Ibigawa (揖斐川町, Ibigawa-chō) is a town located in Ibi District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2018, the town had an estimated population of 21,319 in 8,015 households [1] and a population density of 27 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 803.44 square kilometres (310.21 sq mi).

Ibigawa
揖斐川町
Ibigawa Town Hall
Ibigawa Town Hall
Flag of Ibigawa
Official seal of Ibigawa
Location of Ibigawa in Gifu Prefecture
Location of Ibigawa in Gifu Prefecture
Ibigawa is located in Japan
Ibigawa
Ibigawa
 
Coordinates: 35°29′14.2″N 136°34′6.9″E / 35.487278°N 136.568583°E / 35.487278; 136.568583
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu
PrefectureGifu
DistrictIbi
Government
 • MayorTakao Sōmiya
Area
 • Total803.44 km2 (310.21 sq mi)
Population
 (December 1, 2018)
 • Total21,319
 • Density27/km2 (69/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0585-22-2111
AddressMiwa 133, Ibigawa-chō, Ibi-gun, Gifu-ken 501-0692
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerPrunus persica
TreeJapanese Zelkova

Geography

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Ibigawa is located in far western Gifu Prefecture, bordering on Shiga Prefecture to the west and Fukui Prefecture to the north. The Ibi River flows through the town, which is located in a hilly to mountainous area. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō Quasi-National Park.

Climate

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The town has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Ibigawa is 15.5 °C (59.9 °F). The average annual rainfall is 2,517.6 mm (99.12 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.6 °C (81.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.8 °C (38.8 °F).[2] The mountainous areas of the town are noted for extremely heavy snow in winter.

Climate data for Ibigawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.7
(63.9)
20.3
(68.5)
26.0
(78.8)
31.2
(88.2)
34.5
(94.1)
36.4
(97.5)
39.6
(103.3)
39.6
(103.3)
38.2
(100.8)
32.6
(90.7)
25.6
(78.1)
21.9
(71.4)
39.6
(103.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)
9.4
(48.9)
13.4
(56.1)
19.4
(66.9)
24.5
(76.1)
27.7
(81.9)
31.4
(88.5)
33.0
(91.4)
28.8
(83.8)
23.3
(73.9)
17.1
(62.8)
10.9
(51.6)
20.6
(69.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.8
(38.8)
4.6
(40.3)
8.2
(46.8)
13.8
(56.8)
18.9
(66.0)
22.7
(72.9)
26.4
(79.5)
27.6
(81.7)
23.8
(74.8)
18.0
(64.4)
11.8
(53.2)
6.2
(43.2)
15.5
(59.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0)
0.3
(32.5)
3.3
(37.9)
8.5
(47.3)
13.8
(56.8)
18.5
(65.3)
22.7
(72.9)
23.7
(74.7)
19.9
(67.8)
13.7
(56.7)
7.3
(45.1)
2.3
(36.1)
11.2
(52.1)
Record low °C (°F) −7.0
(19.4)
−8.2
(17.2)
−6.2
(20.8)
−0.4
(31.3)
4.4
(39.9)
11.4
(52.5)
16.1
(61.0)
16.4
(61.5)
10.7
(51.3)
2.7
(36.9)
−1.3
(29.7)
−5.9
(21.4)
−8.2
(17.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 108.8
(4.28)
105.8
(4.17)
171.7
(6.76)
224.1
(8.82)
279.0
(10.98)
302.5
(11.91)
379.4
(14.94)
213.9
(8.42)
312.5
(12.30)
184.3
(7.26)
112.1
(4.41)
120.8
(4.76)
2,517.6
(99.12)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 12.5 10.9 11.7 10.4 10.4 12.8 14.1 11.8 12.3 9.3 9.5 13.2 138.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 136.9 147.3 183.7 196.7 197.5 149.7 156.9 192.4 155.5 160.3 143.4 131.7 1,951.7
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Neighbouring municipalities

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Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Ibigawa has declined over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 29,979—    
1980 31,171+4.0%
1990 29,156−6.5%
2000 27,453−5.8%
2010 23,784−13.4%
2020 19,529−17.9%

History

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The area around Ibigawa was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, it initially part of a 30,000 koku domain controlled by the Nishio clan, but from 1623 was divided between territory controlled by Owari Domain and tenryō holdings directly controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate. During the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, the area was organised into Ibi District, Gifu Prefecture. The town of Ibigawa was formed on July 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

On January 31, 2005 the former villages of Fujihashi, Kasuga, Kuze, Sakauchi, and Tanigumi merged with Ibigawa, resulting in a nearly 20-fold increase in area.

Education

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Ibigawa has six public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Railway

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Highway

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References

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  1. ^ Ibigawa Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  3. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Ibigawa population statistics
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