Kanazawa (金沢市, Kanazawa-shi) is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan.
Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².
Kanazawa's weather is temperate though rainy. Average temperatures are similar to those of Tokyo though slightly cooler. Mean temperatures are approximately 4°C in January, 15°C in April, 25°C in July and August, 15°C in October, and 5°C in December. The minimum temperature on record was -2.3°C (2002), with a maximum of 37.5°C (2002). The city is relatively wet, with an average humidity of 73% and 178 rainy days in an average year. Precipitation is highest in the autumn and winter; it averages more than 250 mm / month November through January.
As of November 2006, the city has an estimated population of 455,351 and a density of 973.45 persons per km². |
