# Mihama, Fukui

Mihama (美浜町, Mihama-chō) is a town located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2018, the city had an estimated population of 9,643 in 3175 households and the population density of 63 persons per km$^2$. The total area of the town was 152.35 square kilometres (58.82 sq mi).

## Geography

Mihama is located in southwestern Fukui Prefecture, bordered by Shiga Prefecture to the south and the heavily indented ria coast of Wakasa Bay of Sea of Japan to the north. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park.

### Neighbouring municipalities

* Fukui Prefecture
** Tsuruga
** Wakasa
* Shiga Prefecture
** Takashima

### Climate

Mihama has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mihama is 15.0 °C (59.0 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,196.2 mm (86.46 in) with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 4.3 °C (39.7 °F).
Climate data for Mihama (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.8 (64.0) | 21.3 (70.3) | 24.9 (76.8) | 29.9 (85.8) | 33.5 (92.3) | 35.6 (96.1) | 38.1 (100.6) | 38.2 (100.8) | 36.1 (97.0) | 31.5 (88.7) | 26.0 (78.8) | 23.8 (74.8) | 38.2 (100.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.8 (46.0) | 8.2 (46.8) | 11.9 (53.4) | 17.3 (63.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 25.4 (77.7) | 29.7 (85.5) | 31.4 (88.5) | 27.4 (81.3) | 21.9 (71.4) | 16.5 (61.7) | 10.8 (51.4) | 19.2 (66.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) | 4.6 (40.3) | 7.6 (45.7) | 12.6 (54.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 21.4 (70.5) | 25.6 (78.1) | 27.0 (80.6) | 23.1 (73.6) | 17.6 (63.7) | 12.2 (54.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 15.0 (59.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.1 (34.0) | 0.9 (33.6) | 3.2 (37.8) | 7.8 (46.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 17.8 (64.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.5 (67.1) | 13.6 (56.5) | 8.0 (46.4) | 3.3 (37.9) | 11.2 (52.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −6.0 (21.2) | −6.8 (19.8) | −4.1 (24.6) | −0.7 (30.7) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.9 (46.2) | 14.2 (57.6) | 15.2 (59.4) | 10.1 (50.2) | 3.8 (38.8) | −0.7 (30.7) | −3.5 (25.7) | −6.8 (19.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 257.1 (10.12) | 161.9 (6.37) | 148.1 (5.83) | 122.6 (4.83) | 141.0 (5.55) | 143.1 (5.63) | 192.7 (7.59) | 175.1 (6.89) | 226.3 (8.91) | 162.7 (6.41) | 170.7 (6.72) | 297.3 (11.70) | 2,196.2 (86.46) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 22.8 | 17.9 | 15.6 | 12.0 | 11.3 | 11.4 | 12.6 | 9.8 | 12.6 | 12.7 | 15.0 | 21.2 | 174.9 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 61.5 | 78.0 | 133.5 | 172.6 | 190.8 | 144.3 | 161.2 | 212.0 | 151.0 | 144.7 | 106.9 | 71.5 | 1,628 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Mihama has declined in recent decades.

## History

Mihama is part of ancient Wakasa Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Obama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, it was organised into part of Mikata District in Fukui Prefecture. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the villages of Kitasaigō, Minamisaigō, Mimi, and Santō were established. The four villages merged to form the town of Mihama on February 11, 1954.
On August 9, 2004, a non-radioactive steam leak killed five and burnt twelve others in the nearby Mihama Nuclear Power Plant; the high-pressure steam pipe lost 85% of its wall thickness and failed five days before its first inspection since 1976.

## Economy

The economy of Mihama, previously dependent on commercial fishing and agriculture, is now very heavily dependent on the nuclear power industry. The closure of the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant since the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster has crippled the local economy.

## Education

Mihama has three public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

## Transportation
### Railway

* JR West - Obama Line
** Mihama, Higashi Mihama

### Highway

* Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway
* National Route 27

## International relations

* Shimen District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, friendship city

## Local attractions

* Lake Suigetsu
* Mikata Five Lakes, a Ramsar site
* Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park