# Hara, Nagano

Hara (原村, Hara-mura) is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2019, the village had an estimated population of 7,661 in 2445 households, and a population density of 174 persons per km$^2$. The total area of the village is 43.26 square kilometres (16.70 sq mi).

## Geography

Hara is located in eastern Nagano Prefecture. The village is located in a mountainous area, and includes Mount Yatsugatake partly within its borders.

### Surrounding municipalities

* Nagano Prefecture
** Chino
** Fujimi

### Climate

The village has a humid continental climate characterized by warm and humid summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classification Dfa). The average annual temperature in Hara is 9.5 °C (49.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,271.5 mm (50.06 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 22.0 °C (71.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around −3.0 °C (26.6 °F).
Climate data for Hara (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) | 17.1 (62.8) | 22.2 (72.0) | 27.4 (81.3) | 30.1 (86.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 33.7 (92.7) | 33.9 (93.0) | 31.9 (89.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 18.3 (64.9) | 33.9 (93.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 3.6 (38.5) | 8.3 (46.9) | 15.1 (59.2) | 20.2 (68.4) | 23.1 (73.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 28.1 (82.6) | 23.4 (74.1) | 17.4 (63.3) | 11.7 (53.1) | 5.6 (42.1) | 15.5 (59.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.0 (26.6) | −2.2 (28.0) | 1.9 (35.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 13.5 (56.3) | 17.3 (63.1) | 21.3 (70.3) | 22.0 (71.6) | 17.7 (63.9) | 11.5 (52.7) | 5.5 (41.9) | 0.0 (32.0) | 9.5 (49.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.1 (17.4) | −7.8 (18.0) | −3.8 (25.2) | 1.7 (35.1) | 7.5 (45.5) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.6 (63.7) | 13.5 (56.3) | 6.8 (44.2) | 0.3 (32.5) | −4.9 (23.2) | 4.4 (39.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.9 (1.6) | −19.7 (−3.5) | −14.5 (5.9) | −8.7 (16.3) | −2.5 (27.5) | 2.4 (36.3) | 9.5 (49.1) | 9.4 (48.9) | 1.2 (34.2) | −4.7 (23.5) | −10.5 (13.1) | −15.1 (4.8) | −19.7 (−3.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46.6 (1.83) | 57.5 (2.26) | 100.3 (3.95) | 100.4 (3.95) | 110.6 (4.35) | 151.1 (5.95) | 167.9 (6.61) | 112.9 (4.44) | 168.7 (6.64) | 143.6 (5.65) | 68.9 (2.71) | 43.1 (1.70) | 1,271.5 (50.06) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.2 | 6.1 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 10.3 | 12.7 | 13.7 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 9.3 | 7.4 | 6.1 | 111.9 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 185.2 | 183.3 | 190.2 | 197.2 | 211.9 | 164.9 | 172.9 | 204.5 | 156.3 | 165.0 | 177.7 | 179.1 | 2,188.4 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## History

The area of present-day Hara was part of ancient Shinano Province. The present village of Hara was established on April 1, 1889 by the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hara has grown slightly over the past 50 years.

## Economy

The economy of Hara is based on agriculture.

## Education

Hara has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

## Transportation
### Railway

* The village has no passenger railway service.

### Highway

* Chūō Expressway

## International relations

* – Pukekohe, New Zealand, sister city since May 2, 1974

## Local attraction

* Akyū ruins, a National Historic Site
* Yatsugatake Museum of Art

## Notable people from Hara

* Risa Itō, manga artist