Takahata, Yamagata



Takahata (高畠町) is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 23,367, in 7629 households, and a population density of 130 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 180.26 km2.

Geography
Takahata is located in mountainous southeastern Yamagata Prefecture. The Mogami River flows through the town.

Neighboring municipalities

 * Yamagata Prefecture
 * Yonezawa
 * Nan'yō
 * Kaminoyama
 * Kawanishi
 * Miyagi Prefecture
 * Shichikashuku
 * Fukushima Prefecture
 * Fukushima

Climate
Takahata has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa/Dfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Takahata is 11.2 C. The average annual rainfall is 1283.0 mm with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.3 C, and lowest in January, at around -0.9 C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Takahata has declined slightly in recent decades.

History
The area of present-day Takahata was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Edo period, it was a castle town ruled by a branch of the Oda clan until their transfer to Tendō Domain, and afterwards a portion was controlled by the Yonezawa Domain. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Higashiokitama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Takahata was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status on December 12, 1895, and the kanji used to write its name assumed its present form in January 1905.

Economy
The economy of Takahata is based on agriculture and forestry. The town is noted for its production Delaware grapes and for its wine.

Education
Takahata has six public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. .

Railway
East Japan Railway Company - Yamagata Shinkansen East Japan Railway Company - Ōu Main Line
 * Takahata
 * Takahata

Highway

 * – Nanyō-Takahata interchange

Sister city relations

 * 🇦🇺 - Singleton, New South Wales, Australia

Local attractions

 * site of Takahata Castle
 * Hinata Caves, National Historic Site
 * Ōdachi Caves, National Historic Site
 * Hibakoiwa Caves, National Historic Site
 * Ichinosawa Caves, National Historic Site

Notable people

 * Yuko Aoki, model
 * Shunsaku Kudō, Imperial Japanese Navy officer