:Semboku, Akita

Semboku is located in the mountains of east-central Akita Prefecture, bordering on Iwate Prefecture and the Ōu Mountains on the east. Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan, is located in the center of the city borders. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Akita Prefecture

• Akita
• Daisen
• Kazuno
• Kitaakita

Iwate Prefecture

• Hachimantai
• Nishiwaga
• Shizukuishi

Semboku has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification 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 Semboku is {{cvt|9.7|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|2180.4|mm}} with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{cvt|23.1|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{cvt|-2.6|C}}.

{{Weather box

|width=auto

|collapsed = Y

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|location = Tazawako, Semboku (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)

|Jan record high C = 10.9

|Feb record high C = 16.8

|Mar record high C = 18.1

|Apr record high C = 29.4

|May record high C = 32.3

|Jun record high C = 32.6

|Jul record high C = 35.8

|Aug record high C = 36.5

|Sep record high C = 33.3

|Oct record high C = 27.9

|Nov record high C = 23.2

|Dec record high C = 15.4

|Jan record low C = -17.6

|Feb record low C = -17.1

|Mar record low C = -16.1

|Apr record low C = -8.0

|May record low C = -2.0

|Jun record low C = 3.8

|Jul record low C = 9.6

|Aug record low C = 9.0

|Sep record low C = 2.2

|Oct record low C = -2.2

|Nov record low C = -8.2

|Dec record low C = -14.2

|Jan high C = 0.4

|Feb high C = 1.5

|Mar high C = 5.3

|Apr high C = 12.8

|May high C = 19.2

|Jun high C = 23.2

|Jul high C = 26.2

|Aug high C = 27.8

|Sep high C = 23.7

|Oct high C = 17.1

|Nov high C = 9.9

|Dec high C = 3.1

|Jan mean C = -2.6

|Feb mean C = -2.1

|Mar mean C = 1.0

|Apr mean C = 7.2

|May mean C = 13.6

|Jun mean C = 18.1

|Jul mean C = 21.9

|Aug mean C = 23.1

|Sep mean C = 18.7

|Oct mean C = 12.0

|Nov mean C = 5.4

|Dec mean C = -0.1

|Jan low C = -6.0

|Feb low C = -5.9

|Mar low C = -3.1

|Apr low C = 1.8

|May low C = 8.1

|Jun low C = 13.5

|Jul low C = 18.3

|Aug low C = 19.3

|Sep low C = 14.5

|Oct low C = 7.2

|Nov low C = 1.2

|Dec low C = -3.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 132.4

|Feb precipitation mm = 118.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 149.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 153.0

|May precipitation mm = 165.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 161.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 290.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 280.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 193.2

|Oct precipitation mm = 179.5

|Nov precipitation mm = 190.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 166.0

|year precipitation mm = 2180.4

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 19.5

|Feb precipitation days = 17.0

|Mar precipitation days = 17.0

|Apr precipitation days = 14.6

|May precipitation days = 13.0

|Jun precipitation days = 11.4

|Jul precipitation days = 15.0

|Aug precipitation days = 12.6

|Sep precipitation days = 13.5

|Oct precipitation days = 14.6

|Nov precipitation days = 18.1

|Dec precipitation days = 20.3

|Jan sun = 41.6

|Feb sun = 60.2

|Mar sun = 94.5

|Apr sun = 137.4

|May sun = 178.2

|Jun sun = 165.7

|Jul sun = 136.3

|Aug sun = 162.3

|Sep sun = 133.2

|Oct sun = 125.4

|Nov sun = 78.6

|Dec sun = 44.9

|year sun = 1358.1

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=32&block_no=0194&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = May 29, 2022}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=32&block_no=0194&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = May 29, 2022}}}}

{{Weather box

|width=auto

|collapsed = Y

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|location = Kakunodate, Semboku (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)

|Jan record high C = 10.0

|Feb record high C = 13.7

|Mar record high C = 19.7

|Apr record high C = 30.4

|May record high C = 33.3

|Jun record high C = 34.5

|Jul record high C = 37.8

|Aug record high C = 37.7

|Sep record high C = 35.8

|Oct record high C = 29.5

|Nov record high C = 24.3

|Dec record high C = 17.8

|Jan record low C = -16.3

|Feb record low C = -16.7

|Mar record low C = -12.9

|Apr record low C = -8.8

|May record low C = -0.5

|Jun record low C = 5.3

|Jul record low C = 10.8

|Aug record low C = 11.3

|Sep record low C = 3.4

|Oct record low C = -0.9

|Nov record low C = -8.2

|Dec record low C = -13.0

|Jan high C = 1.5

|Feb high C = 2.7

|Mar high C = 6.9

|Apr high C = 14.7

|May high C = 21.1

|Jun high C = 25.2

|Jul high C = 28.1

|Aug high C = 29.7

|Sep high C = 25.5

|Oct high C = 18.7

|Nov high C = 11.1

|Dec high C = 4.1

|Jan mean C = -1.6

|Feb mean C = -1.1

|Mar mean C = 2.1

|Apr mean C = 8.5

|May mean C = 14.8

|Jun mean C = 19.4

|Jul mean C = 23.0

|Aug mean C = 24.1

|Sep mean C = 19.7

|Oct mean C = 12.9

|Nov mean C = 6.3

|Dec mean C = 0.8

|Jan low C = -4.9

|Feb low C = -4.7

|Mar low C = -2.1

|Apr low C = 2.9

|May low C = 9.2

|Jun low C = 14.6

|Jul low C = 19.0

|Aug low C = 19.8

|Sep low C = 15.2

|Oct low C = 8.1

|Nov low C = 2.2

|Dec low C = -2.1

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 171.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 140.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 135.7

|Apr precipitation mm = 129.1

|May precipitation mm = 148.7

|Jun precipitation mm = 152.3

|Jul precipitation mm = 273.6

|Aug precipitation mm = 254.9

|Sep precipitation mm = 180.5

|Oct precipitation mm = 171.5

|Nov precipitation mm = 202.5

|Dec precipitation mm = 197.8

|year precipitation mm = 2158.4

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 22.3

|Feb precipitation days = 19.6

|Mar precipitation days = 18.0

|Apr precipitation days = 13.9

|May precipitation days = 13.0

|Jun precipitation days = 11.2

|Jul precipitation days = 14.2

|Aug precipitation days = 12.5

|Sep precipitation days = 13.3

|Oct precipitation days = 15.2

|Nov precipitation days = 18.8

|Dec precipitation days = 21.8

|Jan snow cm = 218

|Feb snow cm = 175

|Mar snow cm = 95

|Apr snow cm = 7

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 12

|Dec snow cm = 130

|year snow cm = 630

|unit snow days = 3 cm

|Jan snow days = 20.1

|Feb snow days = 17.2

|Mar snow days = 11.4

|Apr snow days = 0.9

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 1.5

|Dec snow days = 11.9

|Jan sun = 50.9

|Feb sun = 69.1

|Mar sun = 108.3

|Apr sun = 155.9

|May sun = 187.9

|Jun sun = 176.8

|Jul sun = 149.0

|Aug sun = 183.4

|Sep sun = 150.3

|Oct sun = 135.9

|Nov sun = 90.7

|Dec sun = 54.0

|year sun = 1512.2

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=32&block_no=0193&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = May 29, 2022}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=32&block_no=0193&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = May 29, 2022}}}}

Per Japanese census data,[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-akita.php Semboku population statistics] the population of Semboku peaked in the early 1960s and has since declined to pre-1920 levels.

{{Historical populations

| percentages = pagr

| align = none

| cols = 2

| graph-pos = bottom

| 1920 | 29,123

| 1930 | 32,017

| 1940 | 37,453

| 1950 | 43,358

| 1960 | 43,765

| 1970 | 39,216

| 1980 | 39,098

| 1990 | 36,297

| 2000 | 33,565

| 2010 | 29,572

| 2020 | 24,610

| footnote =

}}

The area of present-day Semboku was part of ancient Dewa Province. During the Edo period, the area came under the control of the Satake clan, who had been relocated to Kubota Domain from their former holdings in Hitachi Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Semboku District, Akita Prefecture in 1878. The town of Kakunodate was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

The city of Semboku was established on March 22, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Kakunodate and Tazawako, and the village of Nishiki (all from Semboku District).

Semboku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 18 members. The city contributes one member to the Akita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Akita 3rd District of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The economy of Semboku is based on agriculture, forestry and seasonal tourism. The city is a noted producer of craft beer, soy sauce and miso.

One event that attracts many tourists is the Rokugō Kamakura Festival, which is held each February 11 to 15.

{{cite web

|url= https://www.town.misato.akita.jp/kamakura/

|language=Japanese

|script-title=ja:六郷のカマクラ

|trans-title= Rokugō no kamakura

|title=The Rokugō Kamakura Festival

|publisher=Misato Township

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190101000000/https://www.town.misato.akita.jp/kamakura/

| archive-date = January 1, 2019

}}

Semboku has seven public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped.

20px East Japan Railway Company - Akita Shinkansen

• {{STN|Tazawako|x}} – {{STN|Kakunodate|x}}

20px East Japan Railway Company - Tazawako Line

• {{STN|Tazawako|x}} - {{STN|Sashimaki|x}} - {{STN|Jindai|x}} - {{STN|Shōden|x}} - {{STN|Kakunodate|x}}

Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway - Akita Nairiku Line

• {{STN|Tozawa|x}} - {{STN|Kami-Hinokinai|x}} - {{STN|Sadōri|x}} - {{STN|Ugo-Nakazato|x}} - {{STN|Matsuba|x}} - {{STN|Ugo-Nagatoro|x}} - Yatsu - {{STN|Saimyoji|x}} - {{STN|Ugo-Ōta|x}} - {{STN|Kakunodate|x}}

• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|46}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|105}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|341}}

Bukeyashiki Street in Kakunodate 20180428d.jpg|Buke-yashiki (samurai residences) street, Kakunodate

Mount Akita-Komagatake seen from Lake Tazawa 20210213.jpg|Lake Tazawa

• Kakunodate samurai residences
• Lake Tazawa – the deepest lake in Japan
• Ōfuka Onsen
• Tamagawa Hot Spring has the highest flow rate of any hot spring in Japan at 150 liters/second, which feeds a 3 meter wide stream with a temperature of 98 degrees C. The water from Tamagawa Hot Spring is also very acidic.{{Citation needed|date=November 2012}}
• Towada-Hachimantai National Park

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

Semboku is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|JPN}} Ōmura, Nagasaki, Japan, since July 18, 1979
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Sanuki, Kagawa, Japan, since September 28, 1996
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Shinjō, Yamagata, Japan, since July 27, 1996
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Takahagi, Ibaraki, Japan, since July 27, 1996
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Hitachiōta, Ibaraki, Japan, since November 21, 1998

• Ayako Fuji, musician
• Norihisa Satake, politician
• Shigehiro Taguchi, basketball player
• Yasuhiko Takahashi, wheel gymnastics acrobat

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.city.semboku.akita.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://www.city.semboku.akita.jp/en/index.html Semboku Sightseeing Info Website]

{{Akita}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Akita Prefecture