Mitane, Akita
Geography. Mitane is located in northwestern Akita Prefecture, bordered by the Sea of Japan to the west. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Mitane peaked at around the year 1950 and has been in steady decline since then. Climate. Mitane has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification "Cfa") with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Mitane is 11.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is  1527 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.0 °C. History. The area of present-day Mitane was part of ancient Dewa Province, dominated by the Satake clan during the Edo period, who ruled Kubota Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. The area was organized into towns and villages within Yamamoto District, Akita with the establishment of the modern municipalities system in 1889. The town of Mitane was created on March 20, 2006, by merging the towns of Hachiryū, Koto'oka, and  Yamamoto. Economy. The economy of Mitane is based on agriculture. The town produces over 90% of the "junsai" sold commercially in Japan. The center of transportation and economy is the Shikato district in former Kotooka town. Education. Mitane has six public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school. Transportation. Railway. East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line