Arida, Wakayama

Coordinates: 34°5′N 135°8′E / 34.083°N 135.133°E / 34.083; 135.133
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Arida
有田市
Arida city office
Arida city office
Flag of Arida
Official seal of Arida
Map
Location of Arida in Wakayama Prefecture
Arida is located in Japan
Arida
Arida
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°5′N 135°8′E / 34.083°N 135.133°E / 34.083; 135.133
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureWakayama
Area
 • Total36.83 km2 (14.22 sq mi)
Population
 (December 1, 2021)
 • Total26,755
 • Density730/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address50 Minoshima, Arida-shi, Wakayama-ken 649-0304
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerCitrus unshiu
TreeCastanopsis
Panoramic view of Arida
Aerial photograph of Arida City center

Arida (有田市, Arida-shi) is a city in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2021, the city had an estimated population of 26,755 in 11737 households and a population density of 110 persons per km².[1] The total area of the city is 36.83 square kilometres (14.22 sq mi).

Geography[edit]

Arida is located in north-central Wakayama prefecture and facing the Kii Channel. It occupies an alluvial plain formed along the Aridagawa River which runs through the center of the city. The northern and southern portions of the city are lined with the steep Nagamine Mountains.

Neighboring municipalities[edit]

Wakayama Prefecture

Climate[edit]

Arida has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Arida is 15.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1878 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.8 °C.[2] The area is subject to typhoons in summer.

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Arida has decreased steadily over the past 40 years.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 20,277—    
1930 24,107+18.9%
1940 26,075+8.2%
1950 32,333+24.0%
1960 35,068+8.5%
1970 32,457−7.4%
1980 35,683+9.9%
1990 34,810−2.4%
2000 33,661−3.3%
2010 30,605−9.1%

History[edit]

The area of the modern city of Arida was within ancient Kii Province, and the Buddhist temple of Jōmyō-ji in the city was founded in the early Heian period. The village of Miyazaki was founded with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April1, 1889. It was raised to town status on March 16,1901 and renamed Minoshima. On May 1, 1956 Minoshima merged with the neighboring villages of Yasuda, Miahara and Itoga to form the city of Arida.

Government[edit]

Arida has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 15 members. Arida contributes one member to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Wakayama 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy[edit]

The largest industry in Arida is large oil refinery operated by Eneos. Traditionally, the main economic activity was horticulture, with the city being one of the largest producers of mikan or Japanese mandarins in Wakayama Prefecture.

Education[edit]

Arida has seven public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Department of Education.

Transportation[edit]

Railway[edit]

JR WestKisei Main Line

Highway[edit]

Local attractions[edit]

  • Jōmyō-ji, Buddhist temple with National Important Cultural Property Main Hall and pagoda

Notable people from Arida[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Arida city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Arida climate data
  3. ^ Arida population statistics

External links[edit]