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Fukaura

深浦町
Fukaura 深浦町
Town
	Ao-ike (the blue lake)
	Flag Seal
	Location of Fukaura in Aomori Prefecture
	Fukaura
	Coordinates: 40°38′52.3″N 139°55′39.1″E / 40.647861°N 139.927528°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Aomori
District	Nishitsugaru
Area
• Total	488.90 km2 (188.77 sq mi)
Population (January 31, 2023)
• Total	7,268
• Density	15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0173-74-2111
Address	84-2 Nashirozawa, Fukaura-machi, Nishitsugaru-gun, Aomori-ken 038-2324
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website
Symbols
Bird	Common gull
Flower	Far East Amur adonis
Tree	Siebold’s Beech

Fukaura (深浦町, Fukaura-machi) is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2023^[update], the town had an estimated population of 7,268 in 3553 households,^[1] and a population density of 15 persons per km². The total area of the town is 488.85 km² (188.75 sq mi).

Geography

Fukaura is in Nishitsugaru District, Aomori, and occupies the far southwestern coastline of Aomori Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan. The southwestern corner of the town is located within the borders of the Shirakami-Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and some coastal areas of the town are within the Tsugaru Quasi-National Park. The islets of Kyūroku-jima in the Sea of Japan are located within the boundaries of the town, giving it the westernmost point of Aomori Prefecture.^[2]

Neighbouring municipalities

Akita Prefecture
- Happō
Aomori Prefecture
- Ajigasawa

Climate

The town has a hot humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) bordering on humid subtropical climate (Cfa) characterized by warm short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Fukaura is 7.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1604 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.0 °C.^[3]

Climate data for Fukaura (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1940−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	14.1 (57.4)	19.9 (67.8)	19.7 (67.5)	25.6 (78.1)	28.9 (84.0)	29.6 (85.3)	35.1 (95.2)	37.9 (100.2)	34.4 (93.9)	30.6 (87.1)	22.1 (71.8)	19.7 (67.5)	37.9 (100.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	2.3 (36.1)	3.0 (37.4)	6.7 (44.1)	12.7 (54.9)	17.8 (64.0)	21.6 (70.9)	25.3 (77.5)	27.1 (80.8)	23.6 (74.5)	17.5 (63.5)	11.1 (52.0)	5.1 (41.2)	14.5 (58.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.0 (32.0)	0.3 (32.5)	3.2 (37.8)	8.5 (47.3)	13.5 (56.3)	17.5 (63.5)	21.7 (71.1)	23.2 (73.8)	19.5 (67.1)	13.6 (56.5)	7.9 (46.2)	2.4 (36.3)	10.9 (51.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−2.4 (27.7)	−2.2 (28.0)	0.1 (32.2)	4.5 (40.1)	9.6 (49.3)	14.1 (57.4)	18.7 (65.7)	20.0 (68.0)	15.9 (60.6)	10.0 (50.0)	4.7 (40.5)	−0.3 (31.5)	7.7 (45.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−10.5 (13.1)	−9.8 (14.4)	−8.8 (16.2)	−4.1 (24.6)	0.2 (32.4)	5.6 (42.1)	8.5 (47.3)	12.4 (54.3)	6.9 (44.4)	1.8 (35.2)	−5.8 (21.6)	−9.8 (14.4)	−10.5 (13.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	100.3 (3.95)	84.0 (3.31)	84.3 (3.32)	90.5 (3.56)	120.2 (4.73)	98.5 (3.88)	145.1 (5.71)	174.9 (6.89)	163.6 (6.44)	170.4 (6.71)	159.6 (6.28)	137.6 (5.42)	1,529 (60.20)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	80 (31)	66 (26)	27 (11)	1 (0.4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	4 (1.6)	50 (20)	226 (89)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	19.5	15.7	13.5	10.5	10.3	9.3	10.8	10.5	11.7	13.7	16.7	19.1	161.3
Average snowy days (≥ 1 cm)	20.2	17.5	8.3	0.4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.6	12.3	60.3
Average relative humidity (%)	70	69	67	69	76	82	85	83	80	74	70	70	75
Mean monthly sunshine hours	25.4	46.9	104.4	170.7	194.0	179.3	154.9	178.2	155.3	126.6	63.0	30.9	1,430.8
Source: JMA^[4]^[5]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[6] the population of Fukaura peaked at around the year 1960 and has decreased by more than half over the past 60 years. It is now considerably less than it was a century ago.

Historical population

Year

Pop.

±% p.a.

1920

11,706

—

1930

12,492

+0.65%

1940

13,804

+1.00%

1950

19,645

+3.59%

1960

19,842

+0.10%

1970

18,157

−0.88%

1980

15,445

−1.60%

1990

13,335

−1.46%

2000

11,799

−1.22%

2010

9,691

−1.95%

2020

7,346

−2.73%

History

The area around Fukaura was controlled by the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain during the Edo period. It became a village in Nishitsugaru District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, and was elevated to town status on April 1, 1926. On July 29, 1955, Fukura annexed the neighboring village of Otose. On March 31, 2005, it was merged with the neighboring village of Iwasaki.

Government

Fukaura has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town legislature of 12 members. Nishitsugaru District contributes one member to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Aomori 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Fukaura is heavily dependent on commercial fishing.

There is also a small tourism industry centered on the Shirakami Sanchi UNESCO World Heritage area, particularly the Juniko Lakes on its periphery.

Education

Fukaura has three public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education.