Miyako, Fukuoka

Miyako (みやこ町) is a town located in Miyako District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 18,049 in 8405 households, and a population density of 120 persons per km². The total area of the town is 151.34 km2.

Geography
Miyako is located in northeastern of Fukuoka Prefecture, to the southwest of Yukuhashi City. The southern part of former Saikawa Town has many valleys and mountains, and because it is prone to snowfall in the winter, there used to be a ski resort around Notoge. The area adjacent to Yukuhashi City and the former Toyotsu/Katsuyama Town area are rural areas of the Kyoto Plain, where the Imagawa River and Hara River flow. The northern part is Hiraodai, a karst plateau.

Neighboring municipalities
Fukuoka Prefecture Ōita Prefecture
 * Kitakyushu
 * Yukuhashi
 * Kawara
 * Soeda
 * Aka
 * Chikujō
 * Nakatsu

Climate
Miyako has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Miyako is 15.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1663 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.7 °C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Miyako is as shown below

History
The area of Miyako was part of ancient Buzen Province, and as implied by its name, it was the site of the provincial capital and Buzen Kokubun-ji, both of which are located in the Toyosu neighborhood of the town. During the Edo Period, the area was part of the holdings of Kokura Domain. In 1866, during the Bakumatsu period, the forces of Chōshū Domain attacked and burned down Kokura Castle, forcing the domain to relocated its seat to a jin'ya constructed in Toyosu. In the early Meiji period, it was the location of a battlefield during the Akizuki Rebellion of 1876.

The villages of Isayama, Kubo, and Kuroda within Miyako District, Fukuoka and the villages of Toyotsu, Harigo, Setsumaru, Higashisaikawa, Nishisaikawa, and Minamisaikawa within Nakatsu District, Fukuoka were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Nakatsu District was absorbed by Miyako District in 1896. On February 1, 1905 Higashisaikawa, Nishisaikawa, and Minamisaikawa merged to become Saigawa Village, which was raised to town status on February 11, 1943. On April 10, 1943 Toyotsu annexed Setsumaru. Toyotsu then merged with Harigo on March 1, 1955 to from the town of Toyotsu. On the same day, Isayama, Kubō, and Kuroda merged to form Katsuyama Town. On March 20, 2006 Toyotsu, Saigawa, and Katsuyama merged to form the town of Miyako.

Government
Miyako has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Miyako, collectively with the town of Kanda contributes one member to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Fukuoka 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
Miyako has a mainly rural economy based on agriculture. There is very little in terms of industry or commerce. Parts of the town are within commuting distance of Yukuhashi.

Education
Miyako has seven public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the town government and one combined public middle/high school operated by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Railways
Heisei Chikuhō Railway - Tagawa Line
 * Shin-Toyotsu - Higashi-Saigawa-Sanshirō - Saigawa - Sakiyama

Highways

 * JP Expressway E10.svg Higashikyushu Expressway

Local attractions

 * Buzen Kokufu Park
 * Buzen Kokubun-ji, National Historic Site
 * Goshogotani Kōgoishi, National Historic Site
 * Ayazuka Kofun, National Historic Site
 * Tachibanazuka Kofun, National Historic Site