Unnan

Not to be confused with Yunnan.

Unnan (雲南市, Unnan-shi) is a city located in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2023^[update], the city had an estimated population of 35,279 in 13575 households and a population density of 64 persons per km².^[1] The total area of the city is 553.18 square kilometres (213.58 sq mi).

Unnan 雲南市
City
Unnan city hall
Flag Emblem
Location of Unnan in Shimane Prefecture
Unnan Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°18′28″N 132°54′01″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'in)
Prefecture	Shimane
Kisuki town settled	April 1, 1891
Kamo town settled	May 1, 1934
Both town merged and city settled	November 1, 2004
Government
• Mayor	Atsushi Ishitobi (from January 2021)
Area
• Total	553.18 km2 (213.58 sq mi)
Population  (July 31, 2023)
• Total	35,279
• Density	64/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	521-1 Satokata, Kisuki-cho, Unnan-shi, Shimane-ken 699-1392
Climate	Cfa
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Sakura
Tree	Ginkgo biloba

Hii River Embankment

Kamoiwakura Site

Unnan city center

Geography

Unnan City is located in southeastern Shimane Prefecturem with the southern areas in the Chugoku Mountains. Most of the city is forest.

Neighboring municipalities

Shimane Prefecture

• Iinan
• Izumo
• Matsue
• Okuizumo

Hiroshima Prefecture

• Shōbara

Climate

Unnan has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year. The average annual temperature in Unnan is 13.4 °C (56.1 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,952.6 mm (76.87 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.3 °C (77.5 °F), and lowest in February, at around 2.4 °C (36.3 °F).^[2] The highest temperature ever recorded in Unnan was 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) on 6 August 2021; the coldest temperature ever recorded was −9.7 °C (14.5 °F) on 26 February 1981.^[3]

Climate data for Kakeya, Unnan (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	17.5 (63.5)	22.2 (72.0)	25.0 (77.0)	31.0 (87.8)	33.1 (91.6)	34.9 (94.8)	37.1 (98.8)	37.2 (99.0)	35.6 (96.1)	31.6 (88.9)	25.4 (77.7)	21.3 (70.3)	37.2 (99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	6.3 (43.3)	7.6 (45.7)	11.9 (53.4)	18.2 (64.8)	23.3 (73.9)	26.2 (79.2)	29.6 (85.3)	30.8 (87.4)	26.1 (79.0)	20.7 (69.3)	15.2 (59.4)	9.1 (48.4)	18.7 (65.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	2.4 (36.3)	3.0 (37.4)	6.3 (43.3)	11.8 (53.2)	16.9 (62.4)	20.6 (69.1)	24.7 (76.5)	25.3 (77.5)	20.8 (69.4)	14.9 (58.8)	9.7 (49.5)	4.8 (40.6)	13.4 (56.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−0.8 (30.6)	−1.0 (30.2)	1.1 (34.0)	5.5 (41.9)	10.7 (51.3)	15.7 (60.3)	20.8 (69.4)	21.1 (70.0)	16.6 (61.9)	10.1 (50.2)	5.0 (41.0)	1.1 (34.0)	8.8 (47.9)
Record low °C (°F)	−8.0 (17.6)	−9.7 (14.5)	−6.4 (20.5)	−3.8 (25.2)	−0.1 (31.8)	4.9 (40.8)	8.2 (46.8)	13.1 (55.6)	4.0 (39.2)	0.6 (33.1)	−2.0 (28.4)	−6.5 (20.3)	−9.7 (14.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	167.0 (6.57)	139.2 (5.48)	155.6 (6.13)	123.2 (4.85)	126.9 (5.00)	186.5 (7.34)	236.0 (9.29)	157.0 (6.18)	234.8 (9.24)	131.2 (5.17)	124.6 (4.91)	170.8 (6.72)	1,952.6 (76.87)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	19.2	15.9	15.1	11.4	9.9	11.9	12.9	11.2	12.0	10.5	12.6	18.5	161.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours	58.0	79.5	136.8	185.0	210.6	153.1	165.9	189.9	137.5	144.7	109.0	65.9	1,635.2
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][2]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Unnan in 2020 is 36,007 people.^[4]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1995	48,248	—
2000	46,323	−4.0%
2005	44,403	−4.1%
2010	41,917	−5.6%
2015	39,032	−6.9%
2020	36,007	−7.8%
Unnan population statistics[4]

History

The area of Unnan was part of ancient Izumo Province. During the Edo Period, the area was controlled by Matsue Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the area was divided between the Ohara District, Shimane and Iishi District, Shimane, and further divided into villages on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

The city of Unnan was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Daitō, Kamo, and Kisuki (all from Ōhara District), the towns of Mitoya and Kakeya, and the village of Yoshida (all from Iishi District).

Government

Unnan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 19 members. Unnan contributes nine members to the Shimane Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Shimane 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Unnan is a regional commercial center with a local economy based heavily on agriculture, forestry and light manufacturing.

Education

Unnan has 15 public elementary school and seven public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Shimane Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

JR West (JR West) - Kisuki Line

• Kamonaka - Hataya - Izumo Daitō - Minami Daitō - Kisuki - Hinobori - Shimokuno

Highways

• Matsue Expressway
• National Route 54
• National Route 314

Sister cities

• Richmond, Indiana, United States

Local attractions

Dōtaku on display in Kamo Iwakura Ruin

• Akagawahotaru Park,
• Hikawabijin Hot Spring
• Historical Museum of Iron
• Kamoiwakura site, National Historic Site
• Kisuki Health Forest
• Lake Shinji
• Matsue Shinji Furusato Forest Park
• Ohara Dam
• Okuizumotane Natural Museum
• Okuizumoyumura Hot Springs
• Sajiroonsen Choja Hot Spring
• Shimaneken Akashimidorigaoka Park
• Suga Shrine
• Ushio Hot Springs