Miyota (御代田町, Miyota-machi) is a town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2019[update], the town had an estimated population of 15,562 in 6897 households,[1] and a population density of 260 persons per km². The total area of the town is 58.79 square kilometres (22.70 sq mi).
Geography
Miyota is located on the eastern border of Nagano Prefecture with Gumma Prefecture. Mount Asama (2568 meters) is within the town's northern borders.
The town has a humid continental climate characterized by warm and humid summers, and cold winters with heavy snowfall (Köppen climate classificationDfb). The average annual temperature in Miyota is 8.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1291 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 21.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around -4.0 °C.[2]
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Miyota has nearly doubled over the past 60 years.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1940
7,942
—
1950
11,094
+39.7%
1960
8,145
−26.6%
1970
8,708
+6.9%
1980
9,851
+13.1%
1990
11,895
+20.7%
2000
13,412
+12.8%
2010
14,741
+9.9%
2020
15,555
+5.5%
History
The area of present-day Miyota was part of ancient Shinano Province, and was the site of the Battle of Odaihara during the Sengoku period. As Otai-shuku, it developed as a post station on the Nakasendo highway connecting Edo with Kyoto during the Edo period. The village of Miyota was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It merged with the villages of Onuma and Goka to form the town of Miyota on September 30, 1956.
Politics and government
Miyota is governed by a town council with 14 members.
