Habikino (羽曳野市, Habikino-shi) is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2022[update], the city had an estimated population of 109,479 in 50918 households and a population density of 4100 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 26.45 square kilometres (10.21 sq mi). The city is known for its grapes, and also for its large number of ancient kofunburial mounds. The city is also sometimes referred to by its former name Minami-Osaka (南大阪).
Geography
Habikino is located in the southeastern part of Osaka Prefecture, in the Kawachi Plain surrounded by Ikoma, Kongō, and Katsuragi Mountains and Mount Nijō. It is within about 20 kilometers from the center of Osaka metropolis.
Habikino has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Habikino is 14.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1475 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.7 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Habikino increased rapidly from the 1960s through 1990s, and has leveled off since.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1960
36,982
—
1970
77,134
+108.6%
1980
103,181
+33.8%
1990
115,049
+11.5%
2000
119,264
+3.7%
2010
117,702
−1.3%
History
The area of the modern city of Habikino was within ancient Kawachi Province and is located on the route of the Take-no-uchi Kaidō, a highway which connected the ancient capitals of Asuka and Heijō-kyō with the coast. Numerous kofunburial mounds were built in the area during the Kofun period, including many attributed to early Emperors. During the Heian period, the area was controlled by the Kawachi Genji clan, the ancestors of the Minamoto clan who dominated Japan during the Kamakura period.
After the Meiji restoration, the area became part of Osaka Prefecture from 1881. The villages of Furuichi, Imagatani, and Nishiura were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1896 the area became part of Minamikawachi District, Osaka. Furuichi was elevated to town status on October 1, 1916. On September 30, 1956, Furuichi merged with the town of Takawashi and the villages of Nanyu, Nishiura, Imagatani, and Tanpi to form the town of Minami-Osaka (南大阪町). On April 1, 1957, Minami-Osaka annexed the neighboring village of Mihara. On January 15, 1959, Minami-Osaka was elevated to city status, and took the name of Habikino.
Government
Habikino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Habikino contributes one member to the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Osaka 14th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Habikino is a regional commercial center. It was traditionally known for grapes and figs. There is some light manufacturing, but agriculture remains central to the local economy.
Habikino has 13 public elementary schools, five public middle schools and one combined elementary/middle school operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Osaka Prefectural Department of Education.
From Furuichi Station in the east, buses carry passengers on routes to Habikigaoka, Shitennōji International Buddhist University, Momoyama-dai, and Fujiidera Station.
From Eganoshō Station in the west, there is a bus route to Kawachi-Matsubara Station which also covers Mihara-ku in Sakai.
