Editing Awaji, Hyōgo

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Awaji
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|淡路市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
| other_name = 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = Awaji montage.JPG
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = Top left:Nojima Fault, Top right:Akashi Strait Bridge and side of Honshu, 2nd left:Awaji Dream Stage theme park, 2nd right:Onokoro Theme Park, 3rd left:Peace Statue in Awaji Kannon Temple, 3rd right:Esaki Lighthouse, Bottom left:View of Ferriwheel in Awaji rest-house, Bottom right:Entrance in Honbuku Temple
| image_flag = Flag of Awaji Hyogo.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Awaji, Hyōgo.svg
| seal_type = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = Awaji in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Awaji in Hyōgo Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|34|26|N|134|55|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date = 
| extinct_title = Now part of
| extinct_date = 
| founder = 
| named_for = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Atsuhiro Toda (戸田敦大) from May 2025{{cn|date=April 2025}}
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 184.32
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total = 42,597
| population_as_of = June 1, 2022
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code = 
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 8 Ikuhoniijima, Awaji-shi, Hyōgo-ken 656-2292
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official website|1=http://www.city.awaji.lg.jp/}}
| footnotes = 
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Prunus serrulata]]
 | flower = [[Carnation]]
 | bird = [[Plover]]
 | flowering_tree = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
 | other_symbols = 
}}
}}
[[file:Awaji City Office 20160416.JPG|right|thumb|270px|Awaji City Hall]]
{{nihongo|'''Awaji'''|淡路市|Awaji-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located on [[Awaji Island]] in [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2022|06|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 42,597 and a [[population density]] of 230 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Awaji-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.awaji.lg.jp/soshiki/shimin/2005090030.html|title= Awaji city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|184.32|sqkm|sqmi}}.

==Geography==
The city of Awaji occupies the northern third of Awaji Island. It is connected to Kobe City to the north by the [[Akashi Kaikyo Bridge]], and is sandwiched between [[Osaka Bay]] and the Gulf of Harima on the [[Seto Inland Sea]]. There are no large rivers in the city, but there are many agricultural ponds. The Tsuna hills run through the center of the city, with Mount Myoken (522 meters) as the highest point. The [[Nojima Fault]] (the focus of the [[Great Hanshin earthquake]]) is located in the city.

=== Surrounding municipalities ===
Hyogo Prefecture
* [[Sumoto, Hyōgo|Sumoto]]

===Climate===
Awaji has a [[Humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall.  The average annual temperature in Awaji is 16.3&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1600&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.6&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 6.6&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/hyogo-prefecture/awaji-5365/ Awaji climate data]</ref>

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|location = '''Awaji city''', elevation 5 meters, 1981-2010)
|Jan record high C = 20.8
|Feb record high C = 22.0
|Mar record high C = 24.2
|Apr record high C = 28.7
|May record high C = 31.4
|Jun record high C = 34.2
|Jul record high C = 37.0
|Aug record high C = 38.2
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 31.1
|Nov record high C = 25.8
|Dec record high C = 23.6
|year record high C =
|Jan high C = 9.3
|Feb high C = 9.7
|Mar high C = 12.8
|Apr high C = 18.6
|May high C = 23.1
|Jun high C = 26.4
|Jul high C = 30.3
|Aug high C = 31.9
|Sep high C = 28.3
|Oct high C = 22.7
|Nov high C = 17.3
|Dec high C = 12.1
|year high C = 20.2
| Jan mean C = 5.6
| Feb mean C = 5.7
| Mar mean C = 8.4
| Apr mean C = 13.6
| May mean C = 18.2
| Jun mean C = 22.2
| Jul mean C = 26.2
| Aug mean C = 27.4
| Sep mean C = 24.0
| Oct mean C = 18.2
| Nov mean C = 12.9
| Dec mean C = 8.1
| year mean C = 15.9
|Jan low C = 1.5
|Feb low C = 1.4
|Mar low C = 3.6
|Apr low C = 8.4
|May low C = 13.4
|Jun low C = 18.5
|Jul low C = 22.9
|Aug low C = 23.8
|Sep low C = 20.2
|Oct low C = 13.8
|Nov low C = 8.4
|Dec low C = 3.8
|year low C = 11.7
|Jan record low C = -5.1
|Feb record low C = -5.2
|Mar record low C = -3.7
|Apr record low C = -0.9
|May record low C = 3.8
|Jun record low C = 9.4
|Jul record low C = 16.6
|Aug record low C = 16.7
|Sep record low C = 10.0
|Oct record low C = 3.9
|Nov record low C = 0.3
|Dec record low C = -4.3
|year record low C =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 33.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 50.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 82.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 89.3
|May precipitation mm = 120.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 157.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 115.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 89.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 145.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 101.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 69.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 38.7
|year precipitation mm = 1093.1
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 5.8
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.9
|Apr precipitation days = 9.0
|May precipitation days = 9.4
|Jun precipitation days = 11.6
|Jul precipitation days = 9.6
|Aug precipitation days = 5.9
|Sep precipitation days = 9.7
|Oct precipitation days = 8.1
|Nov precipitation days = 6.2
|Dec precipitation days = 5.7
|year precipitation days = 97.1
|Jan sun = 140.9
|Feb sun = 152.4
|Mar sun = 180.3
|Apr sun = 201.4
|May sun = 200.5
|Jun sun = 163.7
|Jul sun = 198.8
|Aug sun = 240.1
|Sep sun = 173.3
|Oct sun = 172.2
|Nov sun = 147.2
|Dec sun = 141.4
|year sun = 2110.3
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]] (JMA) (averages：1981-2010、peaks：1976-present)<ref>
  {{cite web
  | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=63&block_no=0970&year=&month=&day=&view=
  | title = 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
  | accessdate = 2021-01-02
  | publisher = JMA}}</ref><ref>
  {{cite web
  | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=63&block_no=0970&year=&month=&day=&view=
  | title = 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
  | accessdate = 2021-01-02
  | publisher = JMA}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-osaka.php Hyōgo population statistics]</ref> the population of Awaji has been declining steadily over the past 70 years.

{{Historical populations
| 1920 | 69948
| 1930 | 69667
| 1940 | 67926
| 1950 | 82874
| 1960 | 71378
| 1970 | 61675
| 1980 | 57650
| 1990 | 54643
| 2000 | 51884
| 2010 | 46465
|align       = none
| footnote = 
}}

==History==
The city of Awaji is situated in ancient [[Awaji Province]]. It was ruled as part of [[Tokushima Domain]] during the [[Edo period]]. After the [[Meiji restoration]], it became part of [[Tsuna District, Hyōgo]]. The town of Iwaya was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1956 Iwaya merged with the neighboring town of Kariya and the villages of Url and Hamaguchi to form the town of  [[Awaji, Hyōgo (town)|Awaji]]; however, on June 19, 1961 a portion of the town was separated to form the town of  [[Higashiura, Hyōgo|Higashiura]]. On April 1, 2005 Awaji and Higashiura merged back together, along with the towns of [[Tsuna, Hyōgo|Tsuna]], [[Hokudan, Hyōgo|Hokudan]] and [[Ichinomiya, Hyōgo (Tsuna)|Ichinomiya]] to form the city of Awaji.

==Government==
Awaji has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 18 members. Awaji contributes one member to the [[Hyogo Prefectural Assembly]]. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 9th district of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

==Economy==
The local economy is largely rural, and is based on agriculture and [[commercial fishing]]. Awaji has traditionally been famous for its production of [[joss sticks]], which in the early 1960s accounted for 70% of the Japanese domestic market. The production of [[roof tile]]s is also a local speciality.

==Education==
Awaji has 11 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There are also two private high schools. The [[Kansai University of Nursing and Health Sciences]] is located in Awaji.

The [[Ashiya University]] Awajishima Seaside Seminar Center, [[Kobe University]] Inland Sea Environment Education and Research Center and [[University of Hyogo]] Graduate School of Green Environment and Landscape Management are all located in Awaji.

The Awaji City Library serves Awaji. In 1999 this library and the West Bloomfield Library in [[West Bloomfield, Michigan]] in [[Metro Detroit]] were paired as sister institutions.<ref>Hubred-Golden, Joni. "[http://westbloomfield.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/students-from-japan-visit-west-bloomfield-library Students from Japan Visit West Bloomfield Library]." ''West Bloomfield Patch''. July 31, 2013. Retrieved on November 10, 2013.</ref>

== Transportation ==
=== Railway ===
Awaji does not have any passenger rail service.

=== Highways ===
* [[File:JP Expressway E28.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway]]
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|28}}

===Other===
Jointly with [[Minamiawaji, Hyōgo|Minami Awaji]] and [[Sumoto, Hyōgo|Sumoto]], the city operates a low-cost [[Electric bicycle|electric bike]] rental scheme, designed to attract visitors to stay for more than one day in order to explore the island.<ref>{{cite news  | title = Rental bicycles eyed to boost tourism  | newspaper = Yomiuri Shimbun  | location = Japan  | date = 19 July 2010  | url = http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/T100718001401.htm  | access-date = 2 August 2010}}</ref>

== Sister cities ==
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Paranaguá]], [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], [[Brazil]], since May 29, 1986
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[St. Marys, Ohio]], [[United States]], since August 3, 2006

==Local attractions==
[[File:Westin Awaji Island Hotel 02.jpg|thumb|[[Awaji Yumebutai]]]]
*[[Akashi Kaikyo Bridge]]
*Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park
*Awaji World Park Onokoro
*[[Awaji Yumebutai]] ([[Kiseki No Hoshi Greenhouse]])
*[[Esaki Lighthouse]]
*[[Funaki Site]], National Historic Site
*[[Gossa Kaito Site]], National Historic Site
*Honpuku-ji Temple
*[[Izanagi Shrine|Izanagi Jingū]],  ''[[ichinomiya]]'' of Awaji Province
*[[Matsuho Battery Site]], National Historic Site

==Notable people from Awaji==
* [[Toshio Iue]], inventor and industrialist
* [[Takashi Sasano]], actor
* [[Tetsuya Watari]], actor
* [[Harukichi Yamaguchi]], yakuza

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline|Awaji, Hyogo|Awaji, Hyōgo}}
* [http://www.city.awaji.lg.jp/ Awaji City official website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Portal|Japan}}
{{Hyogo}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awaji, Hyogo}}
[[Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Awaji, Hyōgo| ]]