is a city located in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 48,811 in 22129 households and a population density of 110 persons per km². The total area of the city is Geography Kainan is located in northern Wakayama prefecture and facing the Kii Channel. The northern half of the city is hilly and relatively gentle, but the southern half is covered with mountains. The highest peak is Kagamiishiyama, with an elevation of 558 meters. The main rivers are the Kishi River, which runs through the eastern portion of the city and the Kameno River, which runs through the northern and central portion. Neighboring municipalities Wakayama Prefecture Wakayama Arida Kinokawa Kimino Aridagawa Climate Kainan has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kainan is 15.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1713 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.4 °C. The area is subject to typhoons in summer. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kainan has decreased steadily over the past 50 years. History The area of the modern city of Kainan was within ancient Kii Province, and Yayoi pottery and Kofun burial mounds indicate settlement since prehistoric times. The area is part of the Kumano Kodo and was a relay point between the capital and the onsen area of Shirahama since ancient times. During the Sengoku period, the area was a battleground between the forces of Oda Nobunaga and the local Saika ikki, one of many Ikkō-ikki movements. During the Edo period, the area prospered under the rule of Kishū Domain which gave protection to the Kuroe neighborhood as a center for the production of Kishū lacquerware. The village of Kuroe was founded with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April1, 1889 and was raised to town status on July 7, 1896. Kuroe merged with the neighboring towns of Utsumi and Hikata and the village of Ono to form the city of Kainan on May 1, 1934. Kainan expanded by annexing the villages of Tatsumi, Kamekawa, Kitanokami, Nakanokami, and Minaminokami on April1, 1955. On April 1, 2005, Kainan merged with the village of Shimotsu. Government Kainan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected