Ichinoseki is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan., the city had a population of 114,476 and a population density of 91 persons per km² in 46,375 households. It is currently the second largest city by population in the prefecture, after Morioka. The total area of the city was.
Geography
Ichinoseki is located inland in the south of Iwate Prefecture, a little over two hours north of Tokyo by the Tōhoku Shinkansen. A large volume of extremely stable granite rock runs beneath the city, and is the center of the site is being promoted as a suitable location for construction of the International Linear Collider.
Neighboring municipalities
Iwate Prefecture
Ōshū
Rikuzentakata
Sumita
Hiraizumi
Miyagi Prefecture
Kesennuma
Kurihara
Tome
Akita Prefecture
Higashinaruse
Climate
Ichinoseki has a humid climate with warm summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Ichinoseki is 10.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1248 mm with September as the wettest month and January as the driest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.5 °C.
Demographics
The agricultural makeup of the city outside the centre is mostly composed of farmers, leading to an influx of Chinese and Filipino immigrants due to marriage. As a result, Ichinoseki has a varied ethnic makeup, although the newcomers still remain a small minority. Per Japanese census data, the population of Ichinoseki peaked in the 1950s, has declined over the past 70 years.
History
The area of present-day Ichinoseki was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Japanese Paleolithic period. The area was inhabited by the Emishi people, and came under the control of the Yamato dynasty during the early Heian period. During the Heian period, it was controlled by the Abe clan, followed by the Northern Fujiwara clan of Hiraizumi. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by various samurai clans before coming under the control of the Date clan during the Edo period, who ruled Sendai Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. A portion of the present city was part of Ichinoseki Domain, a sub-domain of Sendai Domain. The town of Ichinoseki was established within Nishiiwai District, Iwate on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipality system. It was raised to city status on April 1, 1948 by the merger of the towns of Ichinoseki and Yamame with the villages of Mataki and Nakasato.
January 1, 1955 - Ichinoseki absorbed the villages of Genbi, Hagisho, Maikawa, and Yasakae
September 1, 1956 - Due to a boundary adjustment, the city absorbed parts of the town of Hiraizumi.
May 1, 1964 - Due to a boundary adjustment, the city absorbed more of the town of Hiraizumi.
September 20, 2005 - the towns of Daitō, Higashiyama and Senmaya, the villages of Kawasaki and Murone, and the town of Hanaizumi were merged with the city of Ichinoseki, which approximately doubled the old city's population and nearly tripled its size.
September 26, 2011 - the town of Fujisawa was merged into Ichinoseki. Higashiiwai District was dissolved as a result of this merger.
Ichinoseki is in close proximity to the historically significant site of Hiraizumi, which lies adjacent to the mid-northern border of the city. Ichinoseki station is a convenient transit hub for excursions to Hiraizumi, with access to Tōhoku Shinkansen and local rail lines.
Geibikei is a dramatic river gorge which offers rides in traditional flat-bottomed boats, navigated by singing "gondoliers".
Genbikei is another popular river area with naturally carved cliffs.
