Wakasa, Tottori
is a town located in Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 2,852 in 1285 households and a population density of 14 persons per km2. The total area of the town is . Wakasa, located deep in the Chūgoku Mountains, is 95% mountainous. The population of Wakasa is primarily located in mountain villages in a line from the southeast to northwest of the town. Most of the population is located along the Hattō River or its small tributaries. The town hosts an annual 'Yukigassen', an organised snowball fighting tournament in which up to fifty teams participate. The winners win a trip to participate in the Hokkaido grand tournament. Geography Wakasa is largely rural and located centrally in the Chūgoku Mountains. Prominent mountains in the town include Mount Hyōno(), Mount Mimuro (), Ōginosen (), and Mount Shinbachi (). The area of the town along the border with Hyōgo Prefecture is part of Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park. The Hattō River (), the largest tributary of the Sendai River, emerges from Tokura Ridge on the border of Wakasa and Shisō, Hyōgo Prefecture. The Hattō flows from the southwest foot of Mount Hyōno through the town and joins the Sendai in the Kawaramachi area of Tottori City. Bordering municipalities Wakasa, while located in Tottori Prefecture, borders Hyōgo and Okayama prefectures. Tottori Prefecture Tottori Chizu Yazu Hyōgo Prefecture Yabu Shisō Kami Shinonsen Okayama Prefecture Nishiawakura Climate Wakasa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with moderate snowfall. The average annual temperature in Wakasa is 10.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1982 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in January, at around 22.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.3 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Wakasa has been as follows: History Early history The mountainous areas of Wakasa do not appear to have supported a population in early Japanese history. No remains from the Jōmon (14,000 – 300 BCE) or Yayoi 300 BCE – 250 CE) periods have been found in Wakasa. The town had two or three small settlements in the Kofun period (250–538). Wakasa became part of Yakami District in Inaba Province early in recorded Japanese history. Settlements in the area are appeared early in the Heian period (794–1185), and the name of a village called "Wakasa" first appear in the historical record this time. The Yabe clan controlled Wakasa throughout the Heian period to the end of the Kamakura period (1185 – 1333). The Yabe built Wakasa Oniga Castle in this period. The existence of the Yabe clan and Oniga castle are noted in the Taiheiki, a Japanese historical epic written in the late 14th century. Later history Wakasa, located in a richly forested area of the Chūgoku Mountains, was a source of lumber and lumber products from early times. The production of raw timber, planks, charcoal, and firewood is noted as early as the Kamakura period. These