Yazu is located to the far east of Tottori Prefecture. Its highest peak is Ōginosen (1,309.9 metres or 4,298 feet), which is located on the border of the city of Tottori, the towns of Misasa and Chizu, as well as Shin'onsen in Hyōgo Prefecture. Ōginosen is part of the Daisen Volcanic Belt. The mountain is part of Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park, and has facilities for skiing and camping.[2] The Hattō River (39.1 metres (128 ft)), the largest tributary of the Sendai River, flows through Yazu, as does a smaller tributary, the Kisaichi River (28.1 metres (92 ft)), which traces its origin to Ōginosen.[3][4]
Yazu has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with moderate snowfall. The average annual temperature in Yazu is 13.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1851 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 21.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.1 °C.[5]
Demography
Per Japanese census data,[6] the population of Yazu has been as follows:
Yazu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 18 members headed by a chairperson and vice-chairperson.[9] Yazu, collectively with the other municipalities of Yazu District, contributes two members to the Tottori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tottori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.