is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on November 3, 1958. As of 2016, the city has an estimated population of 26,035 and a population density of 220 persons per km2. The total area is 118.30 km2. Ōkunoshima, the island where a poison gas plant of the Imperial Japanese Army was located, belongs to Takehara. Occupying a strategic location on the Seto Inland Sea, it became renowned as a port city in the Muromachi period and then flourished as a centre of the salt industry in the latter days of the Edo period. More recently, it has styled itself as "The Little Kyoto of Aki" and the Special Historical District of old warehouses was selected as one of Japan's "100 Most Scenic Towns". Geography Climate Takehara has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characterized by cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average annual temperature in Takehara is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Takehara was on 6 August 2017; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 26 February 1981. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Takehara in 2020 is 23,993 people. Takehara has been conducting censuses since 1960. Tourism Museums Takehara Museum Kaguyahime Bamboo Princess Museum Masayuki Imai (Ceramic Artist) Museum History of Takehara Museum Ozasaya Sake Museum Mountains and Island Mount Asahi (Otake) Mount Kurotaki Ōkunoshima Island Little Kyoto of Aki Province Takehara Historical Heritage Okakae Jizo Statue Chosei-ji Temple Saihō-ji (Takehara) Temple Shoren-ji Temple Kodo Ebisu-do Shrine Hot spring and Sakura (Cherry Blossom Tree) Park Yusaka Onsen-kyo Comprehensive Park Bamboo Joy Highland Festivals and Running Races Miyatoko Children's Festival at Tadanoumi (April) Nika Village Renge (Lotus) Festival (April) Takehara Take (Bamboo) Festival in the Conserved Townscape (May) Tadanoumi Gion (Purification Ritual) Festival (July) Takehara Tanabata Festival (July) Tadanoumi Tenjin Yoichi Summer Festival (July) Takehara Sumiyoshi Shrine Sea Festival (August) Takehara Summer Festival Fireworks (August) Fukuda Shishimai Lion Dance (October) Bamboo Candle Light Festival Shokei no Michi (October) Takehara Ekiden (October) Rabbit Cross Country Short Running Race on Ōkunoshima Island (November) Shinmeisai Fire Festival at Futamado,Tadanoumi (February) Transportation Railways There are two main lines running through Takehara Station. There is the West Japan Railway Company and the