Higashiyoshino, Nara

Higashiyoshino (東吉野村, Higashiyoshino-mura) is a village located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2025^[update], the village had an estimated population of 1,322 and a population density of 10 persons per km².^[1] The total area of the village is 131.65 km² (50.83 sq mi). It is where the last Japanese wolf was shot and killed in 1905. It is now kept as a specimen at the British Museum^[2]

Higashiyoshino 東吉野村
Village
Mount Takami Niukawakami Shrine Ogawa Castle ruins Nageishi Falls
Flag Chapter
Location of Higashiyoshino in Nara Prefecture
Higashiyoshino Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°24′12″N 135°58′06″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Nara
District	Yoshino
Area
• Total	131.65 km2 (50.83 sq mi)
Population  (January 1, 2025)
• Total	1,322
• Density	10/km2 (26/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	99 Ōaza Ogawa, Higashiyoshino-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara-ken 633-2492
Website	Official website

Higashiyoshino Village Office

Geography

Located in central Nara Prefecture, the majority of the village is mountainous. Mount Kunimi, at 1419 meters, is the highest mountain in the village. There are other mountains, such as Mount Takami, at 1248 meters, situated in western portion of Higashiyoshino.^[3]

• Rivers:Yoshino River
• Mountains:Mount Kunimi, Mount Takami

Surrounding municipalities

Mie Prefecture

• Matsusaka

Nara Prefecture

• Kawakami
• Mitsue
• Soni
• Uda
• Yoshino

Climate

Higashiyoshino has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Higashiyoshino is 11.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1893 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.3 °C.^[4]

Demographics

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

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	7,184	—
1950	8,268	+15.1%
1960	9,221	+11.5%
1970	7,028	−23.8%
1980	4,916	−30.1%
1990	3,723	−24.3%
2000	2,909	−21.9%
2010	2,143	−26.3%
2020	1,502	−29.9%

History

The area of Higashiyoshino was part of ancient Yamato Province. The villages of Ogawa, Takami, and Shigo were established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On March 1, 1958, the three villages merged to form the village of Higashiyoshino.

Government

Higashiyoshino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Higashiyoshino, collectively with the other municipalities of Yoshino District, contributes two members to the Nara Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Nara 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture and forestry.

Education

Higashiyoshino has one public elementary school and one public junior high schools operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railways

Higashiyoshino has no passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Haibara Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line in Uda.

Highways

• National Route 166

Local attractions

• Niukawakami Shrine