Uenohara (上野原市, Uenohara-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ɯ̈̀.é̞.nó̞.hä̀.ɾä̀, -hä́.ɾä́.ɕì]) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2023, the city had an estimated population of 23,158 in 9987 households, and a population density of 140 persons per km². The total area of the city is 170.57 square kilometres (65.86 sq mi).
Geography
Uenohara is located on the extreme eastern edge of Yamanashi Prefecture, on a fluvial terrace of the Sagami River.
Mountains: Mount Mikuni, Mount Mitou, Mount Ougi
Rivers: Sagami River, Tsuru River, Nakama River
Surrounding municipalities
Kanagawa Prefecture
Sagamihara
Tokyo
Okutama, Hinohara
Yamanashi Prefecture
Dōshi
Kosuge
Ōtsuki
Tsuru
Climate
The climate in the city is characterized by hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Uenohara is 13.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1497 mm, with September being the wettest month. The highest temperatures are typically in August, averaging around 25.5 °C, and the lowest in January, averaging around 2.2 °C.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, Uenohara's population peaked around the year 2000 and has been declining since.
History
The area around present-day Uenohara was heavily settled during the Jōmon period, and numerous Jōmon sites have been found within the city limits. However, there are fewer Yayoi period sites. During the Nara period ritsuryo organization of Kai Province, the area came under Tsuru County. From the middle of the Kamakura period, much of the province came under the control of the Takeda clan, although as a border area adjacent to the holdings of the Uesugi clan and the Odawara Hōjō clan, it was the location of many skirmishes and battles. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During this period, the Kōshū Kaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes, passed through Uenohara, which had four of the 45 post stations on that route. The area was also a noted center for sericulture.
After the Meiji restoration, the village of Uenohara was established on December 27, 1897, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Uenohara became a town on April 1, 1955, by annexing seven neighboring villages. The modern city of Uenohara was established on February 13, 2005, by the mergers of the former town of Uenohara (from Kitatsuru District), absorbing the village of Akiyama (from Minamitsuru District).
Government
Uenohara has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members.
Economy
The economy of Uenohara is dominated by agriculture, sericulture and textile manufacturing.
Education
Uenohara has five public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The city also hosts the private Teikyo University of Science.
Universities
Teikyo University of Science
High Schools
Japan University Meisei High School
Uenohara High School
Middle schools
Akiyama Middle School
Nishi Middle School
Uenohara Middle School
Primary Schools
Akiyama Elementary School
Nishi Elementary School
Saihara Elementary School
Shimada Elementary School
Uenohara Elementary School
Transportation
Railway
East Japan Railway Company - Chūō Main Line
Uenohara – Shiotsu
Highway
Chūō Expressway
National Route 20
Kōshū Kaidō
Local attractions
Mushono-Dainembutsu dance (National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property)
Notable people
Ken Mizorogi, actor
References
External links
Media related to Uenohara, Yamanashi at Wikimedia Commons
Official Website Archived 2015-11-07 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
