# Himi, Toyama

Himi (氷見市, Himi-shi) is a city in western Toyama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2018, the city had an estimated population of 48,275 in 17,632 households, and a population density of 210 persons per km$^2$. Its total area is 230.56 square kilometres (89.02 sq mi). Himi is known primarily for its commercial fishing industry. The city was founded on August 1, 1952.

## Geography

Himi is in the far northwestern Toyama Prefecture, and is bordered by Ishikawa Prefecture (the Noto Peninsula to the west and north, and the Sea of Japan (Toyama Bay) to the east. Much of the area is a dispersed settlement typical of this region of Japan.

### Surrounding municipalities

* Ishikawa Prefecture
** Hakui
** Hōdatsushimizu
** Nakanoto
** Nanao
* Toyama Prefecture
** Takaoka

### Climate

Himi has a humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Himi is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2409 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.
Climate data for Himi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) | 22.3 (72.1) | 25.4 (77.7) | 30.3 (86.5) | 31.5 (88.7) | 34.3 (93.7) | 37.3 (99.1) | 37.4 (99.3) | 36.5 (97.7) | 32.3 (90.1) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.7 (71.1) | 37.4 (99.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.0 (42.8) | 6.9 (44.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.2 (70.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 28.7 (83.7) | 30.4 (86.7) | 26.3 (79.3) | 21.0 (69.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 9.1 (48.4) | 18.0 (64.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 2.6 (36.7) | 5.8 (42.4) | 10.8 (51.4) | 16.0 (60.8) | 20.2 (68.4) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.8 (78.4) | 21.8 (71.2) | 16.0 (60.8) | 10.2 (50.4) | 5.0 (41.0) | 13.4 (56.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.7 (30.7) | −1.1 (30.0) | 1.1 (34.0) | 5.6 (42.1) | 11.3 (52.3) | 16.5 (61.7) | 21.1 (70.0) | 22.2 (72.0) | 18.0 (64.4) | 11.6 (52.9) | 5.8 (42.4) | 1.5 (34.7) | 9.4 (48.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.6 (14.7) | −10.0 (14.0) | −9.3 (15.3) | −3.4 (25.9) | 2.1 (35.8) | 7.7 (45.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 7.4 (45.3) | 0.5 (32.9) | −1.7 (28.9) | −7.0 (19.4) | −10.0 (14.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 242.3 (9.54) | 143.4 (5.65) | 135.6 (5.34) | 116.5 (4.59) | 110.2 (4.34) | 156.5 (6.16) | 229.3 (9.03) | 184.5 (7.26) | 192.2 (7.57) | 142.3 (5.60) | 217.3 (8.56) | 274.4 (10.80) | 2,156.5 (84.90) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 111 (44) | 72 (28) | 11 (4.3) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 46 (18) | 239 (94) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 23.7 | 18.2 | 16.5 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 12.6 | 9.5 | 12.5 | 12.9 | 17.0 | 22.8 | 178.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 10.5 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 4.7 | 24.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 59.5 | 89.7 | 145.6 | 187.3 | 213.2 | 162.9 | 163.9 | 213.1 | 149.5 | 150.0 | 106.5 | 67.0 | 1,708.1 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Himi has declined over the past 40 years.

## History

The area of present-day Himi was part of ancient Etchū Province. The town of Himi was created within Imizu District, Toyama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Izumi District was divided on March 29, 1896 into Izumi District and Himi District. The town annexed the neighboring villages of Kanno and Inazumi in 1940, and the villages of Goishi, Yashiro, Yokawa in 1952. In 1953, the town further annexed the villages of Kubo, Miyata, Kamijo and Kumanashi. In 1954, Himi annexed the villages of Ao, Yabuta, Unami, Mera, Kume, Kojiro, Junicho, Hayakawa, Fuse, and Busshoji, so that in its final form it encompassed the entire district of Himi with the exception of the village of Ota (which was annexed by Takaoka).

## Government

Himi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 17 members.

## Education

Himi has twelve public elementary schools and five public junior high schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Toyama Prefectural Board of Education.

## Transportation
### Railway

* West Japan Railway Company (JR West) - Himi Line
** Shimao-Himi

### Highway

* Nōetsu Expressway
* National Route 160
* National Route 415

## Regional specialties

* Cold Yellowtail
* Himi Beef
* Himi Buri
* Himi Curry
* Himi Hatomugi Tea
* Himi Iwashi
* Himi Udon
* Kintsuba

## Points of interest

* Asahi Shell Mound, a National Historic Site
* Himi Banya
* Himi Seaside Botanical Garden
* Ōzakai Cave Dwelling Site, a National Historic Site
* Shimao Seaside Park
* Yanaidanu-no-Oyama Kofun, a National Historic Site