Nishiumi, Ehime

Nishiumi (西海町, Nishiumi-chō) was a town located in Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.

On October 1, 2004 all the towns of Minamiuwa (Jōhen, Mishō, Nishiumi, Uchiumi, and Ipponmatsu) merged together to form a single larger town, Ainan. In addition, Nishiumi consists of many individual neighborhoods including the villages of Fukuura, Funakoshi, Nishiura, and Sotodomari, among others.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,050 and a density of 139.84 persons per km². The total area was 21.81 km². Industry in Nishiumi consists primarily of fishing and agriculture, producing such products as bonito and mikan oranges.

Geography and Climate

Nisiumi's name literally translates to West sea, which is fitting because the area is a peninsula that juts off the south-western edge of Ehime and into the Pacific Ocean. The geography of Nishiumi is dominated by mountains and inlets, most of which are covered by forest and jungle.

Nihsiumi lies in Japan's humid subtropical region and has a particularly mild winter, rarely seeing any snow. However, it is known for having very strong winter winds which blow off the ocean.