# Hinoemata, Fukushima

Hinoemata (檜枝岐村, Hinoemata-mura) is a village located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2020, the village had an estimated population of 556, and a population density of 1.5 persons per km². The total area of the village was 390.46 square kilometres (150.76 sq mi). It is locally famous for its soba (buckwheat noodles) and known nationally for its kabuki performances and as a gateway to the Oze marshlands.

## Geography

Located in the southwestern corner of Fukushima prefecture, Hinoemata is surrounded by the mountains Komagatake, Mount Taishaku, and Hiuchigatake (the highest mountain in northwestern Japan). Between these mountains runs the Hinoemata River. It is known for having the lowest population density of any municipality in Japan.
* Mountains: Aizu-Komagatake (2133 m), Mount Taishaku (2060 m), Hiuchigatake (2356 m)
* Rivers: Hinoemata River
* Lakes: Ozegahara

### Neighboring municipalities

* Fukushima Prefecture
** Minamiaizu
** Tadami
* Gunma Prefecture
** Katashina
* Niigata Prefecture
** Uonuma
* Tochigi Prefecture
** Nikkō

### Climate

Hinoemata has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hinoemata is 6.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1050 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around -5.2 °C.
Climate data for Hinoemata (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) | 14.0 (57.2) | 17.5 (63.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 29.6 (85.3) | 31.2 (88.2) | 32.5 (90.5) | 32.5 (90.5) | 31.1 (88.0) | 26.9 (80.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 19.7 (67.5) | 32.5 (90.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) | 0.9 (33.6) | 4.8 (40.6) | 11.5 (52.7) | 18.5 (65.3) | 21.8 (71.2) | 25.2 (77.4) | 26.3 (79.3) | 21.8 (71.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 9.7 (49.5) | 3.2 (37.8) | 13.3 (55.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.8 (25.2) | −3.5 (25.7) | −0.2 (31.6) | 5.3 (41.5) | 11.7 (53.1) | 15.8 (60.4) | 19.6 (67.3) | 20.3 (68.5) | 16.2 (61.2) | 10.1 (50.2) | 4.2 (39.6) | −1.0 (30.2) | 7.9 (46.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.6 (18.3) | −7.9 (17.8) | −4.7 (23.5) | 0.5 (32.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 10.7 (51.3) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.9 (60.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 5.6 (42.1) | 0.0 (32.0) | −4.8 (23.4) | 3.4 (38.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −18.7 (−1.7) | −18.2 (−0.8) | −17.0 (1.4) | −10.2 (13.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | 2.0 (35.6) | 5.4 (41.7) | 6.6 (43.9) | −0.2 (31.6) | −5.1 (22.8) | −10.0 (14.0) | −16.0 (3.2) | −18.7 (−1.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 131.3 (5.17) | 114.9 (4.52) | 91.6 (3.61) | 80.2 (3.16) | 89.5 (3.52) | 121.8 (4.80) | 207.4 (8.17) | 166.9 (6.57) | 160.1 (6.30) | 155.1 (6.11) | 103.8 (4.09) | 145.5 (5.73) | 1,560 (61.42) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 325 (128) | 281 (111) | 212 (83) | 92 (36) | 3 (1.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 39 (15) | 259 (102) | 1,221 (481) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 18.1 | 16.0 | 14.9 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 14.0 | 15.9 | 13.7 | 13.1 | 12.8 | 14.4 | 18.4 | 174.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 22.1 | 20.1 | 20.4 | 12.8 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.9 | 14.6 | 93.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 48.8 | 68.0 | 106.1 | 137.2 | 178.2 | 132.5 | 133.5 | 151.3 | 115.4 | 109.8 | 92.9 | 64.2 | 1,337.8 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hinoemata peaked around the year 1960 and since declined to pre-1930 levels.

## History

The area of present-day Hinoemata 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 Minamiaizu District in Fukushima Prefecture. Hinoemata was formed on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

## Economy

The economy of Hinoemata is primarily agricultural.

## Education

Hinoemata has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the village government.
* Hinoemata Elementary School
* Hinoemata Junior-High School

## Transportation
### Highway

* National Route 352
* National Route 401

### Bus

Hinoemata is served by a single local bus line connecting it with Aizukogenozeguchi and Aizu-Tajima stations in neighboring Minami-Aizu Town.

## Local attractions

* Hinoemata Hot Spring
* Okutadami Dam (Hinoemata is situated on the east bank of the dam lake.) While half the dam is technically within Hinoemata the dam is not accessible to the public from the Hinoemata side due to mountainous terrain.
* Sanjō Falls
* Takeda Hisayoshi Memorial Hall