Hokuto, Yamanashi
Geography. Hokuto is located in far northwest Yamanashi Prefecture. Most of the area of the city is elevated highland and forested, with one third of the city located on the alpine southeastern slopes of Mount Yatsugatake, With a cooler alpine climate in summer, smaller towns such as Kiyosato are a popular location for second homes. Climate. The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification "Cfa"). The average annual temperature in Hokuto is 11.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1296 mm with September as the  wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.0 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Hokuto has remained relatively stable over the past 30 years. History. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was "tenryō" territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period on April 1, 1889, the rural district of Kitakoma was formed. The modern city of Hokuto was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Hakushū , Nagasaka, Sutama and Takane, and the villages of Akeno, Mukawa and Ōizumi (all from Kitakoma District). On March 15, 2006, Hokuto absorbed the town of Kobuchisawa (also from Kitakoma District). Kitakoma District was dissolved as a result of this merger. Government. Hokuto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. Economy. The economy of Hokuto is primarily agricultural, with seasonal tourism, precision manufacturing and food processing playing secondary roles.