Town in Kyushu, Japan
Shiroishi (白石町, Shiroishi-chō) is a town located in south-central Saga Prefecture, Japan, in Kishima District. It is known for its vast reclaimed land and tidal flats of the Ariake Sea.
As of October 1, 2016, the town has an estimated population of 23,606.
On January 1, 2005 Shiroshi absorbed the towns of Fukudomi and Ariake, all from Kishima District, to become the new and expanded town of Shiroshi.
Geography
Terrain
Located in the Saga plains, Shiroishi is bordered by the Ariake Sea to the southeast. The port of Suminoe Bay, in the mouth of the Rokkaku River, has the largest tidal range in Japan with a maximum of about 6m at spring tide.
- Mountains: Mt. Kishima (345m), Mt. Inuyama (342m), Mt. Shiraiwa (340m), Mt. Iimori (318m)
- Rivers: Rokkaku River, Shioda River, Marie River, Tadae River
- Lakes: Nuinoike, Kasegawaike
- 85% of the total area of cultivated land is farmland.
Climate
- Annual Mean Air Temperature: 16.0 °C (60.8 °F)
- Annual Mean Precipitation: about 1,450 mm (57 in)
| Climate data for Shiroishi, Saga (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °C (°F)
|
20.3
(68.5)
|
22.9
(73.2)
|
24.6
(76.3)
|
31.5
(88.7)
|
35.9
(96.6)
|
37.5
(99.5)
|
39.0
(102.2)
|
38.6
(101.5)
|
36.3
(97.3)
|
33.1
(91.6)
|
26.9
(80.4)
|
24.2
(75.6)
|
39.0
(102.2)
|
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
9.9
(49.8)
|
11.5
(52.7)
|
15.1
(59.2)
|
20.5
(68.9)
|
25.5
(77.9)
|
28.0
(82.4)
|
31.3
(88.3)
|
32.7
(90.9)
|
29.1
(84.4)
|
24.2
(75.6)
|
18.1
(64.6)
|
12.2
(54.0)
|
21.5
(70.7)
|
| Daily mean °C (°F)
|
5.0
(41.0)
|
6.2
(43.2)
|
9.6
(49.3)
|
14.5
(58.1)
|
19.3
(66.7)
|
23.1
(73.6)
|
27.0
(80.6)
|
27.6
(81.7)
|
23.8
(74.8)
|
18.1
(64.6)
|
12.3
(54.1)
|
7.0
(44.6)
|
16.1
(61.0)
|
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
0.6
(33.1)
|
1.3
(34.3)
|
4.3
(39.7)
|
8.8
(47.8)
|
13.8
(56.8)
|
19.2
(66.6)
|
23.6
(74.5)
|
24.0
(75.2)
|
19.7
(67.5)
|
13.1
(55.6)
|
7.3
(45.1)
|
2.4
(36.3)
|
11.5
(52.7)
|
| Record low °C (°F)
|
−9.6
(14.7)
|
−6.4
(20.5)
|
−4.3
(24.3)
|
−1.8
(28.8)
|
3.9
(39.0)
|
8.5
(47.3)
|
15.5
(59.9)
|
16.6
(61.9)
|
7.0
(44.6)
|
1.5
(34.7)
|
−1.5
(29.3)
|
−5.4
(22.3)
|
−9.6
(14.7)
|
| Average precipitation mm (inches)
|
53.7
(2.11)
|
71.3
(2.81)
|
109.8
(4.32)
|
145.1
(5.71)
|
154.9
(6.10)
|
309.5
(12.19)
|
354.0
(13.94)
|
219.4
(8.64)
|
171.2
(6.74)
|
88.8
(3.50)
|
85.9
(3.38)
|
59.4
(2.34)
|
1,822.8
(71.76)
|
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)
|
8.1
|
8.3
|
10.1
|
9.3
|
8.9
|
13.2
|
12.9
|
10.0
|
9.0
|
6.2
|
8.2
|
7.8
|
112
|
| Mean monthly sunshine hours
|
117.3
|
128.1
|
158.3
|
177.9
|
187.2
|
115.4
|
161.7
|
199.6
|
159.7
|
168.6
|
139.8
|
121.2
|
1,834.7
|
| Source: JMA[1][2]
|
Adjoining Cities and Municipalities
Demographics
27.01% of the population (7,437) are 65 or older. In 2005 there were 183 births and 322 deaths, 624 immigrants and 805 emigrants, indicating a negative population growth.
Economy
Agriculture
Shiroishi is a very agricultural community.[3] Some of their agricultural products include tempe, renkon, strawberries, onions, rice, and beef.[4]
Transportation
Air
The closest airports are Saga Airport and Fukuoka Airport.
Rail
Roads
