Takachiho, Miyazaki

Takachiho (高千穂町, Takachiho-chō) is a town in Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. As of October 1, 2019, the town has an estimated population of 11,959 and a density of 50.3 persons per km². The total area is 237.54 km².

Takachiho
高千穂町
Town
Flag of Takachiho
Flag
Official seal of Takachiho
Chapter
Location of Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture
Location of Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture
Takachiho is located in Japan
Takachiho
Takachiho
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°43′N 131°18′E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureMiyazaki Prefecture
DistrictNishiusuki
Government
 • MayorShingo Uchikura (内倉信吾)
Area
 • Total237.54 km2 (91.71 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2019)
 • Total11,959
 • Density50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address13 Ōaza Mitai, Takachiho-chō, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki-ken
882-1192
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.town-takachiho.jp
Symbols
BirdMeadow bunting
FlowerWisteria
TreeOgatama-no-ki

Geography

Takachiho is in the northernmost part of Miyazaki Prefecture, bordering Kumamoto Prefecture on its north and northwest sides and Ōita Prefecture on its north and northeast sides. The Gokase River flows from the west to the southeast part of town.

The heart of the town is at its center, around the now-defunct Takachiho Station and the business office of Takachiho Kotsu, the town's public transportation company. Takachiho Gorge, in the southern part of town, is fairly famous as a tourist attraction.

Takachiho is about 120 km northwest of the prefectural capital of Miyazaki and about 80 km southeast of the city of Kumamoto. Due to no public transportation facilities, nor any national highways to Miyazaki, it takes about three hours to get there.

Neighboring municipalities
The cave at Ama-no-Iwato Shrine

Climate

Takachiho has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Takachiho is 14.4 °C (57.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,361.8 mm (92.98 in) with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.0 °C (77.0 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.7 °C (38.7 °F).[1] The highest temperature ever recorded in Takachiho was 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) on 16 July 2006; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −11.1 °C (12.0 °F) on 19 February 1977.[2]

Climate data for Takachiho (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.4
(68.7)		 22.7
(72.9)		 27.8
(82.0)		 29.5
(85.1)		 33.0
(91.4)		 34.1
(93.4)		 37.3
(99.1)		 36.9
(98.4)		 35.1
(95.2)		 30.6
(87.1)		 28.0
(82.4)		 22.8
(73.0)		 37.3
(99.1)
Average high °C (°F) 9.3
(48.7)		 11.1
(52.0)		 14.9
(58.8)		 20.0
(68.0)		 24.1
(75.4)		 26.0
(78.8)		 29.8
(85.6)		 30.6
(87.1)		 27.5
(81.5)		 22.8
(73.0)		 17.2
(63.0)		 11.5
(52.7)		 20.4
(68.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.7
(38.7)		 5.0
(41.0)		 8.4
(47.1)		 13.2
(55.8)		 17.6
(63.7)		 20.9
(69.6)		 24.7
(76.5)		 25.0
(77.0)		 21.8
(71.2)		 16.2
(61.2)		 10.6
(51.1)		 5.4
(41.7)		 14.4
(57.9)
Average low °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 2.7
(36.9)		 7.1
(44.8)		 12.0
(53.6)		 17.0
(62.6)		 21.1
(70.0)		 21.4
(70.5)		 17.6
(63.7)		 11.2
(52.2)		 5.3
(41.5)		 0.3
(32.5)		 9.5
(49.2)
Record low °C (°F) −9.7
(14.5)		 −11.1
(12.0)		 −6.6
(20.1)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 0.5
(32.9)		 7.3
(45.1)		 11.1
(52.0)		 13.0
(55.4)		 5.5
(41.9)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −3.7
(25.3)		 −8.2
(17.2)		 −11.1
(12.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 59.7
(2.35)		 80.4
(3.17)		 121.9
(4.80)		 126.6
(4.98)		 164.2
(6.46)		 419.5
(16.52)		 403.1
(15.87)		 324.5
(12.78)		 380.7
(14.99)		 145.1
(5.71)		 78.2
(3.08)		 57.9
(2.28)		 2,361.8
(92.98)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.0 8.7 11.7 10.8 10.5 16.0 14.1 13.6 12.1 8.0 7.5 7.1 127.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 131.3 135.8 161.3 180.3 177.8 116.7 154.3 170.8 143.8 160.6 138.7 137.7 1,809.2
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[2][1]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Takachiho in 2020 is 11,642 people.[3] Takachiho has been conducting censuses since 1960.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 27,052—    
1965 24,757−8.5%
1970 22,131−10.6%
1975 20,523−7.3%
1980 19,957−2.8%
1985 19,170−3.9%
1990 18,093−5.6%
1995 16,780−7.3%
2000 15,843−5.6%
2005 14,778−6.7%
2010 13,723−7.1%
2015 12,755−7.1%
2020 11,642−8.7%
Takachiho population statistics[3]

History

During World War Two, the 2nd Raiding Brigade trained in the town and were sometimes known as the Takachiho paratroopers.[4]

View of Takachiho

Mythology

According to Japanese mythology, Takachiho is the land where Ninigi descended from the heavens, sent by Amaterasu, the sun goddess. It contains the Ama-no-Iwato shrine which is, according to myth, the location of the cave where Amaterasu hid until Ame-no-Uzume lured her out.

Education

Prefectural high schools
  • Takachiho High School

Junior high schools
  • Takachiho Junior High School
  • Tabaru Junior High School
  • Iwato Junior High School
  • Kamino Junior High School

Elementary schools
  • Takachiho Elementary School
  • Oshikata Elementary School
  • Tabaru Elementary School
  • Iwato Elementary School
  • Kamino Elementary School

Transportation

Air

The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport.

Rail

Road

Scenic and historic places
Takachiho-kyo (gorge) and Manai waterfall

Takachiho is the heart of the Himuka Myth Road, which extends throughout Miyazaki.

References
  1. 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  2. 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  3. Takachiho population statistics
  4. Prefer, Nathan N. (2012-12-07). Leyte, 1944: The Soldiers' Battle. Casemate. ISBN 978-1-61200-155-5.
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