Hamada, Shimane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hamada 浜田市
City
Hamada City Hall
Flag Emblem
Hamada Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'in)
Prefecture	Shimane
Area
• Total	689.68 km2 (266.29 sq mi)
Population  (May 31, 2023)
• Total	50,176
• Density	72.7526/km2 (188.428/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1 Tonomachi, Hamada-shi, Shimane-ken 697-8501
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Fish Blackthroat seaperch Flower Azalea Tree Cherry

Hamada (浜田市 (Hamada-shi)) is a city located in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of May 31, 2023, about 50,176 people lived in Hamada. The city covers an area of about 689.68 square kilometers (266.29 square miles). It is known for its beautiful coastline and mountains.

Geography of Hamada

Hamada is in the middle part of Shimane Prefecture. It faces the Sea of Japan to the north. This is a large ocean. To the south, you will find the Chugoku Mountains. These are tall and scenic mountains.

Neighboring Towns and Cities

Hamada shares its borders with a few other places. In Hiroshima Prefecture, it is next to Kitahiroshima. Within Shimane Prefecture, it borders Gōtsu, Masuda, and Ōnan.

Hamada's Climate

Hamada has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters. The temperature can reach about 38°C (100°F) in summer. In winter, it can drop to -5°C (23°F). The main city area near the coast sometimes gets snow in winter.

The mountainous areas inland get a lot of snow. They are home to some of the best ski resorts in the region. Late spring and early summer bring a rainy season. There are frequent light showers during the day. Spring and autumn in Hamada offer warm, sunny, and very comfortable weather.

Hamada is on the western coast of Japan. This location protects it from extreme weather like typhoons or big floods. Strong earthquakes are also rare in Shimane. One exception was the 1872 Hamada earthquake.

Hamada's Population

The population of Hamada was 54,592 people in 2020. Hamada has been counting its population since 1920.

History of Hamada

The area where Hamada is now was once the center of an old province called Iwami Province. You can still find the ruins of the Iwami Kokubun-ji temple within the city. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), this area was mostly controlled by the Hamada Domain. A "domain" was like a territory ruled by a powerful family. The Matsudaira clan ruled Hamada under the Tokugawa shogunate. The "shogunate" was the military government of Japan at that time.

Hamada was a strong supporter of the shogunate. This was especially true during the Bakumatsu period, which was a time of big changes in Japan. After the Meiji restoration in 1868, Japan changed its government. The town of Hamada was officially created on April 1, 1889. The city of Hamada was formed on November 3, 1940. This happened when Hamada merged with several villages: Iwami, Nagahama, Mikawa, and Sufu.

Later, on October 1, 2005, Hamada grew even bigger. It merged with the towns of Asahi, Kanagi, and Misumi. It also merged with the village of Yasaka. These places were all from Naka District. After these mergers, Naka District no longer existed.

Hamada's Economy

Hamada has many different types of businesses. Commercial fishing is very important here. People also work in agriculture, which means farming. There is also light manufacturing, which makes goods. And many people work in commerce, which means buying and selling things.

Education in Hamada

Hamada has many schools for children. The city government runs 16 public elementary schools. It also runs nine public junior high schools. For older students, the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education operates three public high schools.

The prefecture also has two special education schools for students with disabilities. Hamada is also home to the University of Shimane. This is a university where students can continue their studies after high school.

Transportation in Hamada

Railways

You can travel by train in Hamada. The JR West operates the San'in Main Line.

• Train stations include: Okami - Miho-Misumi - Orii - Sufu - Nishi-Hamada - Hamada - Shimokō - Kushiro

Highways

Major roads connect Hamada to other places.

• Hamada Expressway
• San'in Expressway
• National Route 9
• National Route 186

Ports

Hamada has an important port. A port is a place where ships can load and unload goods. Hamada's commercial port can handle very large ships. It can accept vessels up to 50,000 tons.

Sister Cities

Hamada has special friendships with cities in other countries. These are called "sister cities."

• Ningxia, China
• Rongcheng, Shandong, China

Fun Places to Visit in Hamada

Popular Sights

• Aquas is a large aquarium located just outside the city. It is the biggest aquarium in western Honshū, which is the main island of Japan.
• The Hamada Museum of Children's Art is close to the city center. It shows artwork made by children from all over the world. It also has art that kids will find interesting. The museum offers art classes and workshops for children.
• The ruins of Hamada Castle are on top of a hill. From there, you can see amazing views of Hamada city and the coast.
• Iwami Seaside Park is a big beach near Aquas. It has cabins, barbecue areas, and places to rent equipment for fun.
• Sufu Kofun is a National Historic Site. A "kofun" is an ancient burial mound.

Hamada's Culture and Festivals

Yearly Festivals

Hamada has many exciting festivals throughout the year.

Famous People from Hamada

• Meiji Hashimoto, a famous Japanese painter.
• Shigeo Ōdachi, a politician.
• Magoichi Tawara, a politician.

Images for kids

• 

  Iwami Tatami-ga-ura

• 

  Approx. 600-year-old cherry tree in Misumi. An area of western Hamada.

• 

  Downtown of Hamada city

• 

  Hamada Station

See also

In Spanish: Hamada (Shimane) para niños