Semboku, Akita

Semboku 仙北市
City
Semboku City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Semboku in Akita Prefecture
Semboku
Coordinates: 39°42′06″N 140°43′53.4″E / 39.70167°N 140.731500°ECoordinates: 39°42′06″N 140°43′53.4″E / 39.70167°N 140.731500°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Akita Prefecture
Area
• Total	1,093.64 km^2 (422.26 sq mi)
Population (December 2014)
• Total	27,663
• Density	25.3/km^2 (66/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Phone number	0187-43-1111
Address	30 Miyanoshiro, Obonai, Tazawako, Semboku-shi, Akita-ken 014-1201
Website	Official website

Semboku (仙北市 Semboku-shi) is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan.

As of December 2014, the city has an estimated population of 27,663 and a population density of 25.3 persons per km². The total area is 1,093.64 square kilometres (422 sq mi).

Geography

Semboku is located in the mountains of central Akita Prefecture, bordering on Iwate Prefecture and the Ou Mountains on the east. Part of the city is within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Neighboring municipalities

• Akita Prefecture
  • Akita, Akita
  • Kitaakita, Akita
  • Kakunodate, Akita
  • Daisen, Akita
• Iwate Prefecture
  • Hachimantai, Iwate
  • Shizukuishi, Iwate
  • Nishiwaga, Iwate

Climate

Semboku has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October.

History

The area of present-day Semboku was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who had been relocated to Kubota Domain from their former holdings in Hitachi Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Semboku District, Akita Prefecture in 1878.

The modern city of Semboku was established on March 22, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Kakunodate and Tazawako, and the village of Nishiki (all from Semboku District).

Economy

The economy of Semboku is based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Akita Shinkansen
  • Tazawako – Kakunodate
• JR East - Tazawako Line
  • Tazawako - Sashimaki - Jindai - Shōden - Kakunodate
• Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway - Akita Nairiku Line
  • Tozawa - Kami-Hinokinai - Sadōri - Ugo-Nakazato - Matsuba - Ugo-Nagatoro - Yatsu - Saimyoji - Ugo-Ōta - Kakunodate

Highway

• Japan National Route 46
• Japan National Route 105
• Japan National Route 341

Local attractions

• 
  Buke-yashiki (samurai residences) street, Kakunodate
• 
  Lake Tazawa

• Tamagawa Hot Spring has the highest flow rate of any hot spring in Japan at 150 liters/second, which feeds a 3 meter wide stream with a temperature of 98 degrees C. The water from Tamagawa Hot Spring is also very acidic.
• Towada-Hachimantai National Park
• Lake Tazawa – the deepest lake in Japan
• Ōfuka Onsen
• Kakunodate samurai residences

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Semboku is twinned with:

• Ōmura, Nagasaki, Japan, since July 18, 1979
• Sanuki, Kagawa, Japan, since September 28, 1996
• Shinjō, Yamagata, Japan, since July 27, 1996
• Takahagi, Ibaraki, Japan, since July 27, 1996
• Hitachiōta, Ibaraki, Japan, since November 21, 1998

Noted people from Semboku

• Ayako Fuji - musician
• Norihisa Satake – politician
• Shigehiro Taguchi - basketball player

External links

• Semboku City official website (Japanese)
• Semboku Sightseeing Info (English)
• Old Semboku Town website (Japanese)