Matsuzaki (松崎町, Matsuzaki-chō) is a town located in on the southwest coast of Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2019, the town had an estimated population of 6,563 in 2969 households,[1] and a population density of 77 persons per km². The total area of the town is 85.23 square kilometres (32.91 sq mi). Sakuramochi is a noted local specialty. Matsuzaki is listed as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.[2]

Matsuzaki
松崎町
Namakokabe-style house typical of Matsuzaki
Namakokabe-style house typical of Matsuzaki
Flag of Matsuzaki
Official seal of Matsuzaki
Map
Location of Matsuzaki in Shizuoka Prefecture
Location of Matsuzaki in Shizuoka Prefecture
Matsuzaki is located in Japan
Matsuzaki
Matsuzaki
 
Coordinates: 34°45′N 138°47′E / 34.750°N 138.783°E / 34.750; 138.783
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu
Tōkai
PrefectureShizuoka
DistrictKamo
Area
 • Total
85.23 km2 (32.91 sq mi)
Population
 (July 31, 2019)
 • Total
6,563
 • Density77/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number0558-42-1111
Address301-1 Miyauchi, Matsuzaki-chō, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka-ken 410-3696
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerFarfugium
TreePine
Matsuzaki Town Hall

Geography

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Matsuzaki is located on the southwest coast of Izu Peninsula, facing Suruga Bay on the Pacific Ocean. It is a hilly region with an indented ria coastline. The area has numerous hot springs. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. Parts of the town are within the borders of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Neighboring municipalities

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Shizuoka Prefecture

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Matsuzaki has been in slow decline over the past 50 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1940 11,480—    
1950 14,162+23.4%
1960 12,183−14.0%
1970 10,425−14.4%
1980 10,013−4.0%
1990 9,266−7.5%
2000 8,515−8.1%
2010 7,642−10.3%

Climate

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The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Matsuzaki is 16.4 °C (61.5 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,962.1 mm (77.25 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C (79.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around 7.0 °C (44.6 °F).[4]

Climate data for Matsuzaki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.0
(66.2)
22.0
(71.6)
24.4
(75.9)
27.6
(81.7)
29.4
(84.9)
35.0
(95.0)
36.0
(96.8)
37.0
(98.6)
34.7
(94.5)
31.0
(87.8)
27.4
(81.3)
23.3
(73.9)
37.0
(98.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 11.4
(52.5)
12.1
(53.8)
15.0
(59.0)
19.3
(66.7)
23.4
(74.1)
25.7
(78.3)
29.3
(84.7)
31.0
(87.8)
28.1
(82.6)
23.5
(74.3)
18.7
(65.7)
13.9
(57.0)
21.0
(69.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 7.0
(44.6)
7.5
(45.5)
10.3
(50.5)
14.5
(58.1)
18.4
(65.1)
21.7
(71.1)
25.4
(77.7)
26.5
(79.7)
23.5
(74.3)
18.7
(65.7)
13.9
(57.0)
9.3
(48.7)
16.4
(61.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8)
2.3
(36.1)
5.0
(41.0)
9.2
(48.6)
13.7
(56.7)
18.4
(65.1)
22.3
(72.1)
23.1
(73.6)
19.8
(67.6)
14.4
(57.9)
9.2
(48.6)
4.4
(39.9)
12.0
(53.6)
Record low °C (°F) −5.9
(21.4)
−6.0
(21.2)
−4.4
(24.1)
−1.1
(30.0)
4.6
(40.3)
10.4
(50.7)
12.5
(54.5)
16.5
(61.7)
8.7
(47.7)
3.7
(38.7)
−0.7
(30.7)
−6.6
(20.1)
−6.6
(20.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 73.9
(2.91)
97.4
(3.83)
161.1
(6.34)
174.1
(6.85)
182.0
(7.17)
231.6
(9.12)
246.4
(9.70)
153.7
(6.05)
238.9
(9.41)
198.1
(7.80)
131.2
(5.17)
73.8
(2.91)
1,962.1
(77.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.5 6.8 10.4 9.9 10.5 12.3 10.9 7.4 11.0 9.9 8.4 6.8 110.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 185.4 175.4 180.1 192.4 194.7 135.3 161.5 211.3 163.1 158.2 161.7 178.2 2,096.4
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][4]

History

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During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Matsuzaki Town consisted of 21 villages. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was divided into 11 villages within Kamo District, and 10 villages within Naka District. After the abolishment of Naka District, all 21 villages were reunited under Kamo District. Matsuzaki Village was elevated to town status in 1901. The town annexed neighboring Nakagawa Village in 1955 and Iwashina Village in 1956.

Around March 31, 2010, the city of Shimoda and three municipalities in Kamo District (Kawazu, Matsuzaki, and Minamiizu) were scheduled to merge.[6] However, the merger backed out.

Economy

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The economy of Matsuzaki is dominated by commercial fishing, forestry and the tourist industry centered on hot spring resorts. Some 64% of the area is forest.

Education

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Matsuzaki has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

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Highway

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Notable people from Matsuzaki

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  • Yoda Benzō - Hokkaido pioneer
  • Irie Chōhachi - artist
  • Kondō Heisaburō - pharmacologist
  • Rentarō Mikuni - actor
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References

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  1. ^ Matsuzaki Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. ^ The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan Archived 2015-02-15 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  3. ^ Matsuzaki population statistics
  4. ^ a b 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  5. ^ 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "市町村合併情報 静岡県 <国土地理協会>". Archived from the original on 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
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