Yaotsu is located in south-central Gifu Prefecture, bordered by the Hida River to the north and the Kiso River to the south. Approximately 80% of the town area is forested. The town has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters . The average annual temperature in Yaotsu is 15.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2019 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 °C.
Neighbouring municipalities
Gifu Prefecture
*Ena
*Minokamo
*Kani
*Mizunami
*Kawabe
*Hichisō
*Shirakawa
*Mitake
Demographics
According to Japanese census data, the population of Yaotsu has decreased slightly over the past 40 years.
Census Year
Population
1970
16,396
1980
15,451
1990
14,731
2000
13,632
2010
12,045
History
The area around Yaotsu was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, the area was part of the territory controlled by Owari Domain under by the Tokugawa shogunate. With the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, Kamo District within Gifu Prefecture was created, and the town of Yaotsu was established on July 1, 1897 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Yaotsu annexed the neighbouring village of Chiwa in 1955 and villages of Kutami, Shionami and Fukuchi in 1956. A referendum to merge into the city ofMinokamo, was defeated in 2004.
Yaotsu does not have any passenger railway service.
Highway
Local attractions
Yaotsu Old Power Plant Museum
Futamata Tunnel, claimed to be a haunted location as it was constructed during World War II by Korean forced labor, some of whom died in the construction and whose bodies were allegedly buried in the walls.
Jindogaoka Park, commemorating Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara. Yaotsu formerly claimed it was the birthplace of Chiune Sugihara based on two handwritten notes, and applied for registration as a "Memory of the World" to UNESCO; however, it was later determined that these notes were false and a family register proved that Sugihara was actually born in Mujiri-gun Kurichi-cho
Pig cholera
Gifu Prefecture announced that it was infected with a domestic animal infectious disease "pig cholerr" although on November 26, 2018, it was found in a town wading field in the carcass of a wild boar. According to the prefecture, it is the first time that infected wild boar was found in the town. Neighbors found and delivered to the town. Because it was out of the area covered by the prefecture's survey, after examining the prefecture, we also conducted genetic tests at national research institutes, and both were positive. Furthermore, on December 2, it was also revealed that male wild boars captured by Kageuri trap in Yaotsu town were infected with swine fever.
Ya-o-chi
Ya-o-chi is a mascot created by the Yaotsu-cho village, Japan.
Local issues
Acute myocardial infarction
The mortality rate of acute myocardial infarction is 3.8 times the national average. Especially for women, it is 3.9 times very high, and it is the municipality with the highest mortality rate in municipalities with population over 10,000.
