Shin'onsen has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shin'onsen is 12.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1841 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.8 °C.[3]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Shin'onsen peaked in the 1950s, and has been declining since.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
26,952
—
1930
25,937
−3.8%
1940
25,560
−1.5%
1950
29,788
+16.5%
1960
27,701
−7.0%
1970
22,961
−17.1%
1980
21,514
−6.3%
1990
20,226
−6.0%
2000
18,601
−8.0%
2010
16,014
−13.9%
History
The area of the modern town of Shin'onsen was within ancient Tajima Province, and corresponds almost directly to the area of ancient Futakata District. In the Edo Period, it was divided between an area was controlled by Toyooka Domain, and by tenryo territory under direct administration of the Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Onsen and Nishihama and were established within Mikata District with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On December 11, 1891, Nishihama was raised to town status and renamed Hamasaka. On October 1, 2005, Onsen and Hamasaka merger to form the town of Shin'onsen.
Government
Shin'onsen has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Shin'onsen, together with the town of Kami contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Hyōgo 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Shin'onsen has a mixed economy of commercial fishing, agriculture and tourism. The town is known for its hot spring resorts and also for the production of "Tajima beef".
Education
Shin'onsen has six public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education.