Hayama, Kanagawa
Geography. Hayama is located at the northern end of Miura Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, it is often cited as the easternmost point of the Shōnan region. Surrounding municipalities. Kanagawa Prefecture Climate. Hayama has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen "Cfa") characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hayama is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1872 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around  6.4 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Hayama has grown relatively steadily until around the year 2000 and is now slightly declining. History. During the Edo period, all of eastern Sagami Province was "tenryō" territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and administered by various "hatamoto". With the establishment of the modern municipalities system the early Meiji period in April 1889, the area was reorganized into Hayama village through the merger of six hamlets. Hayama was elevated to town status in 1925. Government. Hayama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected  mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Hayama, together with neighboring Zushi, contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. Despite its lack of rail connections, Hayama is now primarily a commuter town for Tokyo and Yokohama and, due to its mild climate, a popular resort area with a marina. From the Meiji period it became a prestigious summer home location for the upper classes of Tokyo, partly due to the prestige of the Imperial  villa. In the postwar period, its popularity continued with actors, artists and wealthy expatriates. Local agricultural produce includes "shiitake" mushrooms, and a brand of beef known as "Hayama-gyu". Education. Hayama has four public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation. Railway. Hayama has no passenger rail service. The nearest train station is the Yokosuka Line Zushi Station or Keikyū Zushi Line Zushi·Hayama Station in neighboring Zushi.