Yukigata

**Yukigata** [雪岭 ゆきがた] is a city located in central Heisai Prefecture. As of 2022, it had a population of around 550,000, making it the largest city by population in the prefecture. Yukigata also has the highest population density out of all the cities in Heisai. On a local level, Yukigata is considered the heart of the prefecture, while the capital Senzan is the political centre.

## History

The area of present-day Yukigata was part of ancient Kantai Province, and the domain of the Senyama clan. The name of the city was for most of its history Kurogaku, meaning 'black castle', in reference to the (now-ruined) Kunzu Castle which served as the clan seat through the 1400-1600s. By the 19th century, however, the city had come under government control and the name was changed to Yukigata, a neutral moniker which conveniently erased any connotations of the settlement's feudal past.

Although starting out as a castle town, Yukigata soon became a flourishing centre for trade in the province, and also an agricultural hub. It was considered one of the best merchant cities by the late 1600s, its proximity to the Meisu River enabled goods and their vendors to travel by water in and out of the city. Using the plentiful irrigation provided by the Meisu and Sakatoshi Rivers, Yukigata expanded its rice and tea plantations. By the mid-18th century, the town was one of the top tea producers in Honzura.

The *daihora* Yūari Temple was built in Yukigata in the late 1200s by the Senyama, also serving as a monastery for the wider area. It remains a popular retreat for Kiren monks.

## Geography

Yukigata is located on the Kugata Valley plain in central Heisai, a well-irrigated and arable region. It borders the capital city Senzan to the east and Shinomi to the north-west. The southern district of the city lies on the banks of the Meisu River. Due north of the city, the Ryūgu Gorge forms a natural border with the city of Genzu on the Usamizu River. There is also a popular hot spring known as Yukigata Mizui in this region, around which a resort has been established.

The climate of Yukigata is temperate and warm, with mild winters. The city sees very little snowfall, although there is often a lot of ice later in the year, and in the summer the rainy season is harsh on crops.

## Economy

The pillars of Yukigata's economy are industry and agriculture. In particular, Yukigata is a centre for manufacturing machinery, wood-based products and chemicals; it is known as one of the top industrial producers in the Honzura region. Tourism contributes; Yukigata is rich in sightseeing spots and sees over 6 million tourists visiting annually. The Yukigata Thermal Power Station, a large coal-fired power station, is located in the city outskirts.

## Local attractions

The Yukigata Lantern Festival is an event held every November in the city centre, during which residents make and light lanterns, then parade through the streets while singing and dancing, and dressed in costumes. The Nonori-Kōki celebrations of New Year are popular in Yukigata. Other local attractions include:

* Yūari Temple
* Yukigata Danzai Festival
* Kunzu Castle
* Ryūgu Gorge
* Tōimachi - a preserved *senkō* district which retains traditional architecture
	+ Aodana - famous teahouse in Tōimachi
* Yukigata Mizui *reijo*
* STARHILL *kyōbun*
* Emperor Jisei Gardens