Unzen, Nagasaki

City in Kyushu, Japan

Unzen Flag Seal
Location of Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture

Symbols

Flower	Rhododendron kiusianum
Tree	Kousa Dogwood

Unzen (雲仙市, Unzen-shi) is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, on the northern tip of Shimabara Peninsula, facing Ariake Bay in the east and Mount Unzen to the south. As of November 2018, the city has an estimated population of 42,457^[1] and a population density of 220 people per km². The total area is 206.92 km².

History

The modern city of Unzen was established on October 11, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Aino, Azuma, Chijiwa, Kunimi, Minamikushiyama, Mizuho and Obama (all from Minamitakaki District).^[2]^[3]

Climate

Climate data for Mount Unzen, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1924–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.3 (63.1)	18.2 (64.8)	21.2 (70.2)	25.3 (77.5)	29.4 (84.9)	31.0 (87.8)	32.8 (91.0)	33.2 (91.8)	30.5 (86.9)	27.6 (81.7)	22.5 (72.5)	18.6 (65.5)	33.2 (91.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	6.1 (43.0)	7.7 (45.9)	11.2 (52.2)	16.1 (61.0)	20.5 (68.9)	22.7 (72.9)	25.8 (78.4)	27.2 (81.0)	24.5 (76.1)	19.8 (67.6)	14.2 (57.6)	8.6 (47.5)	17.0 (62.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)	2.5 (36.5)	3.6 (38.5)	6.8 (44.2)	11.5 (52.7)	15.9 (60.6)	19.2 (66.6)	22.5 (72.5)	23.3 (73.9)	20.4 (68.7)	15.3 (59.5)	10.0 (50.0)	4.7 (40.5)	13.0 (55.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−0.7 (30.7)	−0.1 (31.8)	2.8 (37.0)	7.2 (45.0)	11.6 (52.9)	16.1 (61.0)	20.0 (68.0)	20.5 (68.9)	17.1 (62.8)	11.5 (52.7)	6.3 (43.3)	1.2 (34.2)	9.5 (49.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−12.2 (10.0)	−12.8 (9.0)	−11.7 (10.9)	−6.0 (21.2)	1.3 (34.3)	7.6 (45.7)	13.0 (55.4)	12.9 (55.2)	8.1 (46.6)	0.3 (32.5)	−6.0 (21.2)	−10.2 (13.6)	−12.8 (9.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	88.2 (3.47)	129.2 (5.09)	202.5 (7.97)	253.3 (9.97)	265.1 (10.44)	575.4 (22.65)	513.6 (20.22)	314.4 (12.38)	260.7 (10.26)	132.8 (5.23)	123.5 (4.86)	103.1 (4.06)	2,961.8 (116.6)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	12 (4.7)	8 (3.1)	2 (0.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	3 (1.2)	25 (9.8)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	8.4	9.5	11.8	10.8	10.9	15.5	13.2	11.0	10.3	7.4	9.2	8.9	126.9
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm)	3.0	2.6	0.9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.6	7.1
Average relative humidity (%)	78	76	75	74	76	86	90	86	83	79	80	78	80
Mean monthly sunshine hours	88.4	101.9	133.6	149.7	159.6	94.2	105.8	132.3	123.6	140.6	108.8	96.4	1,436.6
Source 1: JMA^[4]
Source 2: JMA^[5]

Tourism

Obama Onsen is located in Unzen City. The poet Saito Mokichi wrote a verse about the beauty of this hot spring.

References

^ "Official website of Unzen City" (in Japanese). Japan: Unzen City. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
^ "歴史". 雲仙市 (in Japanese). 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2024-02-07. その後の合併を経て昭和44年4月に国見町、瑞穂町、吾妻町、愛野町、千々石町、小浜町、南串山町の7町構成となり、平成17年10月11日に7町が対等合併し雲仙市となった。
^ 住民基本台帳人口移動報告年報 [Annual Report on Population Movement in the Basic Resident Register] (in Japanese). 総務庁統計局. 2005. p. 150. Kunimi-cho, Mizuho-cho, Azuma-cho, Aino-machi, Chijiwa-cho, Obama-cho and Minamikushiyama-cho were incorporated into a newly established Unzen-shi as of October 11, 2005.
^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 16, 2022.