data for Kurisugawa, Tanabe (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1979−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.9
(67.8)
21.9
(71.4)
25.3
(77.5)
28.9
(84.0)
31.7
(89.1)
33.8
(92.8)
37.4
(99.3)
39.3
(102.7)
36.1
(97.0)
32.2
(90.0)
26.8
(80.2)
22.7
(72.9)
39.3
(102.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.5
(50.9)
11.6
(52.9)
15.2
(59.4)
20.1
(68.2)
24.3
(75.7)
26.5
(79.7)
30.1
(86.2)
31.5
(88.7)
28.6
(83.5)
23.7
(74.7)
18.5
(65.3)
13.0
(55.4)
21.1
(70.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.0
(39.2)
4.8
(40.6)
8.3
(46.9)
13.2
(55.8)
17.6
(63.7)
21.2
(70.2)
25.0
(77.0)
25.7
(78.3)
22.6
(72.7)
17.0
(62.6)
11.3
(52.3)
6.0
(42.8)
14.7
(58.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.2
(29.8)
−1.0
(30.2)
2.1
(35.8)
6.7
(44.1)
11.7
(53.1)
17.0
(62.6)
21.3
(70.3)
21.6
(70.9)
18.3
(64.9)
12.0
(53.6)
5.8
(42.4)
0.7
(33.3)
9.6
(49.2)
Record low °C (°F) −7.0
(19.4)
−7.5
(18.5)
−5.5
(22.1)
−2.9
(26.8)
−0.1
(31.8)
6.1
(43.0)
12.9
(55.2)
13.4
(56.1)
6.8
(44.2)
0.8
(33.4)
−2.7
(27.1)
−6.0
(21.2)
−7.5
(18.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 91.9
(3.62)
113.7
(4.48)
182.0
(7.17)
199.2
(7.84)
250.8
(9.87)
387.5
(15.26)
395.0
(15.55)
262.7
(10.34)
301.3
(11.86)
215.0
(8.46)
134.0
(5.28)
86.9
(3.42)
2,581.3
(101.63)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.6 7.9 11.0 10.6 10.7 14.5 13.2 12.1 11.9 10.2 7.9 7.3 124.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 158.3 157.2 183.6 196.0 188.9 129.4 156.2 193.7 153.0 160.0 160.2 156.4 1,994.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][4]
Climate data for Ryūjin, Tanabe (1994−2020 normals, extremes 1994−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 18.1
(64.6)
20.4
(68.7)
23.9
(75.0)
29.0
(84.2)
31.4
(88.5)
33.5
(92.3)
36.7
(98.1)
37.2
(99.0)
33.9
(93.0)
29.7
(85.5)
24.1
(75.4)
21.7
(71.1)
37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.5
(45.5)
9.1
(48.4)
13.1
(55.6)
18.3
(64.9)
23.0
(73.4)
25.3
(77.5)
29.0
(84.2)
30.4
(86.7)
26.9
(80.4)
21.8
(71.2)
16.1
(61.0)
10.0
(50.0)
19.2
(66.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.4
(36.3)
3.5
(38.3)
6.9
(44.4)
11.8
(53.2)
16.6
(61.9)
20.2
(68.4)
23.9
(75.0)
24.6
(76.3)
21.4
(70.5)
15.8
(60.4)
9.9
(49.8)
4.5
(40.1)
13.5
(56.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)
−1.0
(30.2)
1.5
(34.7)
6.1
(43.0)
11.1
(52.0)
16.0
(60.8)
20.2
(68.4)
20.7
(69.3)
17.4
(63.3)
11.4
(52.5)
5.2
(41.4)
0.3
(32.5)
8.9
(48.1)
Record low °C (°F) −8.3
(17.1)
−8.6
(16.5)
−5.1
(22.8)
−2.4
(27.7)
1.4
(34.5)
7.6
(45.7)
14.2
(57.6)
13.7
(56.7)
8.5
(47.3)
2.3
(36.1)
−1.9
(28.6)
−5.5
(22.1)
−8.6
(16.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 99.9
(3.93)
135.1
(5.32)
208.2
(8.20)
235.3
(9.26)
270.2
(10.64)
431.6
(16.99)
510.3
(20.09)
344.3
(13.56)
357.6
(14.08)
227.4
(8.95)
135.7
(5.34)
95.8
(3.77)
3,088.3
(121.59)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 9.9 9.7 12.2 11.3 11.4 14.6 14.4 12.9 12.0 10.7 8.5 9.1 136.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 132.7 137.7 165.9 190.7 198.8 133.1 154.5 187.1 142.1 154.6 146.6 133.0 1,863.4
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[7] the population of Tanabe has decreased steadily over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 92,278—    
1970 85,347−7.5%
1980 88,130+3.3%
1990 86,143−2.3%
2000 85,646−0.6%
2010 79,107−7.6%
2020 69,870−11.7%

History

The area of the modern city of Tanabe was within ancient Kii Province. During the late Heian period to early Kamakura period, it was noted as the birthplace of Minamoto no Yoshitsune's companion, Benkei. During the Edo period, it was part of the holdings of Kishū Domain ruled by a cadet branch of the Tokugawa clan through a hereditary karō based at Tanabe Castle. The town of Tanabe was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It merged with the neighboring town of Haya and attained city status on May 20, 1942. Tanabe continued to expand through annexation of neighboring municipalities: the villages of Inari, Shimaakizu, Maro in 1950, Shinjo in 1954, Nishi-Tonda in 1955, and the town of Muro in 1958.

On May 1, 2005, the village of Ryūjin, (from Hidaka District), the town of Nakahechi, the village of Ōtō (both from Nishimuro District), and the town of Hongū (from Higashimuro District) were merged into Tanabe.

Government

Tanabe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Tanabe contributes three members to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Wakayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Tanabe is the main commercial center of central Wakayama Prefecture. Agriculture plays a major role in the economy, with production of umeboshi pickled plums, and the cultivation of various varieties of oranges and other citrus fruits predominant. Shiitake mushrooms, and the raising of poultry are also contributors. Commercial fishing and forestry play secondary roles.

Education

Tanabe has 25 public elementary schools and 15 public middle schools operated by the city government and five public high schools operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped, and one vocational education school.

Transportation

Railway

JR WestKisei Main Line

Highway

Local attractions

  • Kumano Hongū Taisha (熊野本宮大社), one of the Kumano Sanzan shrines
  • Kumano Kodō and Ōmine Okugakemichi ancient pilgrimage roads, a National Historic Sites and World Heritage site
  • Cape Tenjinzaki, a preserved beach made of layered slabs of rock formation. The beach is submerged with water during high tides and revealed during low tides. It is also known as the birthplace of the Japan National Trust movement. Tenjinzaki Cape serves as a place of recreation and relaxation for citizens. People also enjoy fishing and shellfish gathering.
  • Ogigahama beach
  • Kawayu Onsen
  • Ryūjin Onsen
  • Loren Baker's Apartment
  • Kōzanji Shell Mound, National Historic Site
  • Misu-ji temple ruins, National Historic Site
  • Isoma Rock Shelter Site, National Historic Site

Festivals

  • Benkei Matsuri, a Yosakoi dance festival, featuring fireworks and dance performances by employees of local businesses as well as traveling dance groups, held in October.
  • Tanabe Matsuri, a festival held at Tanabe's Tokei jinja shrine (闘鶏神社) in July.
  • Ya-Ya Matsuri (August 8 Festival), a festival held to promote local shopping districts in downtown Tanabe City in August.

Sister cities

Notable people from Tanabe

References

  1. ^ "Tanabe city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Tanabe climate data
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  4. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  5. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  6. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  7. ^ Tanabe population statistics
  8. ^ Wyong Shire Council (14 January 2010). "Councillors aren't flippant when it comes to expenses". Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tanabe, Wakayama.
  • Tanabe City official website (in Japanese)
  • Tanabe City Kumano Tourism Bureau in English
  • U.S. Air Force band performs in gratitude for 70 years of honoring fallen comrades Asahi Shimbun, October 21, 2014 Retrieved October 22, 2014
  • Geographic data related to Tanabe, Wakayama at OpenStreetMap Edit this at Wikidata
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