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Hitoyoshi

人吉市
City
Kuma River running through the city
Kuma River running through the city
Flag of Hitoyoshi
Flag
 Official seal of Hitoyoshi
Emblem
Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto Prefecture Ja.svg
Hitoyoshi is located in Japan
Hitoyoshi
Hitoyoshi
Location in Japan
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Kumamoto Prefecture
Area
 • Total 210.55 km2 (81.29 sq mi)
Population
 (April 31, 2024)
 • Total 29,879
 • Density 141/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address 1578-1, Shimo-shiromoto-machi, Hitoyoshi-shi, Kumamoto-ken
868-8601
Climate Cfa
Symbols
Bird Japanese bush-warbler
Flower Ume
Tree Oak

Hitoyoshi (人吉市, Hitoyoshi-shi) is a city in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on February 11, 1942. As of April 2024 the city has an estimated population of 29,879 and a population density of 141 per km2. The total area is 210.55 km2.

It is famous for boat trips on the river and hot springs. Aoi Aso Shrine, one of the National Treasures of Japan, is located in Hitoyoshi.

It is bounded to the north, east, and west by towns of Kuma District, and to the south by Kagoshima Prefecture.

Commerce

Hitoyoshi City Office Kumamoto Japan
Hitoyoshi City Office

Hitoyoshi's main product is rice shochu (an indigenous spirit distilled from rice), or kuma-shochu, which is the official name of rice shochu produced in Kumamoto's Hitoyoshi and Kuma District. This shochu must be produced in these areas from Japanese rice and with water from the Kuma River, which runs through the town. The World Trade Organization granted kuma-shochu geographical indication status in 1994. The most popular brand is Hakutake Shiro, which currently holds 50% market share on all rice shochu sold in Japan. However, Takahashi Distillery, the producer of Hakutake Shiro, is just one of 28 distilleries in Hitoyoshi in the surrounding region that produce kuma-shochu.

Climate

Hitoyoshi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in the summer months, especially June and July.

Climate data for Hitoyoshi (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1943−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 22.3
(72.1)		 24.0
(75.2)		 26.9
(80.4)		 30.4
(86.7)		 34.0
(93.2)		 34.9
(94.8)		 37.0
(98.6)		 37.8
(100.0)		 36.4
(97.5)		 33.2
(91.8)		 27.6
(81.7)		 22.7
(72.9)		 37.8
(100.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.3
(50.5)		 12.4
(54.3)		 16.1
(61.0)		 21.3
(70.3)		 25.5
(77.9)		 27.3
(81.1)		 31.2
(88.2)		 32.3
(90.1)		 29.4
(84.9)		 24.4
(75.9)		 18.1
(64.6)		 12.2
(54.0)		 21.7
(71.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.7
(40.5)		 6.2
(43.2)		 9.8
(49.6)		 14.6
(58.3)		 19.1
(66.4)		 22.4
(72.3)		 26.1
(79.0)		 26.6
(79.9)		 23.6
(74.5)		 18.0
(64.4)		 11.9
(53.4)		 6.3
(43.3)		 15.8
(60.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.2
(32.4)		 1.0
(33.8)		 4.5
(40.1)		 8.9
(48.0)		 13.7
(56.7)		 18.7
(65.7)		 22.4
(72.3)		 22.8
(73.0)		 19.5
(67.1)		 13.3
(55.9)		 7.3
(45.1)		 1.9
(35.4)		 11.2
(52.1)
Record low °C (°F) −9.8
(14.4)		 −9.1
(15.6)		 −6.1
(21.0)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 3.0
(37.4)		 7.8
(46.0)		 15.0
(59.0)		 15.3
(59.5)		 7.4
(45.3)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −9.8
(14.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 75.4
(2.97)		 109.0
(4.29)		 160.7
(6.33)		 177.8
(7.00)		 215.6
(8.49)		 560.9
(22.08)		 491.0
(19.33)		 226.3
(8.91)		 229.3
(9.03)		 108.8
(4.28)		 96.9
(3.81)		 83.3
(3.28)		 2,535
(99.8)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 2
(0.8)		 2
(0.8)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1
(0.4)		 5
(2)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 8.0 9.0 11.5 10.5 9.7 15.9 14.0 12.2 10.6 7.2 8.5 8.2 125.3
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm) 0.6 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.2
Average relative humidity (%) 76 74 73 72 73 81 81 79 80 79 82 80 78
Mean monthly sunshine hours 123.0 133.9 161.6 175.8 182.1 117.1 167.2 183.5 156.5 163.6 125.6 118.6 1,808.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency

Transportation

Railway

JR logo (kyushu).svg JR Kyushu - Hisatsu Line

  • Nishi-Hitoyoshi - Hitoyoshi - Okoba - Yatake

Kumagawa Railroad - Yunomae Line

  • Hitoyoshi-Onsen - Sagarahan-Ganjōji

Highway

  • Kyushu Expressway: Hitoyoshi IC - Hitoyoshi-Kuma IC
  • National Route 219
  • National Route 221
  • National Route 267
  • National Route 445

Tourism

  • Hitoyoshi Station
  • Aoi Aso Shrine
  • SL Hitoyoshi
  • Hitoyoshi Castle
  • Kuma River (Japan)
    Aoi Aso Shrine
    Aoi Aso Shrine in Hitoyoshi
  • kuma River Rafting
  • KAJIYA-MACHI STREET
  • KOYA-MACHI
  • Sekaiichi Chiisana Bijutsukan Chobit
  • Eikokuji
  • MOZOKA station 868

Notable people from Hitoyoshi

  • Tetsuharu Kawakami, baseball player and manager
  • Miki Tori, manga artist
  • Teruyoshi Uchimura, comedian
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