Uto (宇土市) is a city located in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 36,149 in 16127 households, and a population density of 490 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 74.30 km2.

Geography

Uto occupies the northern half of the Uto Peninsula and is bordered on the northwest by the Ariake Sea.

Neighboring municipalities

Kumamoto Prefecture

Climate

Uto has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Uto is 16.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2128 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 5.5 °C.

Demographics

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

History

The area of Uto was part of ancient Higo Province, During the Edo Period it was part of the holdings of Kumamoto Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Uto was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Uto annexed the neighboring village of Hanazono, Todoroki, Midorikawa, Amizu and Hashiragata in 1954. On October 1, 1958 Uto merged with the village Amida and was raised to city status.

Government

Uto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Uto contributes one member to the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Kumamoto 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Education

Uto has seven public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Kumamoto Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

JR Kyushu - Kagoshima Main Line JR Kyushu - Misumi Line

Highways

Local attractions

Notable people of Uto