Minamiaso, Kumamoto
Encyclopedia
is a village
located in Aso District
, Kumamoto
, Japan
. It was formed on February 13, 2005 from the merger of the villages of Chōyō
, Hakusui
and Kugino
. Neighbouring towns are Takamori-Machi (高森町)
, Ozu-machi (大津町)
and Nishihara-mura (西原村)
.
As of December 31, 2009, the village has an estimated population
of 12,015 (5776 male, 6239 female) and a population density
of 91.2 persons per km². The total area is 137.30 km².
, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world. For more information, refer to the entry on Mt. Aso
.
Minamiaso village was once 3 separate villages: Chōyō
, Hakusui
and Kugino
. In 2005, it was decided that these villages would merge along with neighboring area Tateno to become Minamiaso village, which would stretch between Ozu and Takamori.
, Hakusui
and Kugino
) began on April 1st, 2003. The merger was complete on February 13th, 2005.
As there are no public high schools in Minamiaso, many students enter the high schools of neighbouring towns, Takamori and Ozu. It is not uncommon, however, for students to achieve entry into the many other high schools in Kumamoto prefecture.
The smallest elementary school is Ryouhei Elementary School, with just 30 students across all 6 grades.
Villages of Japan
A is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
located in Aso District
Aso District, Kumamoto
is a district located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan.As of the Aso and Yamato mergers but with 2003 population data, the district has an estimated population of 40,841 and a density of 58.1 persons per square kilometer...
, Kumamoto
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was formed on February 13, 2005 from the merger of the villages of Chōyō
Choyo, Kumamoto
was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Chōyō was merged the villages of Hakusui and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, Hakusui
Hakusui, Kumamoto
was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Hakusui was merged the villages of Chōyō and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and Kugino
Kugino, Kumamoto
Kugino was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Kugino was merged the villages of Chōyō and Hakusui, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality.As of 2003, the village had an estimated...
. Neighbouring towns are Takamori-Machi (高森町)
Takamori, Kumamoto
is a town located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of October 1, 2007 the town has an estimated population of 7,018 and a density of 40.1 persons per km². The total area is 174.90 km².-Geography:...
, Ozu-machi (大津町)
Ozu, Kumamoto
is a town located in Kikuchi District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 28,673 and a density of 289.36 persons per km². The total area is 99.09 km²....
and Nishihara-mura (西原村)
Nishihara, Kumamoto
is a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 6,008 and a population density of 77.79 persons per km². The total area is 77.23 km².-External links:*...
.
As of December 31, 2009, the village has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 12,015 (5776 male, 6239 female) and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 91.2 persons per km². The total area is 137.30 km².
History of the area
Minamiaso-mura is situated within Aso CalderaCaldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
, one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world. For more information, refer to the entry on Mt. Aso
Mount Aso
is the largest active volcano in Japan, and is among the largest in the world. It stands in Aso Kujū National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyūshū. Its peak is 1592 m above sea level. Aso has one of the largest caldera in the world...
.
Minamiaso village was once 3 separate villages: Chōyō
Choyo, Kumamoto
was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Chōyō was merged the villages of Hakusui and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, Hakusui
Hakusui, Kumamoto
was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Hakusui was merged the villages of Chōyō and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and Kugino
Kugino, Kumamoto
Kugino was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Kugino was merged the villages of Chōyō and Hakusui, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality.As of 2003, the village had an estimated...
. In 2005, it was decided that these villages would merge along with neighboring area Tateno to become Minamiaso village, which would stretch between Ozu and Takamori.
Merger
Due to declining birth rate, aging population and the opportunity to share administrative resources, discussions between the 3 villages (ChōyōChoyo, Kumamoto
was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Chōyō was merged the villages of Hakusui and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, Hakusui
Hakusui, Kumamoto
was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Hakusui was merged the villages of Chōyō and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
and Kugino
Kugino, Kumamoto
Kugino was a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Kugino was merged the villages of Chōyō and Hakusui, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality.As of 2003, the village had an estimated...
) began on April 1st, 2003. The merger was complete on February 13th, 2005.
Education
- Universities
- Tokai Agricultural University
- Senior High Schools
- Kumamoto Seiryou High School
As there are no public high schools in Minamiaso, many students enter the high schools of neighbouring towns, Takamori and Ozu. It is not uncommon, however, for students to achieve entry into the many other high schools in Kumamoto prefecture.
- Junior High Schools
- Chōyō Junior High School
- Hakusui Junior High School
- Kugino Junior High School
- Elementary Schools
- Tateno Elementary School
- Chōyō Elementary School
- West Chōyō Elementary School
- Nakamatsu Elementary School
- Hakusui Elementary School
- Ryouhei Elementary School
- Kugino Elementary School
The smallest elementary school is Ryouhei Elementary School, with just 30 students across all 6 grades.
Restaurants
- Soba Dojo - Guests can make their own soba noodles and eat them with a set meal.
- Aribi - A family-run restaurant that offers delicious home-made dishes and a view of Oozakura (large Cherry Blossom tree). Located in Hakusui, on Route 325
- Strong Boss Saloon - A Country music themed restaurant. Located on Route 325. Popular with motorbike enthusiasts.
- Denory's Diner - 60s/70s/80s Rock music theme. Located on Route 325.
- Cafe Bagel 1 - A wide selection of bagels, ice cream and drinks. Located on Route 325 (Chōyō)
By car
- From Kumamoto City: follow Route 57 eastward, passing Hikari-no-mori, Kikuyo and Ozu, before turning right at Aso Bridge (follow signs for Takamori) onto Route 325Route 325 (Japan)National Route 325 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kurume, Fukuoka and Takachiho, Miyazaki in Japan, with a total length of 138.5 km ....
. Immediately after Aso bridge you will enter Minamiaso-mura (Chōyō). It is approximately 1 hour by car from Kumamoto City. - From Aso-Kumamoto Airport: Follow route 28 eastward and you will pass through Nishihara-mura, eventually arriving in Minamiaso-mura (Kugino) after exiting the Minamiaso Tunnel.
By train
- Trains going to OzuHigo-Ōzu Stationis a railway station on the Hohi Main Line operated by JR Kyushu in Ōzu, Kumamoto, Japan....
, MiyajiMiyaji Stationis a railway station on the Hohi Main Line operated by JR Kyushu in Aso, Kumamoto, Japan.-Environs:*Aso City Hall*National Route 57*Aso Shrine*Sensuikyō Gorge...
(Aso City) or non-express trains bound for Oita will stop at Tateno StationTateno Station (Kumamoto)is a railway station on the Hohi Main Line operated by JR Kyushu and Minami Aso Railway in Minamiaso, Kumamoto, Japan.-See also:*Tateno Station *List of railway stations in Japan...
. Those trains bound for Ozu will end their journey there and connecting train will be waiting at the adjacent platform. A change will also need to be made at Tateno to the Minamiaso Tetsudou line, which is not a JR line so JR Rail Passes will not be valid. From Tateno to Chōyō (the first station in Minamiaso-mura) costs 230 yen. Station names are written in Japanese and English. The Minamiaso Tetsudou line has its own website containing information on times and fares (see external links below).
Trivia
- The train station with the longest name in Japan is located in HakusuiHakusui, Kumamotowas a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Hakusui was merged the villages of Chōyō and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, Minamiaso: Minamiaso Mizu-no-Umareru-Sato Hakusui-Kōgen Station (南阿蘇水の生まれる里白水高原) This is its full title, however, it is often simply called "Hakusui Kōgen" by locals. It is the 5th station on the Minamiaso Tetsudou line. - One of Japan's largest and oldest cherry blossom trees is in HakusuiHakusui, Kumamotowas a village located in Aso District, Kumamoto, Japan.On February 13, 2005 Hakusui was merged the villages of Chōyō and Kugino, all from Aso District, to form the new village of Minamiaso and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
, in Minamiaso. Called 一心行の大桜 (Issingyo no oozakura), it is over 400 years old. In 2004, the trunk was damaged by a typhoon and some branches were removed by winds. Even so, it still retains its place as one of Japan's most outstanding cherry blossom trees and remains one of the area's attractions. - The city of Kumamoto is the biggest in the world to have its water needs met entirely by natural underground springs, all of it from Aso.