Hirata

Geography

Hirata is located in southeast Fukushima prefecture, approximately halfway between the cities of Iwaki and Kōriyama. The landscape consists of rolling hills with an altitude of between 500 and 700 meters.

Rivers: Abukuma River

Neighboring municipalities

Fukushima Prefecture

Furudono

Ishikawa

Iwaki

Kōriyama

Ono

Sukagawa

Tamakawa

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hirata peaked at around the year 1950 and has been gradually declining since.

Climate

Hirata has a humid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Hirata is 10.6 °C (51.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,412 mm (55.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.0 °C (73.4 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.6 °C (30.9 °F).

History

The area of present-day Hirata was part of ancient Mutsu Province. During the Edo period it was mostly the territory of Tsuchiura Domain. After the Meiji Restoration, it was organized as part of Ishikawa District within the Nakadōri region of Iwaki Province. The villages of Odaira and Yomogida were created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The two villages merged on March 31, 1955 to form the village of Hirata.

Economy

The economy of Hirata is primarily based on agriculture.

Education

Hiram has two public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the village government, and one public high school operated by the Fukushima Prefectural Department of Education.

Fukushima Prefectural Ono Higher Hirata High School

Hirata Yomogida High School

Hirata Odaira Middle School

Hirata Yomogida School

Hirata Odaira Elementary School

Transportation

Railway

Hirata does not have any passenger train service.

Highway

Abukuma Kōgen Road

National Route 49

National Route 349

Local attractions

Komagata Jangara Nembutsu Folk Dance

Shibazakura Matsuri

Site of Yomogida Castle