Yukuhashi, Fukuoka

Yukuhashi (行橋市) is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. , its estimated population is 72,376, and its population density is 1000 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 70.06 km2.

Geography
Yukuhashi is located in the eastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, 25 kilometers south-southeast of Kitakyushu, and 25 kilometers northwest of Nakatsu, Ōita. It is bordered by the Gulf of Suo on the Seto Inland Sea to the east. Most of the city area is in the plains, with the only mountainous areas being in the area adjacent to Miyako Town in the southwest and in some areas adjacent to Kitakyushu City in the northeast. It is located at the foot of Hiraodai, famous for its karst plateau. The Imagawa River, which runs through the center of the city, has been maintained as a promenade, and in spring the cherry blossoms planted along the river are a tourist attraction.

Neighboring municipalities
Fukuoka Prefecture
 * Kitakyushu
 * Chikujō
 * Kanda
 * Miyako

Climate
Yukuhashi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa). The average annual temperature in Yukuhashi is 15.9 C. The average annual rainfall is 1793.1 mm with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.3 C, and lowest in January, at around 5.3 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Yukuhashi was 38.5 C on 11 August 2013; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -8.1 C on 19 February 1977.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Yukuhashi in 2020 is 71,426 people. Yukuhashi has been conducting censuses since 1950.

History
The area of Yukuhashi was part of ancient Buzen Province. During the Asuka Period, ancient mountain castles known as kōgoishi were constructed in several areas as protection against possible invasion by Silla or Tang China. During the Edo Period the area was partly under the control of Kokura Domain, with smaller areas as tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate. After the Meiji restoration, the village of Yukuhashi was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On October 10, 1954 Yukuhashi merged with the eight surrounding villages of Minoshima, Imamoto, Nakatsu, Izumi, Tsubakishi, Imagawa, Hieda, and Enei to form the city of Yukuhashi.

Government
Yukuhashi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Yukuhashi contributes one member to the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Fukuoka 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
Yukuhashi has a mainly rural economy based on agriculture and commercial fishing and is a regional commercial center. Due to its proximity to Kitakyushu and numerous transportation options, it is increasing becoming a commuter town.

Education
Yukuhashi has eleven public elementary schools and six public junior high schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Railways
JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line Heisei Chikuhō Railway - Tagawa Line
 * Yukuhashi - Minami-Yukuhashi - Shindenbaru
 * Yukuhashi - Miyako-Izumi - Imagawa-Kappa - Toyotsu
 * Coto Coto Train touristic service

Highways

 * JP Expressway E10.svg Higashikyushu Expressway

Local attractions

 * Goshogotani Kōgoishi, National Historic Site

Noted people from Yukuhashi

 * Suematsu Kenchō, Meiji era politician