Yufu (由布市) is a city in Ōita Prefecture. , the city had an estimated population of 33,556 in 15883 households, and a population density of 110 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 319.32 km2.

Geography

Yufu is located almost in the center of Ōita Prefecture, with high mountains such as Mt. Yufudake (1583 meters) and Mt. Jogatake in the north, and Mt. Kurodake, Mt. Hanamure, and Mt. Toki in the south. The urban area is concentrated near the flatland formed by the alluvial fan of the Ōita River that flows through the center of the city, with the former Yufuin Town near the headwaters and Yufuin Basin, the former Shōnai Town on the left and right of the river terraces in the middle, and the former Hasama Town on the downstream and plain areas. Some areas of the former Shōnai Town and former Yufuin Town have been designated as Aso Kujū National Park. Mizuki Pass, located on the border with Kokonoe Town along Japan National Route 210, forms one of the central watersheds in Kyushu, separating the Ōita River water system on the Yufu City side and the Chikugo River water system on the Kokonoe Town side. There are five hot springs located throughout the city, including the nationally famous Yufuin Onsen, and most of the city has been designated as the national hot spring resort, Yufuin Onsenkyo.

[Busy area of Yufu City.

Taken from Mount Yufu. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Yufuin///Basin///10.jpg]

Rivers

Lakes

Neighboring municipalities

Ōita Prefecture

Climate

Yufu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The average annual temperature in Yufu is 13.3 C. The average annual rainfall is 1992.2 mm with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.5 C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in Yufu was 35.9 C on 10 August 2013; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -13.2 C on 3 February 2012.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Yufu in 2020 is 32,772 people. Yufu has been conducting censuses since 1920.

History

The area of Yufu was part of ancient Bungo Province. From the Heian period, the area was dominated by descendants of the kokushi of the province, the Ogami clan. After the Kamakura period, the Ogami frequently clashed with the Kamakura shogunate-appointed shugo, the Ōtomo clan; however in the Sengoku periodm both clans joined forces to fight the invading Shimazu clan. During the Edo period, the area was largely under the control of Oka Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the villages of Kitayufu and Minamiyufu within Hayami District, Ōita were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The two villages merged to form Yufuin Village on April 1, 1936, which was raised to town status on April 1, 1948. The city of Yufu was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Hasama, Shōnai, and Yufuin (all from Ōita District).

Timeline

Government

Yufu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Yufu contributes two members to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Yufu is centered around agriculture and tourism it is many hot spring resorts.

Education

Yufu has ten public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railways

JR Kyushu - Kyūdai Main Line

Highways

Local attractions