# Kawamoto, Shimane

Kawamoto (川本町, Kawamoto-machi) is a town located in Ōchi District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2023, the town had an estimated population of 3,051 in 1611 households and a population density of 29 persons per km². The total area of the town is 106.43 square kilometres (41.09 sq mi).

## Geography

Kawamoto is located in the Chugoku Mountains of central Shimane Prefecture.

### Neighboring municipalities

Shimane Prefecture
* Gōtsu
* Misato
* Ōda
* Ōnan

### Climate

Kawamoto has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year. The average annual temperature in Kawamoto is 13.8 °C (56.8 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,924.1 mm (75.75 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.7 °C (78.3 °F), and lowest in January, at around 2.7 °C (36.9 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Kawamoto was 37.9 °C (100.2 °F) on 6 August 2021; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −10.1 °C (13.8 °F) on 28 February 1981.
Climate data for Kawamoto (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.9 (66.0) | 22.9 (73.2) | 26.3 (79.3) | 32.1 (89.8) | 33.4 (92.1) | 34.8 (94.6) | 36.8 (98.2) | 37.9 (100.2) | 37.2 (99.0) | 31.4 (88.5) | 26.2 (79.2) | 22.7 (72.9) | 37.9 (100.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.1 (44.8) | 8.6 (47.5) | 13.0 (55.4) | 19.0 (66.2) | 23.9 (75.0) | 26.8 (80.2) | 30.1 (86.2) | 31.6 (88.9) | 27.0 (80.6) | 21.5 (70.7) | 15.8 (60.4) | 9.6 (49.3) | 19.5 (67.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) | 3.5 (38.3) | 6.7 (44.1) | 12.1 (53.8) | 17.0 (62.6) | 20.9 (69.6) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.7 (78.3) | 21.4 (70.5) | 15.4 (59.7) | 10.0 (50.0) | 4.9 (40.8) | 13.8 (56.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.6 (30.9) | −0.6 (30.9) | 1.4 (34.5) | 5.8 (42.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.1 (70.0) | 21.8 (71.2) | 17.5 (63.5) | 11.1 (52.0) | 5.7 (42.3) | 1.5 (34.7) | 9.3 (48.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −6.9 (19.6) | −10.1 (13.8) | −5.4 (22.3) | −2.8 (27.0) | 0.2 (32.4) | 6.8 (44.2) | 11.5 (52.7) | 13.8 (56.8) | 5.8 (42.4) | 1.4 (34.5) | −1.6 (29.1) | −5.2 (22.6) | −10.1 (13.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 147.2 (5.80) | 122.1 (4.81) | 139.0 (5.47) | 127.3 (5.01) | 145.9 (5.74) | 206.3 (8.12) | 266.0 (10.47) | 169.5 (6.67) | 217.4 (8.56) | 113.8 (4.48) | 110.3 (4.34) | 157.0 (6.18) | 1,924.1 (75.75) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 17.7 | 14.8 | 14.1 | 11.0 | 9.9 | 12.2 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 11.4 | 9.8 | 12.2 | 16.7 | 153.1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 61.4 | 81.9 | 135.5 | 178.8 | 198.4 | 145.7 | 156.3 | 188.9 | 140.2 | 146.7 | 108.7 | 69.0 | 1,619.5 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

### Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kawamoto in 2020 was 3,248 people. Kawamoto has been conducting censuses since 1960.

## History

The area of Kawamoto was part of ancient Iwami Province. During the Edo Period, the area was tenryō territory under the direction control of the Tokugawa shogunate due to its proximity to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Kawamoto was established within Ōchi District, Shimane on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kawamoto was raised to town status on April 1, 1927.

## Government

Kawamoto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of eight members. Kawamoto, collectively with the towns of Ōnan and Misato, contributes one member to the Shimane Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Shimane 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

Kawamoto is a very rural area, with an economy based on agriculture.

## Education

Kawamoto has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education.

## Transportation
### Railway

Following the closure of the JR West Sankō Line on April 1, 2018, Kawamoto no longer has any passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Ōda Station on the JR West San'in Main Line.
JR West - Sankō Line
* Inbara - Iwami Kawamoto - Kirohara

### Highways

* National Route 261