right|thumb|270px|Yanai City Hall

right|thumb|270px|Yanai City center

right|thumb|270px|Yanai Goldfish Lantern Festival

is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 29,821 in 15298 households and a population density of 210 persons per km². The total area of the city is .

Geography

Yanai is located in southeastern Yamaguchi Prefecture, at the base of the eastern coast of the Murotsu Peninsula. The city overlooks Mt. Kotoishi(Chūgoku 100 mountains) and portions are within the borders of the Setonaikai National Park.

The city area consists of coastal areas, inland areas (Ikachi and Hizumi areas), peninsulas and islands (Heigun Island), and more than half of the total area is mountainous and hilly. Urban areas are mostly on flat areas along the coast. In the northern inland area, and rural villages are scattered along river basins.

Neighbouring municipalities

Yamaguchi Prefecture

  • Hikari
  • Hirao
  • Iwakuni
  • Kaminoseki
  • Suō-Ōshima
  • Tabuse

Climate

Yanai has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is much higher in summer than in winter. The average annual temperature in Yanai is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around .

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Yanai in 2020 is 30,799 people.

History

The area of Yanai was part of ancient Suō Province. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Iwakuni Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Yanai within Kumage District, Yamaguchi was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Yanai as elevated to town status on January 1, 1905. On March 31, 1951 Yanai annexed the villages of Hizumi, Shinjo, Yoda, and Iriku and was raised to city status. In the mid 1950s, the villages of Heigun island, Atsuki and Ihosho were subsequently annexed. On February 21, 2005, the town of Ōbatake (from Kuga District) was merged into Yanai.

Government

Yanai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members. Yanai contributes one member to the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Yamaguchi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Yanai has a rural economy based on agriculture (flowers and fruits), commercial fishing and food processing. Chugoku Electric Power's Yanai Thermal Power Station (LNG) is located in the city.

Education

Yanai has 13 public elementary school and three public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Yamaguchi Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

Transportation

Railway

frameless|20x20px JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line

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Highways

Sister cities

  • Kauai, Hawaii, United States
  • Huainan, Anhui, China
  • Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong, China (friendship city)

References

  • Yanai City official website
  • Yanai City | X å
  • Yanai City Official | Facebook
  • Yanai City Official Channel | YouTube
  • Yanai City Sightseeing Association
  • Yanai City Pamphlets & Broshure | Yanai City Sightseeing Association
  • Strolling in the Shirakabe Historical District
  • Muroya-no-sono Merchant House Museum (Prefecture’s Important Folk-cultural Property)
  • The Kunimori Residence (National Important Cultural Property)
  • Goldfish-shaped Lantern Making/Yanai-jima Weaving Experience | Yanai Nishigura
  • Kanro Soy Sauce Museum & Sagawa Soy Sauce Brewery
  • Chausuyama Kofun Tumulus
  • Mt. Kotoishi / Mitsuga-dake Peak
  • Yota garyu-Bai Plum Tree (National Nature Treasure)
  • Yanai City Sightseeing Map, Yamaguchi, Japan | Google Maps
  • Yanai Sunny Route | Google Maps
  • Yanai Sunny Route Council
  • Yanai City Urban–Rural Exchange Facility Fureaidokoro 437
  • Boyo Ferry Co., Ltd.
  • Yamaguchi Flowerland, Yanai City, Yamaguchi
  • Yamaguchi Flowerland | Facebook
  • Yamaguchi Flowerland Official | Instagram
  • Yamaguchi Flowerland, Yanai City, Yamaguchi
  • Yamaguchi Flowerland | Facebook
  • Yamaguchi Flowerland Official | Instagram
  • Heigun Island Official
  • HEIGUN Island | Facebook
  • HEIGUN Island | Facebook
  • Ōbatake Sightseeing Association
  • Ōbatake Sightseeing Center