Introduction
For the geographical name of a part of Matsumoto Basin, see Azumidaira. For other uses, see Azumino (disambiguation).
City in Chūbu, JapanAzumino
安曇野市CityAzumino City Hall
FlagSealLocation of Azumino in Nagano PrefectureAzumino Coordinates: 36°18′14.17″N 137°54′20.81″E / 36.3039361°N 137.9057806°E / 36.3039361; 137.9057806CountryJapanRegionChūbu (Kōshin'etsu)PrefectureNaganoFirst official recorded83 AD (official estimated)Five municipalities were merged and city settledOctober 1, 2005Government • MayorHideki Nakayama (中山栄樹)- from January 2026Area • Total331.78 km2 (128.10 sq mi)Population (March 2019) • Total97,800 • Density295/km2 (763/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)Phone number0263-71-2000Address4932-26 Toyoshina, Azumino-shi, Nagano-ken 399-8205ClimateCfa/DfaWebsiteOfficial websiteSymbolsFlowerWasabiTreeZelkova serrata
Mount Jonen in Azumino
Azumino (安曇野市, Azumino-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2019[update], the city had an estimated population of 97,761 in 39744 households, and a population density of 290 persons per km2. Its total area is 331.78 square kilometres (128.10 sq mi).
Etymology
[edit]
Azumino is a combination of two words, "Azumi" and "no". "Azumi" comes from the Azumi people, who are said to have moved to the "no" (plain) in ancient times. The Azumi people originally lived in northern Kyushu, and were famed for their skills in fishing and navigation. "The Azumi people" can be translated as "the people who live on the sea." The reason why the seafaring people migrated to this mountainous region is a mystery.
Geography
[edit]
Azumino is located in the Azumino Plateau on the northwestern end of the Matsumoto Basin, between mountain ranges to the west and east. The range of mountains on the western border is known as the Northern Alps (Hida Mountains) and is popular among hikers all over Japan. To the south is the city of Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture's second largest city. To the north lies the city of Ōmachi, and north of Ōmachi is the village of Hakuba. Hakuba was the site of many of the ski events during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Mount Jōnen at 2,857 metres (9,373 ft) is the highest elevation in the city.
Surrounding municipalities[edit]
Nagano Prefecture
Chikuhoku
Ikeda
Ikusaka
Matsukawa
Matsumoto
Ōmachi
Climate[edit]
The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Azumino is 11.8 °C (53.2 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,108.7 mm (43.65 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.7 °C (76.5 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.8 °C (30.6 °F). The mountainous portions of the city are considered part of the snow country of Japan, with heavy accumulations of snow in winter.
Azumino city min/max temperature & rainfall
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
45
 
 
4
−5
 
 
46
 
 
6
−5
 
 
84
 
 
11
−1
 
 
84
 
 
18
4
 
 
96
 
 
23
10
 
 
124
 
 
26
15
 
 
146
 
 
30
20
 
 
107
 
 
31
20
 
 
156
 
 
26
16
 
 
127
 
 
20
9
 
 
58
 
 
14
2
 
 
38
 
 
7
−3
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mmSource: Japan Meteorological Agency
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.8
 
 
40
22
 
 
1.8
 
 
42
23
 
 
3.3
 
 
51
29
 
 
3.3
 
 
64
39
 
 
3.8
 
 
74
50
 
 
4.9
 
 
79
59
 
 
5.7
 
 
85
67
 
 
4.2
 
 
88
68
 
 
6.1
 
 
79
61
 
 
5
 
 
67
48
 
 
2.3
 
 
56
36
 
 
1.5
 
 
45
28
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Climate data for Hotaka, Azumino (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °C (°F)
17.9(64.2)
20.6(69.1)
27.3(81.1)
31.0(87.8)
34.5(94.1)
37.7(99.9)
37.8(100.0)
37.7(99.9)
36.1(97.0)
29.8(85.6)
24.8(76.6)
20.4(68.7)
37.8(100.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
4.3(39.7)
5.8(42.4)
10.7(51.3)
17.8(64.0)
23.4(74.1)
26.1(79.0)
29.6(85.3)
31.1(88.0)
25.9(78.6)
19.5(67.1)
13.5(56.3)
7.3(45.1)
17.9(64.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)
−0.8(30.6)
0.1(32.2)
4.1(39.4)
10.4(50.7)
16.2(61.2)
20.0(68.0)
23.8(74.8)
24.7(76.5)
20.2(68.4)
13.6(56.5)
7.2(45.0)
1.9(35.4)
11.8(53.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
−5.3(22.5)
−5.0(23.0)
−1.4(29.5)
3.8(38.8)
9.9(49.8)
15.1(59.2)
19.5(67.1)
20.2(68.4)
15.9(60.6)
8.9(48.0)
2.1(35.8)
−2.5(27.5)
6.8(44.2)
Record low °C (°F)
−16.7(1.9)
−17.1(1.2)
−12.8(9.0)
−7.5(18.5)
−0.5(31.1)
5.7(42.3)
12.0(53.6)
10.9(51.6)
3.8(38.8)
−1.8(28.8)
−6.2(20.8)
−14.2(6.4)
−17.1(1.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
45.4(1.79)
45.5(1.79)
83.8(3.30)
83.5(3.29)
95.6(3.76)
123.7(4.87)
145.5(5.73)
106.7(4.20)
155.8(6.13)
126.6(4.98)
58.4(2.30)
38.2(1.50)
1,108.7(43.65)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)
6.4
6.6
9.4
8.6
8.9
10.6
12.5
10.1
10.5
8.7
6.6
6.9
105.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours
139.9
148.3
172.1
193.9
201.6
149.0
151.2
184.3
131.4
137.1
135.1
130.2
1,874.1
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency
History
[edit]
The area of present-day Azumino was part of ancient Shinano Province. The area was part of the holdings of Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The modern city of Azumino was established on October 1, 2005, by the merger of the town of Akashina (from Higashichikuma District), the towns of Hotaka and Toyoshina, and the villages of Horigane and Misato (all from Minamiazumi District).
Demographics
[edit]
Per Japanese census data, the population of Azumino has recently plateaued after several decades of growth.
Historical populationYearPop.±% 1960 66,564—     1970 65,690−1.3% 1980 75,209+14.5% 1990 83,154+10.6% 2000 92,864+11.7% 2010 96,461+3.9% 2020 94,222−2.3%
Government
[edit]
Azumino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.
Education
[edit]
Azumino has ten public elementary schools and seven public middle schools. The city has four public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.
Transportation
[edit]
Railway[edit]
East Japan Railway Company - Ōito Line
Azusabashi - Hitoichiba - Nakagaya - Minami-Toyoshina - Toyoshina - Hakuyachō - Hotaka - Ariake - Azumi-Oiwake
East Japan Railway Company - Shinonoi Line
Tazawa - Akashina
Highway[edit]
Nagano Expressway
National Route 19
National Route 143
National Route 147
National Route 304
Sister cities
[edit]
Domestic[edit]
Misato, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture
Edogawa, Tokyo
Musashino, Tokyo
Manazuru, Kanagawa
Sangō, Nara
Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
International[edit]
- Kramsach, Austria, since November 25, 1993
- Collierville, Tennessee, United States
Local attractions
[edit]
Daio Wasabi Farm
Azumino is home to the world's largest wasabi farm, Daio Wasabi Farm.
Jōkyō Gimin Memorial Museum
Hotaka Jinja
Mount Jōnen
Mount Chō
Notable people
[edit]
Noriyasu Agematsu (born 1978), composer
Shogo Asada (born 1998), footballer
Hiroaki Asano (born 1978), volleyball player
Masaaki Iinuma (1912–1941), pilot and aviation pioneer
Kiyoshi Kiyosawa (1890–1945), journalist
Kei Kumai (1930–2007), film director
Gisiro Maruyama (1916–1986), mathematician
Rokuzan Ogiwara (1879–1910), sculptor
Michihiko Ohta (born 1964), singer-songwriter
Aizō Sōma (1870–1954), founded Nakamuraya
Tada Kasuke (?–1687), executed farmer
Shunsuke Mutai (born 1956), politician
Ryū Saitō (1879–1953), general
Yasuyoshi Shirasawa (1868–1947), botanist
Etsujirō Uehara (1877–1962), political scientist and politician
Bumpei Usui, a professional artist, came from Tōmi in Horikin Village, Minami Azumino County, Nagano Prefecture.
Yoshimi Usui (1905–1987), editor and writer
