is a town located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 14,174 in 4839 households, and a population density of 230 persons per km2. The total area of the town is . Geography Yamanobe is located in the southeast end of the Yamagata Basin in central Yamagata Prefecture, surrounded by mountains. Mount Shirataka is partially within the borders of the town. Neighboring municipalities Yamagata Prefecture Yamagata Ōe Asahi Nakayama Shirataka Nan'yō Climate Yamanobe has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October. The average annual temperature in Yamanobe is 10.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1546 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around -2.6 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Yamanobe peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since. History The area of present-day Yamanobe was part of ancient Dewa Province. After the start of the Meiji period, the area became part of Higashimurayama District, Yamagata Prefecture. The village of Yamanobe was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was elevated to town status in 1896. Economy The economy of Yamanobe is based on agriculture. Education Yamanobe has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Yamagata Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation Railway East Japan Railway Company - Aterazawa Line Highway Tōhoku Chūō Expressway: Yamagata Chūō interchange Local attractions site of Yamanobe Castle Noted People from Yamanobe Mineichirō Adachi, diplomat, legal scholar References External links Official Website Towns in Yamagata Prefecture