View source for Ibusuki

{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ibusuki
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|指宿市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
| other_name = 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline ={{Multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 290 | image_style = border:1; | perrow = 1/2/2 | image1 = 西大山駅.jpg | image2 = Ibusuki.jpg | image3 = Chiringashima and tombolo 20180430.jpg | image4 = Hirakiki_shrine.jpg | image5 = Aerial Photo of Ikedako.jpg }}
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = <table style="width:280px;margin:2px auto; border-collapse: collapse">
<tr><td colspan="2">[[Nishi-Ōyama Station]] and [[Mount Kaimon]]</tr>
<tr><td>[[Ibusuki Onsen]] sand baths<td>[[Chiringashima]]</tr>
<tr><td>[[Hirasaki Shrine]]<td>[[Lake Ikeda]]</tr>
</table>
| image_flag = Flag of Ibusuki, Kagoshima.svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Ibusuki, Kagoshima.svg
| seal_type = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map= {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| image_map1 = Ibusuki in Kagoshima Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Ibusuki in Kagoshima Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|31|15|10|N|130|37|59|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kyushu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kagoshima Prefecture|Kagoshima]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2  = 
| extinct_title = Now part of
| extinct_date = 
| founder = 
| named_for = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Akashi Uchikoshi (from February 2022) <ref name="IbusukiOfficialLatest">{{cite web|url=https://www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp/main |title=Ibusuki City official website (in Japanese)|access-date =2022-10-05}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 148.81
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note = as of July 1, 2021<ref name="IbusukiOfficialSummary">{{cite web|url=https://www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp/main/shisei/about/about/page002601.html |title=About Ibusuki City (in Japanese)|access-date =2022-10-05}}</ref>
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total = 37,594
| population_as_of = March 31, 2023
| population_density_km2 = auto
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code = 
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code = 
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 2424 Jutchō, Ibusuki-shi, Kagoshima-ken 891-0497
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2        = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official website|1=www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp}}
| footnotes = 
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Buxus microphylla|Japanese box]] and [[Crateva religiosa|sacred garlic pear]]
 | flower = [[Hibiscus]] and [[rapeseed]]
 | bird = [[Japanese white-eye]]
 | flowering_tree = 
 | butterfly = [[Hebomoia glaucippe|Great orange tip]]
 | fish = [[Skipjack tuna]]
 | other_symbols = 
}}
}}
[[File:Ibusiki City Hall.jpg|thumb|right|290px|Ibusuki City Hall]]
[[File:IbusukiJapanSunset.jpg|thumb|right|290px|Sunset in Ibusuki]]
[[File:Ibusuki Onsen-Kaimon.jpg|thumb|right|290px|Ibusuki from [[Kagoshima Bay]] towards [[Mount Kaimon]]]]

{{nihongo|'''Ibusuki'''|指宿市|Ibusuki-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Kagoshima Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of |2024|01|31}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 37,594 in 17477 households, and a [[population density]] of 250 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Ibusuki-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp/main/l|title= Ibusuki City official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{cvt|148.81|km2}}.

==Geography==
Ibusuki is located about 50 kilometers south of Kagoshima City, on the southeastern tip of the [[Satsuma Peninsula]], and faces the [[East China Sea]] and [[Kagoshima Bay]] from the northeastern to eastern, southern and southwestern parts of the city. [[Lake Ikeda]] is located in the center of the city, and Unagi Pond is to the east of that. [[Mount Kaimon]] is located along the East China Sea in the southwestern part of the city. The urban center is mainly formed along the coast, but in the area around Mount Kaimon, the urban area  is located inland from Mount Kaimon. Parts of the city are within the borders of the [[Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park]].

===Geology===
The city has many volcanoes and hot springs of the [[Ibusuki Volcanic Field]]. The Yamagawa [[Binary cycle|Binary]] [[Geothermal power|Power]] Station uses local geothermal power to contribute a maximum of 4990 kilowatts  as a "green energy" source.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Yamagawa Binary Power Station Geothermal ORC plant in Japan|first1=Saki |last1=Kondo |first2= Hiroshi |last2=Oyama |first3= Shigeto |last3=Yamada|journal=GRC Transactions |volume= 43 |year= 2019 |url=https://publications.mygeoenergynow.org/grc/1034108.pdf}}</ref>

===Neighboring municipalities===
Kagoshima Prefecture
*[[Kagoshima, Kagoshima|Kagoshima]]
*[[Minamikyūshū]]

==Climate==
Ibusuki has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with hot summers and mild winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, and is heavier in summer, especially the months of June and July. The average annual temperature in Ibusuki is {{convert|18.3|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|2602.1|mm}} with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{convert|28.1|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{convert|8.7|C}}.<ref name ="normals"/> Its record high is {{cvt|36.8|C}}, reached on 18 August 2020, and its record low is {{cvt|-3.4|C}}, reached on 25 January 2016.<ref name = "extremes"/> Due to its marine subtropical climate, the city is the northern limit in Japan where [[cycad]]s grow naturally.<ref name="IbusukiOfficialSummary"/>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Ibusuki (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|Jan record high C = 23.5
|Feb record high C = 24.0
|Mar record high C = 26.4
|Apr record high C = 28.7
|May record high C = 32.4
|Jun record high C = 34.4
|Jul record high C = 36.0
|Aug record high C = 36.9
|Sep record high C = 35.3
|Oct record high C = 33.5
|Nov record high C = 29.5
|Dec record high C = 24.3
|Jan record low C = -3.4
|Feb record low C = -3.0
|Mar record low C = -1.6
|Apr record low C = 0.9
|May record low C = 6.9
|Jun record low C = 11.8
|Jul record low C = 17.0
|Aug record low C = 17.6
|Sep record low C = 12.6
|Oct record low C = 6.5
|Nov record low C = 2.7
|Dec record low C = -1.8
|Jan high C = 13.2
|Feb high C = 14.5
|Mar high C = 17.5
|Apr high C = 21.9
|May high C = 25.6
|Jun high C = 27.6
|Jul high C = 31.7
|Aug high C = 32.6
|Sep high C = 30.1
|Oct high C = 25.6
|Nov high C = 20.4
|Dec high C = 15.3
|Jan mean C = 8.7
|Feb mean C = 9.8
|Mar mean C = 12.6
|Apr mean C = 16.5
|May mean C = 20.4
|Jun mean C = 23.6
|Jul mean C = 27.5
|Aug mean C = 28.1
|Sep mean C = 25.5
|Oct mean C = 20.8
|Nov mean C = 15.7
|Dec mean C = 10.8
|Jan low C = 4.5
|Feb low C = 5.2
|Mar low C = 7.8
|Apr low C = 11.5
|May low C = 15.7
|Jun low C = 20.3
|Jul low C = 24.2
|Aug low C = 24.7
|Sep low C = 21.8
|Oct low C = 16.7
|Nov low C = 11.4
|Dec low C = 6.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 93.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 133.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 192.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 232.3
|May precipitation mm = 237.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 592.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 352.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 204.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 239.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 107.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 120.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 97.5
|year precipitation mm = 2602.1
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 9.3
|Feb precipitation days = 9.9
|Mar precipitation days = 12.6
|Apr precipitation days = 10.7
|May precipitation days = 10.3
|Jun precipitation days = 16.1
|Jul precipitation days = 11.0
|Aug precipitation days = 10.5
|Sep precipitation days = 11.0
|Oct precipitation days = 7.7
|Nov precipitation days = 8.4
|Dec precipitation days = 8.6
|Jan sun = 123.0
|Feb sun = 134.1
|Mar sun = 158.5
|Apr sun = 175.8
|May sun = 176.3
|Jun sun = 105.7
|Jul sun = 196.6
|Aug sun = 221.2
|Sep sun = 177.3
|Oct sun = 182.0
|Nov sun = 153.0
|Dec sun = 136.1
|year sun = 1938.3
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref name=extremes>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=88&block_no=0893&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = March 27, 2022}}</ref><ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=88&block_no=0893&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = March 27, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data, the population of Ibusuki in 2020 is 39,011 people.<ref name=zensus/> Since the census began in Ibusuki in 1950, the town's population has been slowly declining, with no signs of picking up. In March 2012, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 43,931, with 19,119 [[household]]s and a [[population density]] of 294.82 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. However the census of 2020 confirmed a population decline to 39,011 <ref name="IbusukiOfficialSummary"/><ref name=zensus/> and by October 2022 there were only 17,537 households .<ref name="IbusukiOfficialLatest"/> The census of 2024, showed that the population had declined even further and was at 36,656 people, and 17,317 households.<ref>{{Cite web |title=推計人口 - デジタル戦略課 |url=https://www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp/main/shisei/kouho/kouho/page002607.html |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp}}</ref>

{{Historical populations
| 1950 | 67,977
| 1955 | 66,420
| 1960 | 63,118
| 1965 | 59,615
| 1970 | 55,832
| 1975 | 55,282
| 1980 | 55,140
| 1985 | 54,781
| 1990 | 52,292
| 1995 | 50,529
| 2000 | 48,750
| 2005 | 46,822
| 2010 | 44,401
| 2015 | 41,831
| 2020 | 39,011
|align       = none
|cols=2
| footnote = Ibusuki population statistics<ref name=zensus>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/kagoshima/ Ibusuki population statistics]</ref>
}}

==History==
The area of Ibusuki was part of ancient [[Satsuma Province]]. During the [[Edo Period]], the area was under the control of [[Satsuma Domain]]. After the [[Meiji restoration]], the village of Ibusuki was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Ibusuki was raised to town status on May 1, 1933.  Much of the town of destroyed in a fire on February 24, 1938. On April 1, 1954 Ibusuki merged with the village of Imaizumi and was elevated to city status. On January 1, 2006, the towns of [[Kaimon, Kagoshima|Kaimon]] and [[Yamagawa, Kagoshima|Yamagawa]] (both from [[Ibusuki District, Kagoshima|Ibusuki District]]) were merged into Ibusuki.

==Government==
Ibusuki has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 18 members. Ibusuki contributes one member to the Kagoshima  Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the [[Kagoshima 2nd district]] of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].

== Economy ==
The local economy of Ibusuki is reliant on commercial fishing, agriculture, electricity production and tourism.

==Education==
Ibusuki has nine public elementary schools, five public junior high school and one public high school operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Kagoshima Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

==Transportation==
===Railways===
{{ric|JR Kyushu|name=y}} - [[Ibusuki Makurazaki Line]]
:{{Color|Orange|■}} {{STN|Satsuma-Imaizumi|x}} - {{STN|Miyagahama|x}} - {{STN|Nigatsuden|x}} - {{STN|Ibusuki|x}} - {{STN|Yamakawa|x}} - {{STN|Ōyama|x|Kagoshima}} - {{STN|Nishi-Ōyama|x}} - {{STN|Satsuma-Kawashiri|x}} - {{STN|Higashi-Kaimon|x}} - {{STN|Kaimon|x}} - {{STN|Irino|x}}

=== Highways ===
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|226}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|269}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|448}}

==Sister cities==
*{{flagdeco|Australia}} [[Rockhampton, Queensland|Rockhampton]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]

==Local attractions==
Ibusuki is famous for black-sand spas known as ''sunamushi [[onsen]]'' and the fine noodle [[sōmen]] nagashi.<ref name="IbusukiOfficialSummary"/>
* [[Chiringashima]]
* [[Hirasaki Shrine]]
* [[Ibusuki Experimental Botanical Garden]]
* [[Ibusuki Onsen]]
* [[Iwasaki Art Museum]]
* [[Lake Ikeda]]
* [[Mount Kaimon]]
* [[Ryūgū-jō|Ryūgū Shrine]]
* [[Tōsenkyō]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.city.ibusuki.lg.jp Ibusuki City official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/for/ Kagoshima Prefectural Visitors Bureau official website] {{in lang|en}}
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Ibusuki}}
* [http://www.johnharveyphoto.com/Japan3/Ibusuki/index.html Photos of the sand baths at Ibusuki and area attractions]

{{Kagoshima}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ibusuki, Kagoshima| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Kagoshima Prefecture]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]