{"P":{"01":{"ft":"Hokkaido is the largest local government area in Japan and covers about 22% of the country's land. With vast areas of field crops and dairy farming and rich fishing grounds, it is Japan's food base. Untouched nature remains in places such as the Daisetsuzan mountains and Shiretoko.","tg":["Shiretoko (World Natural Heritage Site)","Dairy farming and field crops","Seafood","Skiing"],"pk":[["01100","The main city of the north, with a population of about 1.96 million. Home of the Sapporo Snow Festival."],["01202","A port city known for its night view, its morning market and Goryokaku."],["01204","Asahiyama Zoo and Asahikawa ramen. A gateway to the Daisetsuzan mountains."]],"st":[["Capital",{"muni":"01100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","4.98 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","83,422 km²"],["Municipalities","179 (35 cities, 129 towns, 15 villages)"]]},"02":{"ft":"Aomori is at the northern tip of Honshu. It has the largest apple harvest in Japan, and scallops from Mutsu Bay and tuna from Oma are also famous. The summer Nebuta and Neputa festivals are among the liveliest in the Tohoku region.","tg":["Apples","Nebuta Festival","Shirakami-Sanchi (World Natural Heritage Site)","Jomon Prehistoric Sites"],"pk":[["02201","The Aomori Nebuta Festival and the Sannai-Maruyama Site."],["02202","Cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Castle, and the center of apple growing."],["02203","The largest fishing port in the prefecture, the Hasshoku Center food market and the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"02201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.139 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","9,645 km²"],["Municipalities","40 (10 cities, 22 towns, 8 villages)"]]},"03":{"ft":"Iwate is the largest prefecture after Hokkaido. It is known for the ria coastline of the Sanriku coast, the culture of Hiraizumi built by the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and as the home of Miyazawa Kenji. Wanko soba (buckwheat noodles served in small bowls, one after another) and Nanbu ironware are also local specialties.","tg":["Hiraizumi (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Sanriku Coast","Nanbu ironware","Wanko soba"],"pk":[["03201","A city of three great noodle dishes: reimen (cold noodles), jajamen and wanko soba."],["03402","The Konjikido (Golden Hall) of Chuson-ji Temple, and Motsu-ji Temple."],["03205","The birthplace of Miyazawa Kenji, with many hot spring resorts."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"03201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.125 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","15,275 km²"],["Municipalities","33 (14 cities, 15 towns, 4 villages)"]]},"04":{"ft":"Miyagi is the center of the Tohoku region and is home to Sendai, the only designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) in Tohoku. It combines the attractions of a city with seafood and local food such as Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, gyutan (grilled beef tongue), sasa-kamaboko (leaf-shaped fish cakes), and shark fin and oysters from Kesennuma.","tg":["Mori no Miyako (City of Trees)","Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan","Gyutan (beef tongue)","Date Masamune"],"pk":[["04100","The \"City of Trees\", with a population of about 1.1 million. Home of the Sendai Tanabata Festival."],["04401","One of the Three Views of Japan, with many large and small islands in the bay."],["04205","A fishing town known for bonito and shark fin."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"04100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","2.225 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","7,282 km²"],["Municipalities","35 (14 cities, 20 towns, 1 village)"]]},"05":{"ft":"Akita is a major rice-growing prefecture, known for the Akitakomachi rice variety, and it has many well-known sake breweries. Culture born from life in snow country remains strong, such as the Namahage, the Kanto Festival and kiritanpo (grilled rice sticks).","tg":["Akitakomachi rice","Namahage","Kanto Festival","Akita dogs"],"pk":[["05201","The Kanto Festival, with lanterns swaying in the summer night sky."],["05206","The home of the Namahage ritual on New Year's Eve."],["05215","The samurai houses of Kakunodate, Lake Tazawa and Nyuto Onsen."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"05201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","0.881 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","11,638 km²"],["Municipalities","25 (13 cities, 9 towns, 3 villages)"]]},"06":{"ft":"Yamagata produces the most cherries in Japan. It is a prefecture of mountains, faith and hot springs, with the mountain worship of the Three Mountains of Dewa, the frost-covered trees of Zao and the streets of Ginzan Onsen. It is also known for having hot springs in every municipality in the prefecture.","tg":["Cherries","Three Mountains of Dewa (Dewa Sanzan)","Frost-covered trees of Zao","Imoni (taro stew)"],"pk":[["06201","Yamadera (Risshaku-ji Temple) and Zao Onsen."],["06203","A temple town at the foot of the Three Mountains of Dewa, and a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy."],["06212","Ginzan Onsen, with its romantic Taisho-era atmosphere, and watermelons."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"06201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","0.992 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","9,323 km²"],["Municipalities","35 (13 cities, 19 towns, 3 villages)"]]},"07":{"ft":"Fukushima is the 3rd largest prefecture in Japan. Its three regions, Hamadori, Nakadori and Aizu, differ greatly in climate and culture. Its attractions include peaches and other fruit, the sake breweries of Aizu, and the scenery of Mt. Bandai and Lake Inawashiro.","tg":["Peaches","Aizu sake","Mt. Bandai","Oze"],"pk":[["07202","Tsuruga Castle, the Byakkotai (White Tiger Force) and the history of a castle town."],["07203","The economic and transport center of the prefecture."],["07362","Ouchi-juku, a former post town lined with thatched-roof houses."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"07201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.71 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","13,784 km²"],["Municipalities","59 (13 cities, 31 towns, 15 villages)"]]},"08":{"ft":"Ibaraki is among the top prefectures in Japan for agricultural output. It has the largest harvests of melons and lotus roots in Japan and is also known for producing hoshi-imo (dried sweet potatoes). Tsukuba Science City brings together national research institutes, and Hitachi is the birthplace of Japan's heavy electrical industry.","tg":["Natto (fermented soybeans)","Melons and hoshi-imo (dried sweet potatoes)","Tsukuba Science City","Kairakuen"],"pk":[["08201","Kairakuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and Mito natto."],["08220","A science city with many research institutes and universities."],["08221","Hitachi Seaside Park, a national government park famous for nemophila flowers."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"08201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","2.79 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","6,098 km²"],["Municipalities","44 (32 cities, 10 towns, 2 villages)"]]},"09":{"ft":"Tochigi has the largest strawberry harvest in Japan. World Heritage sites, led by Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and the hot springs and highland resorts of Nasu and Kinugawa are all a short distance from the Tokyo area.","tg":["Strawberries (Tochiotome)","Shrines and Temples of Nikko (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Gyoza (dumplings)","Mashiko ware (pottery)"],"pk":[["09201","The prefectural capital, known across Japan as a city of gyoza (dumplings)."],["09206","Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji and Kinugawa Onsen."],["09407","A highland resort with an imperial villa."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"09201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.863 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","6,408 km²"],["Municipalities","25 (14 cities, 11 towns)"]]},"10":{"ft":"Gunma is a \"hot spring kingdom\" with many famous onsen (hot springs), such as Kusatsu, Ikaho and Shima. It once prospered from sericulture (silkworm raising) and silk reeling, and Tomioka Silk Mill is a World Heritage Site that symbolizes the modernization of Japan. Gunma is also known for growing konjac potatoes.","tg":["Kusatsu Onsen","Tomioka Silk Mill (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Konjac","Karakkaze (the dry winter wind of Joshu)"],"pk":[["10426","The Yubatake (hot water field), where abundant hot spring water flows out."],["10202","A producer of daruma dolls and a transport hub."],["10449","A mountain resort with Mt. Tanigawa, rafting and hot springs."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"10201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.866 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","6,362 km²"],["Municipalities","35 (12 cities, 15 towns, 8 villages)"]]},"11":{"ft":"Saitama ranks 5th in Japan in population, and with 40 cities it has the most cities of any prefecture. Many residents commute to central Tokyo, yet history and nature are also close at hand, such as the storehouse-style streets of Kawagoe and the mountains of Chichibu.","tg":["Kawagoe, \"Little Edo\"","Chichibu Night Festival","The Railway Museum","Soka senbei (rice crackers)"],"pk":[["11100","A designated city that includes Omiya and Urawa. Home to the Railway Museum and the Bonsai Village."],["11201","Streets of storehouse-style buildings and the Toki no Kane bell tower."],["11207","The Chichibu Night Festival and sightseeing among the mountains."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"11100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","7.287 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","3,798 km²"],["Municipalities","63 (40 cities, 22 towns, 1 village)"]]},"12":{"ft":"Chiba covers the Boso Peninsula, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides. It has Narita Airport and Tokyo Disney Resort, while agriculture and food industries, such as peanuts, Japanese pears and soy sauce making, are also active. The highest peak in Chiba is the lowest highest point of any prefecture.","tg":["Peanuts","Narita Airport","The seas of Boso","Soy sauce (Noda and Choshi)"],"pk":[["12227","The home of Tokyo Disney Resort."],["12211","Japan's gateway by air, and Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple."],["12202","A town with a large fishing port and soy sauce making."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"12100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","6.257 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","5,156 km²"],["Municipalities","54 (37 cities, 16 towns, 1 village)"]]},"13":{"ft":"Tokyo is the capital of Japan and has about 12% of the country's population. It is the center of politics, the economy and culture, yet it is also diverse, including the mountains of Okutama and the Ogasawara Islands, a World Natural Heritage Site far from the mainland.","tg":["Capital of Japan","23 special wards","Ogasawara (World Natural Heritage Site)","Edo culture"],"pk":[["13101","The heart of Japan, with the Imperial Palace, the National Diet Building and Marunouchi."],["13201","The largest city in the Tama area, home to Mt. Takao."],["13421","A paradise of endemic species with no airport, reached only by ship."]],"st":[["Seat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government",{"muni":"13104"}],["Population (2025 Census)","14.237 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","2,200 km²"],["Wards and municipalities","62 (23 special wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, 8 villages)"]]},"14":{"ft":"Kanagawa ranks 2nd in Japan in population after Tokyo, and it is the only prefecture with 3 designated cities (Yokohama, Kawasaki and Sagamihara). Its sights are varied: Yokohama with its history as an open port, the old capital of Kamakura, the hot springs of Hakone and the Shonan coast.","tg":["Port of Yokohama","Kamakura, the old capital","Hakone hot springs","Shonan"],"pk":[["14100","A population of about 3.75 million, the largest of any city in Japan."],["14204","Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the Great Buddha; an old capital of the samurai."],["14206","Odawara Castle and kamaboko (fish cakes); the gateway to Hakone."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"14100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","9.194 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","2,417 km²"],["Municipalities","33 (19 cities, 13 towns, 1 village)"]]},"15":{"ft":"Niigata Prefecture ranks 1st in Japan for rice harvest, and Uonuma Koshihikari is a byword for premium rice. It also has one of the largest numbers of sake breweries in Japan. With the metalworking of Tsubame-Sanjo and the gold mines of Sado Island, a persistent snow-country spirit of craftsmanship has taken root.","tg":["Koshihikari rice","Sake","Tsubame-Sanjo metalworking","Sado Island Gold Mines (World Cultural Heritage)"],"pk":[["15100","The only designated city on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu. A port town at the mouth of the Shinano River."],["15226","Uonuma Koshihikari rice and ski areas."],["15224","An island of the Japanese crested ibis (toki) and the Sado Gold Mine."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"15100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","2.067 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","12,584 km²"],["Municipalities","30 (20 cities, 6 towns, 4 villages)"]]},"16":{"ft":"A prefecture of great differences in height, from the 3,000 m-class Tateyama Range down to deep Toyama Bay. It is famous for the yellowtail, firefly squid and white shrimp of Toyama Bay, called a \"natural fish tank,\" and for the tradition of the \"Toyama medicine peddlers.\"","tg":["Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route","Seafood of Toyama Bay","Gokayama (World Cultural Heritage)","Traditional medicine trade"],"pk":[["16323","A mountain route to the Yuki-no-Otani snow walls and Kurobe Dam."],["16210","The gassho-style (steep thatched-roof) villages of Gokayama."],["16205","A fishing port known for landings of winter yellowtail (kanburi)."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"16201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","982,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,248 km²"],["Municipalities","15 (10 cities, 4 towns, 1 village)"]]},"17":{"ft":"A prefecture that carries on the castle-town culture of \"Kaga Hyakumangoku\" (Kaga of a million koku of rice). It has a rich layer of traditional crafts such as gold leaf, Kutani ware, Wajima lacquerware and Kaga Yuzen dyeing, and the satoyama and satoumi (village woodlands and coasts) of the Noto Peninsula are designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.","tg":["Kaga Hyakumangoku","Kenroku-en","Wajima lacquerware and Kutani ware","Noto's satoyama and satoumi"],"pk":[["17201","Kenroku-en, the Higashi Chaya district and almost all of Japan's gold leaf production."],["17206","The Kaga Onsen hot springs of Yamanaka, Yamashiro and Katayamazu."],["17204","A town of Wajima lacquerware and a morning market."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"17201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.087 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,191 km²"],["Municipalities","19 (11 cities, 8 towns)"]]},"18":{"ft":"Sabae City is a major producer of eyeglass frames, and the prefecture is also known as a source of dinosaur fossils. With Echizen crab and Eihei-ji Temple, it is a prefecture where cultures of craftsmanship, food and Zen are concentrated.","tg":["Dinosaur kingdom","Eyeglasses (Sabae)","Echizen crab","Eihei-ji Temple"],"pk":[["18206","The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum."],["18207","A major producer of eyeglass frames."],["18210","The sheer cliffs of Tojinbo and Maruoka Castle, with its original keep."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"18201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","729,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,191 km²"],["Municipalities","17 (9 cities, 8 towns)"]]},"19":{"ft":"A basin prefecture surrounded by Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps and Yatsugatake. It ranks 1st in Japan for grape and peach harvests and is also the birthplace of Japanese wine.","tg":["Mt. Fuji (World Cultural Heritage)","Grapes and peaches","Wine","Hoto noodles"],"pk":[["19430","Lake Kawaguchi, with its upside-down reflection of Mt. Fuji, and Fuji Five Lakes sightseeing."],["19213","The wineries of Katsunuma."],["19209","Highlands and famous spring water at the southern foot of Yatsugatake."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"19201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","779,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,465 km²"],["Municipalities","27 (13 cities, 8 towns, 6 villages)"]]},"20":{"ft":"The \"roof of Japan,\" home to the Northern, Central and Southern Alps. Its 35 villages are the most of any prefecture, and it borders 8 prefectures. It is also known for soba, lettuce, apples, miso and long life expectancy.","tg":["Japan Alps","Shinshu soba","Zenko-ji Temple","Skiing and hot springs"],"pk":[["20201","The temple town of Zenko-ji. Host of the 1998 Winter Olympics."],["20202","Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure, and the gateway to the Northern Alps."],["20321","A summer resort since the Meiji era."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"20201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.954 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","13,562 km²"],["Municipalities","77 (19 cities, 23 towns, 35 villages)"]]},"21":{"ft":"Close to the center of Japan's population, it calls itself \"the middle of Japan.\" It is divided into mountainous Hida and the plains of Mino, and traditional industries such as Seki cutlery, Mino ware and Mino washi paper are still alive. Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River has a history of 1,300 years.","tg":["Shirakawa-go (World Cultural Heritage)","Hida Takayama","Seki cutlery","Nagara River cormorant fishing"],"pk":[["21203","Old streets and the Takayama Festival. The largest area of any municipality in Japan."],["21604","Shirakawa-go, a village of gassho-style houses."],["21362","The battlefield of the decisive battle for control of Japan."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"21201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.89 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","10,621 km²"],["Municipalities","42 (21 cities, 19 towns, 2 villages)"]]},"22":{"ft":"A long east-west prefecture embracing Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay. It is famous for tea, and tuna and bonito landings and manufacturing such as pianos and motorcycles are also active. The hot spring towns of the Izu Peninsula are the Tokyo area's nearby retreat.","tg":["Mt. Fuji","Shizuoka tea","Izu hot springs","Hamamatsu musical instruments and motorcycles"],"pk":[["22100","Sunpu Castle, Nihondaira and Shimizu Port."],["22130","A manufacturing city of musical instruments and motorcycles. Eel from Lake Hamana."],["22205","A major historic hot spring resort close to the Tokyo area."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"22100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","3.466 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","7,777 km²"],["Municipalities","35 (23 cities, 12 towns)"]]},"23":{"ft":"It ranks 1st in Japan in the value of manufactured goods shipments and is a center of the car industry, led by Toyota. It is also known for Nagoya-meshi (Nagoya food), Nagoya Castle and its ties to the three great unifiers of the Warring States period (Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Ieyasu).","tg":["Car industry","Nagoya-meshi (local food)","Three great unifiers","Seto ware and Tokoname ware"],"pk":[["23100","The center of the Chukyo area, with a population of about 2.35 million. The golden shachihoko (castle roof ornaments)."],["23211","A company town with the head office of Toyota Motor."],["23215","Inuyama Castle, a National Treasure, and Museum Meiji-mura."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"23100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","7.448 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","5,173 km²"],["Municipalities","54 (38 cities, 14 towns, 2 villages)"]]},"24":{"ft":"Home of Ise Jingu, it is called \"the spiritual home of the Japanese people.\" Besides its rich food, such as spiny lobster, pearls and Matsusaka beef, it also has an industrial side, with the Yokkaichi petrochemical complex and Suzuka Circuit.","tg":["Ise Jingu","Matsusaka beef","Kumano Kodo (World Cultural Heritage)","Pearls"],"pk":[["24203","Ise Jingu and Okage Yokocho."],["24211","Mikimoto Pearl Island and the culture of ama (women divers)."],["24207","Suzuka Circuit, home of the F1 Japanese Grand Prix."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"24201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.693 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","5,774 km²"],["Municipalities","29 (14 cities, 15 towns)"]]},"25":{"ft":"Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, spreads across the center of the prefecture and serves as the \"water jar of Kinki.\" It is also a stage of history, with the Omi merchants' motto \"sanpo yoshi\" (good for seller, buyer and society), Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei and Hikone Castle, a National Treasure.","tg":["Lake Biwa","Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei","Omi merchants","Omi beef"],"pk":[["25201","Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei and the gateway to Lake Biwa."],["25202","Hikone Castle, a National Treasure, and Hikonyan."],["25204","Waterways and the townscape of the Omi merchants."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"25201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.392 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,017 km²"],["Municipalities","19 (13 cities, 6 towns)"]]},"26":{"ft":"The ancient capital that was Japan's capital for more than 1,000 years after the move to Heian-kyo in 794. Many temples and shrines and Nijo Castle are World Heritage Sites, and refined culture such as Nishijin textiles, Kiyomizu ware and Kyoto cuisine lives on. The north, facing the Sea of Japan, is \"Kyoto by the Sea.\"","tg":["Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (World Cultural Heritage)","Uji tea","Amanohashidate","Gion Festival"],"pk":[["26100","Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji and Fushimi Inari. Visitors come all year round."],["26204","Byodo-in's Phoenix Hall and Uji tea."],["26463","A fishing village with funaya boathouses lined up facing the sea."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"26100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","2.5 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,612 km²"],["Municipalities","26 (15 cities, 10 towns, 1 village)"]]},"27":{"ft":"It is the 2nd-smallest prefecture in Japan by area, but 3rd in population. Once a merchant city called \"the nation's kitchen,\" it has a deep-rooted culture of konamon (flour-based foods) such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki, and comedy. Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai was held here in 2025.","tg":["The nation's kitchen","Konamon (flour-based foods)","Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group (World Cultural Heritage)","Comedy"],"pk":[["27100","Dotonbori, Osaka Castle and USJ. The largest city in western Japan."],["27140","The tomb of Emperor Nintoku, cutlery and bicycles."],["27202","The bold Danjiri Festival."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"27100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","8.759 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","1,905 km²"],["Municipalities","43 (33 cities, 9 towns, 1 village)"]]},"28":{"ft":"A varied prefecture facing both the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, made up of five old provinces (Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tanba and Awaji). Its attractions are endless: the international port of Kobe, Himeji Castle, a National Treasure, the hot springs of Arima and Kinosaki, Nada sake and Kobe beef.","tg":["Himeji Castle (World Cultural Heritage)","Port of Kobe","Nada sake","Kinosaki and Arima hot springs"],"pk":[["28100","The exotic atmosphere and night views of a port city, and Arima Onsen."],["28201","Himeji Castle, a National Treasure also called the White Heron Castle."],["28209","Kinosaki Onsen and the home of the Oriental white stork."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"28100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","5.318 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","8,401 km²"],["Municipalities","41 (29 cities, 12 towns)"]]},"29":{"ft":"The place where Japan as a nation began, home to ancient capitals such as Asuka, Fujiwara-kyo and Heijo-kyo. Horyu-ji is known as the oldest wooden building in the world, and with the Great Buddha of Todai-ji, the deer of Nara Park and the cherry blossoms of Yoshino, 1,300 years of history are part of daily life. The south is the deep Kii Mountains.","tg":["Horyu-ji Temple (World Cultural Heritage)","Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara","Cherry blossoms of Yoshino","Kakinoha-zushi (persimmon-leaf sushi)"],"pk":[["29201","Todai-ji, Kasuga-taisha and the deer of Nara Park."],["29344","A town connected with Prince Shotoku, home of Horyu-ji."],["29449","The largest village in Japan, excluding the Northern Territories. The Kumano Kodo and hot springs."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"29201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.268 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","3,691 km²"],["Municipalities","39 (12 cities, 15 towns, 12 villages)"]]},"30":{"ft":"The \"Land of Trees,\" occupying the southwest of the Kii Peninsula. It ranks 1st in Japan for production of mandarins, plums and persimmons. It has two great sacred sites, Mt. Koya and the Kumano Sanzan, and the Nanki hot springs such as Shirahama and Katsuura are also popular.","tg":["Mandarins and Nanko plums","Mt. Koya and Kumano Kodo (World Cultural Heritage)","Shirahama","Yuasa, birthplace of soy sauce"],"pk":[["30344","Mt. Koya, the sacred site of Shingon esoteric Buddhism founded by Kobo Daishi."],["30401","Shirarahama Beach of white sand and Shirahama Onsen, one of Japan's three oldest hot springs."],["30427","Japan's only exclave village. Raft rides and jabara citrus."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"30201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","864,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,725 km²"],["Municipalities","30 (9 cities, 20 towns, 1 village)"]]},"31":{"ft":"Tottori Prefecture has the smallest population of any prefecture in Japan. Its specialties are the Tottori Sand Dunes, Mt. Daisen (the highest peak in the Chugoku region), Matsuba crab (snow crab) and Nijisseiki (20th Century) pears. With Mizuki Shigeru Road in Sakaiminato City, it is also loved as a prefecture of yokai (folklore monsters) and manga.","tg":["Tottori Sand Dunes","Mt. Daisen","Matsuba crab (snow crab)","Nijisseiki pears"],"pk":[["31201","The Tottori Sand Dunes, one of the largest coastal sand dunes in Japan."],["31204","Mizuki Shigeru Road and landings of crab at the port."],["31364","Misasa Onsen, one of the world's leading radon hot springs."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"31201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","523,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","3,507 km²"],["Municipalities","19 (4 cities, 14 towns, 1 village)"]]},"32":{"ft":"Shimane Prefecture is a \"land of the gods\" centered on Izumo, the setting of myths. The gods of all Japan are said to gather in Izumo in the 10th month of the old calendar, so Izumo alone calls it \"Kamiarizuki\" (month with gods). The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine supported the world's silver trade from the Warring States period to the Edo period.","tg":["Izumo Taisha","Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Shijimi clams from Lake Shinji","Oki Islands"],"pk":[["32203","Izumo Taisha, a shrine for matchmaking, and Izumo soba noodles."],["32201","Matsue Castle, a National Treasure with its original keep, and sunsets over Lake Shinji."],["32205","The mine ruins and old townscape of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"32201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","629,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","6,708 km²"],["Municipalities","19 (8 cities, 10 towns, 1 village)"]]},"33":{"ft":"Okayama Prefecture has few rainy days and is called the \"Land of Sunshine.\" It is known as a fruit kingdom for white peaches, Muscat grapes and Pione grapes. It is the land of the Momotaro (Peach Boy) legend, and manufacturing is also active, including Kojima, the birthplace of Japanese-made jeans, and Bizen ware pottery.","tg":["Land of Sunshine","White peaches and Muscat grapes","Momotaro (Peach Boy)","Denim (Kojima)"],"pk":[["33100","Koraku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and Okayama Castle, known as \"Crow Castle.\""],["33202","The white-walled Bikan Historical Quarter and the Kojima Jeans Street."],["33211","The home of Bizen ware, one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"33100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.807 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","7,114 km²"],["Municipalities","27 (15 cities, 10 towns, 2 villages)"]]},"34":{"ft":"Hiroshima Prefecture is the largest prefecture in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. It has 2 World Heritage Sites, the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine, and it continues to send its prayers for peace out to the world. Its oyster farming ranks 1st in Japan, and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) and lemons are also local specialties.","tg":["Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine (World Cultural Heritage Sites)","Oysters","Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki","Shimanami Kaido"],"pk":[["34100","Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The only city in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions with a population of 1 million."],["34213","Miyajima, with its great torii gate that seems to float on the sea."],["34205","A town of slopes and literature, and the starting point of the Shimanami Kaido (a route of bridges across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea)."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"34100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","2.683 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","8,478 km²"],["Municipalities","23 (14 cities, 9 towns)"]]},"35":{"ft":"Yamaguchi Prefecture is at the western end of Honshu and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. It was the land of the Choshu Domain, which drove the Meiji Restoration, and many activists of that time came from Hagi. The prefecture has many sights, such as fugu (pufferfish) in Shimonoseki, the Kintai Bridge and the karst plateau of Akiyoshidai.","tg":["Meiji Restoration","Fugu (pufferfish)","Akiyoshidai and Akiyoshido Cave","Motonosumi Shrine"],"pk":[["35201","A port city on the Kanmon Straits, known as the home of fugu."],["35204","The Shoka Sonjuku school and the castle town. Hagi also has component parts of the Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution."],["35208","The Kintai Bridge, with its 5 beautiful arches."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"35203"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.263 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","6,113 km²"],["Municipalities","19 (13 cities, 6 towns)"]]},"36":{"ft":"Tokushima Prefecture is known for the Awa Odori dance, which has a history of 400 years. The prefecture is rich in nature and tradition, with the Naruto whirlpools, the vine bridge of Iya in a remote mountain area and Awa indigo for indigo dyeing. It is a major producer of sudachi (a small green citrus).","tg":["Awa Odori","Naruto whirlpools","Sudachi","Awa indigo"],"pk":[["36201","Many people from all over Japan visit for the Awa Odori in summer."],["36202","The whirlpools and the Otsuka Museum of Art."],["36302","A \"leaf business\" that sells leaves to garnish dishes, and a Zero Waste Declaration."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"36201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","675,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,147 km²"],["Municipalities","24 (8 cities, 15 towns, 1 village)"]]},"37":{"ft":"Kagawa Prefecture, the smallest prefecture in Japan by area, is called the \"Udon Prefecture.\" Sanuki udon is the everyday food of local people. Because the area gets little rain, many irrigation ponds are scattered across it. The art islands of the Seto Inland Sea, such as Naoshima and Teshima, attract travelers from around the world.","tg":["Sanuki udon","Setouchi Triennale","Kotohira-gu","Olives of Shodo Island"],"pk":[["37201","Ritsurin Garden, a garden of a feudal lord, and the gateway to Shikoku."],["37403","The 785 stone steps of Kotohira-gu, known as \"Konpira-san.\""],["37364","An island of contemporary art, with the Chichu Art Museum and Kusama Yayoi's pumpkin."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"37201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","907,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","1,877 km²"],["Municipalities","17 (8 cities, 9 towns)"]]},"38":{"ft":"Ehime Prefecture has the largest population in Shikoku. It grows many kinds of citrus, mainly unshu mandarin oranges, its farming of red sea bream ranks 1st in Japan, and Imabari towels are known throughout Japan. With Dogo Onsen (hot spring) and its role as the setting of the novel \"Botchan,\" the prefecture also has a literary atmosphere.","tg":["Mandarin oranges and other citrus","Dogo Onsen","Imabari towels","Shimanami Kaido"],"pk":[["38201","Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, and Matsuyama Castle."],["38202","A city of towels and shipbuilding, on the Shikoku side of the Shimanami Kaido."],["38422","A white-walled townscape that prospered from Japanese wax (mokuro), and the Uchiko-za theater."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"38201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.26 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","5,676 km²"],["Municipalities","20 (11 cities, 9 towns)"]]},"39":{"ft":"Forests cover a large part of Kochi Prefecture. It is a warm southern land facing the Pacific Ocean and is known for katsuo no tataki (seared bonito), yuzu citrus and eggplants. It is the hometown of Sakamoto Ryoma, and the clear Shimanto River and the Yosakoi Festival show the spirit of Tosa (the old name of the area).","tg":["Katsuo no tataki (seared bonito)","Sakamoto Ryoma","Shimanto River","Yosakoi Festival"],"pk":[["39201","Kochi Castle with its original keep, the Sunday Market and the Yosakoi Festival."],["39210","\"The last clear river in Japan,\" crossed by chinkabashi (low bridges that floodwater can flow over)."],["39306","A mountain village known throughout Japan for its yuzu products."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"39201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","643,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","7,102 km²"],["Municipalities","34 (11 cities, 17 towns, 6 villages)"]]},"40":{"ft":"Fukuoka Prefecture is the economic and cultural center of Kyushu and has 2 designated cities (large cities with special status): Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Its food culture of yatai (street food stalls), tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, mentaiko (spicy pollock roe) and motsunabe (offal hot pot) is famous. The government-run Yawata Steel Works became a foundation of modern Japanese industry.","tg":["Hakata ramen and mentaiko","Dazaifu Tenmangu","Munakata and Okinoshima (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Hakata Gion Yamakasa"],"pk":[["40130","Population about 1.66 million. Yatai food stalls in Nakasu and a gateway to Asia."],["40100","The Yawata Steel Works and Mojiko Retro."],["40221","Dazaifu Tenmangu, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"40130"}],["Population (2025 Census)","5.078 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,987 km²"],["Municipalities","60 (29 cities, 29 towns, 2 villages)"]]},"41":{"ft":"Saga Prefecture is the birthplace of Japanese porcelain, and Arita ware, Imari ware and Karatsu ware are ceramics known around the world. Nori seaweed farming is active in the Ariake Sea, and Yobuko squid and Saga beef are also excellent. The Yoshinogari site from the Yayoi period is also worth seeing.","tg":["Arita ware","Nori seaweed from the Ariake Sea","Yoshinogari site","Ureshino tea and Ureshino Onsen"],"pk":[["41401","The home of Arita ware, with a history of more than 400 years."],["41202","Yobuko squid and the Karatsu Kunchi festival."],["41201","The Balloon Fiesta, where hot-air balloons fly."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"41201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","781,000"],["Area (2025 Census)","2,441 km²"],["Municipalities","20 (10 cities, 10 towns)"]]},"42":{"ft":"Nagasaki Prefecture has many islands and a long, intricate coastline. Even during the period of national isolation (sakoku), it remained open to other countries through Dejima and developed a unique culture that mixes Japanese, Chinese and Dutch elements. The history of the Hidden Christians (who kept their faith in secret) also remains strong.","tg":["Dejima","Hidden Christian Sites (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Gunkanjima (Hashima Island)","Champon noodles and castella cake"],"pk":[["42201","Glover Garden, the Peace Park and one of the World's New Three Major Night Views."],["42202","Huis Ten Bosch, the Kujuku Islands and the Sasebo burger."],["42211","The Goto Islands, with their churches and beautiful sea."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"42201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.232 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","4,131 km²"],["Municipalities","21 (13 cities, 8 towns)"]]},"43":{"ft":"Kumamoto Prefecture is the \"Land of Fire,\" blessed with Mt. Aso, which has one of the largest calderas (volcanic basins) in the world, and with abundant groundwater. Kumamoto City is a rare city in Japan that supplies all of its tap water from groundwater. The prefecture's production of tomatoes and watermelons ranks 1st in Japan.","tg":["Mt. Aso","Kumamoto Castle","Kumamon","Basashi (raw horse meat)"],"pk":[["43100","Kumamoto Castle, one of the Three Great Castles of Japan, and the Suizen-ji Joju-en garden."],["43214","The crater of Mt. Naka at Aso and vast grasslands."],["43215","Dolphin watching in the Amakusa Islands, and Sakitsu Village."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"43100"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.677 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","7,409 km²"],["Municipalities","45 (14 cities, 23 towns, 8 villages)"]]},"44":{"ft":"Oita Prefecture is the \"Onsen Prefecture,\" with many hot spring sources and a large volume of hot water. The Beppu Hatto (eight hot spring areas of Beppu) and Yufuin attract visitors from Japan and abroad. The prefecture also produces dried shiitake mushrooms and kabosu citrus, and toriten (chicken tempura), Seki-aji (horse mackerel) and Seki-saba (mackerel) are local specialties.","tg":["Onsen Prefecture","Beppu Hells tour (Jigoku Meguri)","Kabosu","Seki-aji and Seki-saba"],"pk":[["44202","A hot spring city where clouds of steam rise."],["44213","Yufuin, a hot spring area with views of Mt. Yufu."],["44211","Usa Jingu, the head shrine of all Hachiman shrines in Japan."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"44201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.076 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","6,341 km²"],["Municipalities","18 (14 cities, 3 towns, 1 village)"]]},"45":{"ft":"Miyazaki Prefecture has long hours of sunshine and calls itself \"Hinata (sunny place) of Japan.\" It is rich in foods such as mangoes, hyuganatsu citrus, Miyazaki beef and jidori (local chicken), and it is a familiar spring camp site for pro baseball. It is also the land of the Tenson Korin myth (the descent of the sun goddess's grandson from heaven).","tg":["Hinata of Japan","Mangoes","Chicken nanban","Takachiho, a land of myths"],"pk":[["45201","Aoshima, with its tropical atmosphere, and the \"Devil's Washboard\" rocks."],["45441","Takachiho Gorge and yokagura (sacred dances performed at night)."],["45204","The castle town of Obi and Udo Jingu, a shrine on a cliff."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"45201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.018 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","7,734 km²"],["Municipalities","26 (9 cities, 14 towns, 3 villages)"]]},"46":{"ft":"Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Kyushu looks out on Sakurajima, a smoking volcano. The prefecture is long from north to south and extends to Yakushima, Tanegashima and the Amami Islands. It is known for a \"black\" food culture, such as black pork, black cattle, sweet potatoes and shochu (distilled liquor), and for Meiji Restoration heroes such as Saigo Takamori.","tg":["Sakurajima","Yakushima and Amami (World Natural Heritage Sites)","Sweet potato shochu","Kurobuta (black pork)"],"pk":[["46201","The prefectural capital, facing Sakurajima."],["46505","An island where the Jomon Sugi, a cedar that is thousands of years old, still stands."],["46210","Natural sand-steam baths at a hot spring on the beach."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"46201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.512 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","9,186 km²"],["Municipalities","43 (19 cities, 20 towns, 4 villages)"]]},"47":{"ft":"Okinawa Prefecture is a subtropical prefecture made up of many islands. It carries on the culture of the former Ryukyu Kingdom, and the sanshin (a three-stringed instrument), Eisa dance and a unique food culture are rooted in daily life.","tg":["Gusuku Sites of the Ryukyu Kingdom (World Cultural Heritage Site)","Churaumi (beautiful sea)","Yambaru (World Natural Heritage Site)","Okinawa soba"],"pk":[["47201","Shuri Castle and Kokusai Street."],["47308","Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium."],["47381","Villages with red-tiled roofs, and the jungle of Iriomote Island."]],"st":[["Prefectural capital",{"muni":"47201"}],["Population (2025 Census)","1.467 million"],["Area (2025 Census)","2,282 km²"],["Municipalities","41 (11 cities, 11 towns, 19 villages)"]]}},"M":{"01100":"Sapporo City is the capital of Hokkaido and the northernmost designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) in Japan. Odori Park runs through the center of its grid-shaped streets, and the Sapporo Snow Festival in winter draws many visitors from Japan and abroad. Other sights include the Clock Tower, the red-brick Former Hokkaido Government Office Building, Hokkaido Jingu Shrine and the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium.","01202":"Hakodate City is the main city of southern Hokkaido, at the southern tip of the Oshima Peninsula. It is a port town that opened to foreign trade at the end of the Edo period, together with Yokohama and Nagasaki. It is famous for the night view from Mt. Hakodate, the star-shaped fort Goryokaku and the sloping streets of Motomachi with the Russian Orthodox church, and it also has Jomon sites, including the place where the hollow clay figure (a National Treasure) was found.","01203":"Otaru City is a port town that prospered as a coal shipping port, and the first railway in Hokkaido ran here. Its streets, once lined with banks and called the \"Wall Street of the North,\" still have retro buildings such as the warehouses along the canal and the Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch. Otaru Aquarium and Temiya Cave are also worth seeing.","01204":"Asahikawa City is the main city of northern Hokkaido, spread across the Kamikawa Basin. It is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) with the second largest population in Hokkaido after Sapporo. Its features include Asahiyama Zoo, known for showing animals in their natural behavior, woodworking such as Asahikawa furniture, and outdoor sculptures on street corners. Its buckwheat production is 2nd in Japan, and in winter it is also a base for skiing.","01205":"Muroran City is a \"steel town\" with a fine natural harbor protected by the Etomo Peninsula, and it is a port city of heavy industry with ironworks and steelworks. Sights include the night view of the factories, Hakucho Bridge and Cape Chikyu (Cape Chikiu) with its long cliffs. In the nearby sea, visitors can also see dolphins and whales.","01206":"Kushiro City is a port city on the Pacific coast of eastern Hokkaido, and its area includes parts of 2 national parks: Kushiro-shitsugen and Akan-Mashu. Sights include Lake Akan, known for its marimo (balls of green algae), the onsen (hot spring) town on its shore, and Nusamai Bridge at the mouth of the Kushiro River. Kushiro is also known as a foggy port town.","01207":"Obihiro City is the main city of the Tokachi Plain. In the Meiji era, the Banseisha company led by Yoda Benzo came here to develop the land. Its potato production is 1st in Japan, and wheat and soybeans also rank high, so the city is a center for collecting farm products. Ban'ei horse racing, in which horses pull heavy sleds, is now held only in Obihiro.","01208":"Kitami City is the largest city by area in Hokkaido and stretches from the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk to Sekihoku Pass. Its onion production is 1st in Japan, and it is also the birthplace of scallop farming. The history of peppermint production remains here, and the Tokoro district is known as a curling town that has produced many Olympic athletes.","01209":"Yubari City is a coal mining town that prospered as the center of the Ishikari Coalfield, and it is known for producing Yubari melons. After the mines closed, the city fell into serious financial trouble and came under a national financial rebuilding program. Visitors can learn the history of coal mining at the Coal Mine Museum, and the Sangen Bridge, an old railway bridge, lies under the water of Lake Shuparo.","01210":"Iwamizawa City is the main city of the Sorachi region in the eastern Ishikari Plain, and it is a transport hub where railways and roads meet in a radial pattern. It was once a railway town with a large rail yard for shipping coal. Its rapeseed production is 1st in Japan and its soybean production is 2nd, and the city also has Hokkaido Green Land.","01211":"Abashiri City faces the Sea of Okhotsk and is surrounded by lakes such as Lake Abashiri, Lake Notoro and Lake Tofutsu. Drift ice reaches the coast in winter, and in autumn the glasswort (sangoso) on Lake Notoro turns the shore red. Sights include a museum about the history of Abashiri Prison, the Museum of Northern Peoples and the Moyoro Shell Midden of the Okhotsk culture.","01212":"Rumoi City is the main city of the Rumoi region on the Sea of Japan. Herring is still landed here, and it is the largest place in Japan for processing kazunoko (herring roe). Sights include the sunset seen from Cape Ogon and the Former Rumoi Saga Family Fishery, which preserves a banya (herring fishermen's lodge). Rumoi Port also supports the logistics of the region.","01213":"Tomakomai City is a leading industrial port city of Hokkaido on the Pacific Ocean. It has the Port of Tomakomai, which opened as the world's first port dug out of inland ground. The city developed as a papermaking town, and its catch of surf clams (hokkigai) is the largest in Japan. Lake Utonai, where wild birds gather, and Mt. Tarumae are close by.","01214":"Wakkanai City is the northernmost city on the main islands of Japan. On clear days, Sakhalin (Karafuto) can be seen from Cape Soya. The city developed as a fishing city for offshore fishing, and ferries leave here for Rishiri Island and Rebun Island. Other sights include the Soya Hills, shaped by periglacial processes, and the sunset at Cape Noshappu.","01215":"Bibai City is in the central Sorachi region and was once one of the leading coal towns in Hokkaido, with mines opened by Mitsubishi and Mitsui. Sights include Arte Piazza Bibai, a sculpture museum of works by Yasuda Kan in a former elementary school, and Miyajima-numa Pond, where migrating greater white-fronted geese rest. Its rapeseed production is 3rd in Japan.","01216":"Ashibetsu City is a large city covering the northern part of the Yubari Mountains, and about 90% of its area is mountains and forests. After the coal mines closed, the city focused on tourism and calls itself \"the village where stars fall.\" Sights include climbing Mt. Ashibetsu, Sandan Falls, Canadian World Park and Ashibetsu Onsen (hot springs).","01217":"Ebetsu City is a commuter town in the Ishikari Plain, next to Sapporo on the east, with the Ishikari River flowing through it. Brickmaking has been active here since the Meiji era, and \"Ebetsu bricks\" were chosen as a Hokkaido Heritage. Other features are Nopporo Forest Park, a lowland forest that is rare near a big city, and many universities and food research institutes.","01218":"Akabira City is a former coal mining city in the basin of the Sorachi River. After the mines closed, the city has worked on tourism using its mining heritage, such as the long stairway on a slag heap and a huge mine shaft tower. It also has a campground and hot springs, and folk tales about a white snake and a snow woman (yuki-onna) are told here.","01219":"Monbetsu City is a port town near the middle of the Sea of Okhotsk coast, and drift ice reaches it in winter. It is known for the Garinko icebreaker sightseeing ship, the Okhotsk Sea Ice Science Center and the Tokkari Center, which protects seals. Dairy farming and field crops are produced in the basin of the Shokotsu River.","01220":"Shibetsu City grew up where the Teshio River and the Kenbuchi River meet. It began as one of the last tondenhei (farmer-soldier) villages and developed as a town where farm products from the area were gathered. It is known as a \"sheep town\" where sheep are raised, and its soybean and buckwheat production are both 3rd in Japan. In the cool summer it is busy with sports training camps, and it is also a base for climbing Mt. Teshio.","01221":"Nayoro City is the main city of northern Hokkaido in the Nayoro Basin, and its town area spreads near where the Teshio River and the Nayoro River meet. It is a leading producer of glutinous rice (mochi rice) and has the roadside station \"Mochigome no Sato Nayoro.\" Sunpillar Park, named after the sun pillars (columns of light) that appear on very cold mornings, is also worth seeing.","01222":"Mikasa City is in the southern Sorachi region. The first railway in Hokkaido was built here to carry coal from the Horonai Coal Mine. Many fossils, such as ammonites, are found here, and the whole city is the Mikasa Geopark. The Mikasa City Museum, the Mikasa Railway Memorial Museum and local products such as Mikasa melons are also known.","01223":"Nemuro City is the easternmost city in Japan, covering the whole Nemuro Peninsula and the Habomai Islands. From Cape Nosappu, the easternmost point of the main islands, the Northern Territories can be seen up close. Fishing, including hanasaki crab, is active, and Lake Furen and Shunkunitai, where wild birds gather, and the offshore islands of Yururi and Moyururi are also known.","01224":"Chitose City has New Chitose Airport, the main air gateway to Hokkaido. It has grown together with Self-Defense Force bases, and its average age is the youngest in Hokkaido. Lake Shikotsu, the northernmost lake in Japan that does not freeze, has very clear water and hot springs on its shore. On the Chitose River there is also an aquarium where visitors can watch salmon swimming upstream.","01225":"Takikawa City is the main city of central Sorachi, where the Ishikari River and the Sorachi River meet, and it is a transport hub where the Hakodate Main Line and the Nemuro Main Line separate. Its rapeseed production is 2nd in Japan, and in early summer the rapeseed fields turn yellow. It is also known for using gliders to promote the town and for its Jingisukan (grilled mutton) restaurants.","01226":"Sunagawa City is in the central Sorachi region, south of where the Ishikari River and the Sorachi River meet. It has many sweet shops, and the national highway through the city is called the \"Sunagawa Sweet Road.\" The city focuses on greening, its city park area per resident is the largest in Japan, and it also has the Hokkaido Children's Land park.","01227":"Utashinai City, in the mountains of the Sorachi region, is the city with the smallest population in Japan. It prospered with the coal industry, but its population fell sharply as the mines closed. The city is working on tourism, with the Kamuidake ski area, hot springs and Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Chiroru-no-Yu.","01228":"Fukagawa City is at the northern end of the Ishikari Plain, with rice paddies along the Ishikari River, and it is a transport hub of northern Sorachi. It has Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Rice Land Fukagawa, which has rice as its theme, and its buckwheat production is 4th in Japan. The Otoe Stone Circle from the Jomon period also remains here.","01229":"Furano City is the main city of the Furano Basin, almost in the center of Hokkaido. It is known as the setting of the TV drama \"Kita no Kuni kara\" (From the North), and many travelers visit its lavender fields and the farmland with views of the Tokachi mountain range. It has the Furano Ski Resort with good snow, and its onion production is 5th in Japan.","01230":"Noboribetsu City has Noboribetsu Onsen, one of the leading hot spring resorts in Hokkaido, famous for the volcanic steam of Jigokudani (Hell Valley). Development began in the Meiji era, when former retainers of the Katakura family, lords of Shiroishi Castle in the Sendai Domain, moved here. The city also has a bear park, Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe and a memorial museum of Chiri Yukie.","01231":"Eniwa City lies between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. Through community efforts to grow flowers, it is known as a \"gardening town.\" The streets of the Megumino district and Ecorin Village are popular. The western part of the city is in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, where Mt. Eniwa rises.","01233":"Date City is on the northeast shore of Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay). In the early Meiji era, the Watari Date family, a branch of the Sendai Domain's ruling family, moved here with its retainers to develop the land. The Kitakogane Shell Mound from the Jomon period is a component of a World Heritage Site, and the city is the only producer of indigo in Hokkaido. The separate Otaki district has Kita-Yuzawa Onsen (hot springs) and Sankai Falls.","01234":"Kitahiroshima City spreads over gentle hills between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. Its name comes from the \"Hiroshima Kaikon,\" the land development by settlers from Hiroshima Prefecture in the Meiji era. A new town is being built around ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, the home stadium of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team, and the city also has a Mitsui Outlet Park.","01235":"Ishikari City borders Sapporo on the north and stretches a long way north to south along the Sea of Japan from the mouth of the Ishikari River. It prospered from salmon fishing, and it gave its name to Ishikari nabe (salmon hot pot). The Hamamasu district has the remains of the Shonai Domain's Hamamashike Jin'ya (government post), and a steep coastline continues to Cape Ofuyu at the northern end.","01236":"Hokuto City was formed by the merger of Kamiiso Town and Ono Town, and it has Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen. It is next to Hakodate on the west and faces the Tsugaru Strait, and it is known for the first Trappist monastery in Japan. Its summer green onion production is 3rd in Japan, and the remains of the Hekirichi Jin'ya fort are also here.","01303":"Tobetsu Town is in the northeastern Ishikari Plain and is long from north to south, with mountains in the north and farmland in the south. Rice and flowers are widely grown. It has Sweden Hills, a residential area in Scandinavian style, and its roadside station also uses the theme \"Nordic wind.\" It is also a college town with the Health Sciences University of Hokkaido.","01304":"Shinshinotsu Village is the only village in the Ishikari Subprefecture. All of its land is in the Ishikari Plain, and most of it is rice paddies. Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Shinshinotsu stands on the shore of Lake Shinotsu, an oxbow lake formed when a bend of the Ishikari River was cut off. Place names linked to settlers from Shiso District in Hyogo Prefecture also remain.","01331":"Matsumae Town has Cape Shirakami, the southernmost point of Hokkaido. It prospered as the castle town of the Matsumae Domain and was also called the \"Little Kyoto of the North.\" Matsumae Park, where Matsumae Castle stands, is a famous cherry blossom spot with about 10,000 trees of about 250 varieties, including varieties that originated in Matsumae, so the blossoms last a long time. It is also the warmest place in Hokkaido.","01332":"Fukushima Town faces the Tsugaru Strait in the southwestern Oshima Peninsula, and it was the Hokkaido-side base for building the Seikan Tunnel. It is known as the hometown of two yokozuna (sumo grand champions), Chiyonoyama and Chiyonofuji, and it has a memorial museum and the roadside station \"Yokozuna no Sato Fukushima.\" Visitors can learn the history of the tunnel construction at the Seikan Tunnel Memorial Museum.","01333":"Shiriuchi Town is in the southwestern Oshima Peninsula, and its town center spreads along the lower Shiriuchi River. The Yunosato district has the Hokkaido-side entrance of the Seikan Tunnel, through which the Hokkaido Shinkansen runs. It is said that many of the hawks that the Matsumae Domain presented to the shogun's family were caught here, and it is also the hometown of the singer Kitajima Saburo.","01334":"Kikonai Town faces the Tsugaru Strait in the southwestern Oshima Peninsula. It has Kikonai Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen and is a transport hub where the South Hokkaido Railway branches off. It is known for the Kanchu Misogi Festival, in which young men purify themselves in the sea in midwinter, and its roadside station is also named \"Misogi no Sato.\" Cape Saraki is also worth seeing.","01337":"Nanae Town is next to Hakodate on the north. Its northern part has Onuma Quasi-National Park, which includes Mt. Hokkaido-Komagatake and the lakes Onuma, Konuma and Junsainuma. Vegetable farming is active, using the warmest climate in Hokkaido; its summer green onion production is 2nd in Japan and its spring daikon radish production is 4th. It is also a commuter town for Hakodate.","01343":"Shikabe Town is a fishing town on Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay) at the southeastern foot of Mt. Komagatake, with 3 fishing ports. It has Shikabe Onsen (hot springs), where a legend says deer healed their wounds in the hot water. At Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Shikabe Kanketsusen Park, visitors can see a geyser that shoots up hot water at regular intervals.","01345":"Mori Town is on the southern shore of Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay) at the northern foot of Mt. Komagatake, and it is the only town in Hokkaido whose name is read \"machi\" (town) instead of \"cho.\" It is known across Japan for the ekiben (station lunch box) \"ikameshi\" (squid stuffed with rice). It has Oniushi Park, a famous cherry blossom spot, the Jomon-period Washinoki Site and Nigorikawa Onsen (hot springs). After merging with the former Sawara Town, the town area surrounds Mt. Komagatake.","01346":"Yakumo Town is in the northern Oshima Peninsula and is the only town in Japan that faces both the Pacific Ocean (Uchiura Bay) and the Sea of Japan. The Owari Tokugawa family led the development of the land, and the town is the birthplace of the carved wooden bear, a well-known Hokkaido souvenir. Dairy farming is active, and there are also Funkawan Panorama Park and hot springs in the Kumaishi district.","01347":"Oshamambe Town is at the base of the Oshima Peninsula on Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay), and it prospered as a transport hub where the Hakodate Main Line and the Muroran Main Line separate. It is known for the ekiben (station lunch box) \"kanimeshi\" (crab rice). A coast with long, shallow sandy beaches and farmland along the Oshamambe River spread here, and Futamata Radium Onsen (hot springs) is in the mountains.","01361":"Esashi Town is the main town of the Hiyama region on the Sea of Japan, and it is a port town that prospered from herring fishing. It is the birthplace of the folk song \"Esashi Oiwake,\" and during the summer Ubagami Daijingu Togyosai Festival, splendid floats parade through the town. It has Kamome Island just offshore and a port with ferries to Okushiri Island.","01362":"Kaminokuni Town is at the southern end of the Hiyama region on the Sea of Japan. The remains of Katsuyamadate, a fortified residence built in the medieval period by Takeda Nobuhiro, the founder of the Matsumae clan, are on Mt. Ioh, and the summit has a full view of the Sea of Japan and the town. There are also the old Jokoku-ji Temple and Yunotai Onsen (hot springs), with farming villages along the Amano River and fishing villages along the coast.","01363":"Assabu Town is an inland town in the Hiyama region, and about 80% of its area is forest. It is an important place for science, where the northern limit of hiba (a cypress) and Japanese white pine overlaps with the southern limit of Sakhalin fir. It is said to be the birthplace of the May Queen potato, and it has Mt. Taiko, known for azaleas and autumn leaves, and the ruins of Tate Castle, a site of the Battle of Hakodate.","01364":"Otobe Town is in the Hiyama region on the Sea of Japan, and it prospered as a herring fishing port from the middle of the Edo period. Mountains come close to the coast, and about 81% of the town is forest. Much of the coast, with capes such as Tatenomisaki and Shibinomisaki, is a prefectural natural park, and the Sea of Japan can be seen from Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Route 229 Gennadai.","01367":"Okushiri Town covers the whole of Okushiri Island in the Sea of Japan, and it has the warmest winters in Hokkaido. It is rich in seafood such as sea urchin and abalone, and its sights include Nabetsuru Rock, the symbol of the island, and Kamuiwaki Onsen (hot springs). The island suffered great damage from the tsunami of the Hokkaido Nansei-oki Earthquake and has since recovered.","01370":"Imakane Town is an inland town without a coast in the Hiyama region, in the basin of the Shiribeshi-Toshibetsu River. It is a potato-growing area known for \"Imakane Danshaku\" potatoes. The town name comes from the family names of the settlers Imamura Tojiro and Kanamori Ishiro. It has Lake Pirika, a dam lake, Okupirika Onsen (hot springs) and the Pirika Site.","01371":"Setana Town is in the northern Hiyama region on the Sea of Japan, and it was formed by the merger of the towns of Setana, Kitahiyama and Taisei. A rugged coast continues here, with Cape Obana, the westernmost point of Hokkaido excluding outlying islands, and Ota Shrine, which has a small shrine partway up a cliff. Visitors can also climb Mt. Kariba and enjoy Usubetsu Onsen (hot springs).","01391":"Shimamaki Village is in the southern Shiribeshi region on the Sea of Japan, and mountains such as Mt. Kariba come close to the sea. Garo Falls, one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, is known for its powerful appearance, and hot springs such as Kinkayu flow by the sea. In the Edo period, the Matsumae Domain also opened a gold mine here.","01392":"Suttsu Town faces Suttsu Bay on the Sea of Japan side, and it is known for wind power generation that uses the \"dashi kaze,\" a strong south wind that blows from spring to summer. A legend of Benkei remains at Cape Benkei, where his statue stands looking at the sea. Oysters from Suttsu Bay are a local specialty, and the town lies between the mountains and the sea, with only a small plain along the Shubuto River.","01393":"Kuromatsunai Town is an inland town at the southern end of the Shiribeshi region, known as the northern limit of natural beech forests; the Utasai Beech Forest is a Natural Monument. From the town boundary, the coasts of both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan are only about 200 m away. The town was opened in the Meiji era by settlers who were retainers of Date Kuninari and former samurai of the Tonami Domain.","01394":"Rankoshi Town spreads over the basin of the Shiribetsu River in the western Shiribeshi region, and it is a rice-growing area known for \"Rankoshi rice.\" Many hot springs, such as Goshiki Onsen and Niseko Yumoto Onsen, are scattered at the western foot of the Niseko mountains, and the Minato district on the Sea of Japan has a shell museum (Kai no Yakata).","01395":"Niseko Town spreads over the southern foot of Mt. Niseko-Annupuri, and it is a year-round resort where many people from abroad come to its ski areas for the powder snow. It is known as the first local government in Japan to adopt a basic ordinance on local self-government. The Arishima Memorial Museum stands on the site of the farm of the writer Arishima Takeo.","01396":"Makkari Village is a farming village at the southern foot of Mt. Yotei. Its summer daikon radish production is 3rd in Japan, and its autumn carrot production is 6th. It is also known for producing lily bulbs. Spring water from Mt. Yotei flows here, and a bronze statue stands for the singer Hosokawa Takashi, who was born here. The village has Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Makkari Flower Center.","01397":"Rusutsu Village is a highland village with views of Mt. Yotei and Mt. Shiribetsu, known for Rusutsu Resort with an amusement park and ski areas. Its summer daikon radish production is 1st in Japan, and field farming is active. It was originally called Makkari Village and is the parent village from which Niseko Town, Kimobetsu Town and Makkari Village were separated.","01398":"Kimobetsu Town is an inland town at the eastern foot of Mt. Yotei, with Nakayama Pass on its border with Sapporo. Mt. Yotei can be seen from Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Boyo Nakayama at the pass, where the local \"age-imo\" (deep-fried potatoes) are popular. The winters here are very cold with much snow, and fields spread along the basin of the Shiribetsu River.","01399":"Kyogoku Town is at the eastern foot of Mt. Yotei, and its name comes from the Kyogoku Farm opened in the Meiji era by Kyogoku Takanori of the family of the former lords of the Marugame Domain. Fukidashi Park, where large amounts of spring water from Mt. Yotei gush out, was chosen as one of Japan's 100 best waters, and many people come to collect the water. Its autumn carrot production is 8th in Japan.","01400":"Kutchan Town is the main town of the Shiribeshi region, where the Shiribeshi General Subprefectural Bureau is located, and it lies between Mt. Yotei and Mt. Niseko-Annupuri. It is known for producing potatoes, and many people from abroad visit the ski resorts in the Hirafu and Hanazono districts. Because of resort development, its rate of land price increase was once 1st in Japan.","01401":"Kyowa Town is in the western Shiribeshi region, between the base of the Shakotan Peninsula and the Niseko mountains, and it was formed by the merger of the 3 villages of Kozawa, Maeda and Hattari. It is known for producing \"Raiden watermelons.\" Shinsen-numa Pond in the Niseko mountains is a scenic spot with beautiful wetlands and ponds, and the town also has the Kakashi Furusatokan museum.","01402":"Iwanai Town is a port town on Iwanai Bay at the base of the Shakotan Peninsula. It is said to have begun when Omi merchants took over the management of the fishing grounds in the Edo period. It prospered from herring fishing and has a museum of the painter Kida Kinjiro. The Raiden Coast with its cliffs and unusual rocks, Raiden Onsen (hot springs) and Mt. Iwanai are also worth seeing.","01403":"Tomari Village is on the southwestern side of the Shakotan Peninsula on the Sea of Japan, and it has the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, the only nuclear power plant in Hokkaido. It has prospered from herring fishing since long ago, and the \"Nishin Goten Tomari,\" a herring fishing mansion, remains to show that prosperity. At the end of the Edo period, the Kayanuma Coal Mine was opened, and Sakazuki Onsen (hot springs) flows by the sea.","01404":"Kamoenai Village is a fishing village on the western side of the Shakotan Peninsula on the Sea of Japan. From the Edo period to the early Showa era, herring fishing supported people's lives. It is one of the areas in Hokkaido with the mildest winter cold. Unusual rocks line the coast, and the village has Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Osukoi! Kamoenai.","01405":"Shakotan Town covers the tip of the Shakotan Peninsula, and it is known for Cape Kamui, which juts out into clear water called \"Shakotan Blue.\" Its coast of cliffs is designated as the only marine park area in Hokkaido. It is the home of the folk song \"Soran Bushi,\" which comes from the herring fishing that made the town prosper, and fresh sea urchin in summer is a local specialty.","01406":"Furubira Town is a port town on the northeastern side of the Shakotan Peninsula, with a fine natural harbor at the mouth of the Furubira River. A herring fishing ground was set up here in the early Edo period, and from the Meiji era on the town developed as the center of eastern Shakotan. Except for the area around the port, the coast has cliffs and unusual rocks and is a scenic area.","01407":"Niki Town spreads along the middle part of the Yoichi River, and it is a fruit town with orchards lined up along the foot of the mountains. There are many farms where visitors can pick fruit such as cherries, and its summer-autumn tomato production is 9th in Japan. The town name comes from Niki Takekichi, who led settlers here from Awa (Tokushima Prefecture) in the Meiji era.","01408":"Yoichi Town is at the base of the Shakotan Peninsula on the Sea of Japan. It is a \"fruit kingdom of the north,\" where apples, grapes and other fruits are widely grown. Its vineyards for wine grapes are the largest in Hokkaido, and it also has the Nikka Whisky distillery. Historic sights are many, such as the Former Shimo-Yoichi Unjoya (a trading post) and Fugoppe Cave.","01409":"Akaigawa Village is southwest of Otaru, and its village center and farmland spread over a caldera basin that forms a neat circle. It is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association, and the Kiroro ski resort is in its mountains. It is one of the areas with the heaviest snowfall in Hokkaido.","01423":"Nanporo Town is a farming town in the southern Ishikari Plain, surrounded by the Chitose River and the Yubari River, with farmland laid out in a grid. Its rapeseed production is 5th in Japan. Its population has grown as a commuter town for Sapporo and is still increasing in recent years. Cabbage kimchi is a local specialty.","01424":"Naie Town is in the central Sorachi region, with its town center on the left bank of the Ishikari River, and it once prospered from the coal industry. After the mines closed, the town has promoted farming and industry while focusing on welfare. It has Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Hausjarvi Naie, named after its sister city in Finland.","01425":"Kamisunagawa Town is in the mountains of the Sorachi region and prospered as a coal-producing area of the Kamisunagawa Coalfield. It is the smallest local government by area in Hokkaido, and its town area stretches along the valley of the Pankeutashinai River. The station building of the former Kamisunagawa Station, the setting of the TV drama \"Kino, Kanashibetsu de,\" still remains.","01427":"Yuni Town is a farming town at the southern end of the Sorachi region, east of Sapporo. It has Yuni Garden, an English-style garden, and Yuni Onsen (hot springs), and it is also known for a river named \"Yarikirenai River\" (a name that sounds like \"unbearable\" in Japanese). The Umaoi Hills lie to the west, the Yubari River flows to the east, and the southeastern part is forest in the Yubari Mountains.","01428":"Naganuma Town is a farming town in the southern Sorachi region, with farmland at the foot of the Umaoi Hills. Its soybean production is 5th in Japan and its rapeseed production is 6th, and Jingisukan (grilled mutton) is also a local specialty. Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Maoi-no-Oka Park on a hill has a full view of the Ishikari Plain, and the town also has Naganuma Onsen (hot springs).","01429":"Kuriyama Town is in the southern Sorachi region. It began with land development by samurai of the Kakuda Domain in Miyagi Prefecture and was once called Kakuda Village. Because the singer Sakamoto Kyu spent his boyhood here, the town has a memorial museum for him. It has Kobayashi Sake Brewery, a long-established sake brewery, and its onion production is 10th in Japan.","01430":"Tsukigata Town is in the western Sorachi region along the Ishikari River. Its name comes from Tsukigata Kiyoshi, the first warden of the Kabato Prison, which was set up in the Meiji era. Prisoners did development work such as building roads, and Nagakura Shinpachi of the Shinsengumi taught swordsmanship here. The Tsukigata Kabato Museum tells this history.","01431":"Urausu Town is in the Sorachi region on the right bank of the Ishikari River, and many ponds such as Tsurunuma are scattered along the river. Settlers such as Sakamoto Naohiro, a nephew of Sakamoto Ryoma, came to this land. Vineyards for wine grapes spread on the shore of Tsurunuma, and the town has Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Tsurunuma.","01432":"Shintotsukawa Town was opened by 2489 people from Totsukawa Village in Nara Prefecture who settled here after their village was hit by the great Totsukawa flood in the Meiji era. The town still calls Totsukawa Village its \"mother village\" and keeps up exchanges with it. It lies between the mountains around Mt. Shokanbetsu and the Ishikari River, and rice farming is active.","01433":"Moseushi Town is in the middle of the Uryu Plain in the northern Sorachi region, and all of its land is flat. It is one of the leading grain-producing areas in Hokkaido, specializing in rice farming, and it also grows rice without pesticides by using herbs. Its town center is on the right bank of the Ishikari River, surrounded by rice paddies.","01434":"Chippubetsu Town is in the northern Sorachi region, with rice paddies along the Uryu River, and it began as a tondenhei (farmer-soldier) village in the Meiji era. It calls itself \"the town where bells ring,\" and its roadside station also carries that name. It has Rose Garden Chippubetsu, where many roses bloom, and Chippubetsu Onsen (hot springs).","01436":"Uryu Town is in the northern Sorachi region, with its town center and rice paddies on the right bank of the Uryu River. East of Mt. Shokanbetsu lies the Uryunuma Wetland, a high moor where many flowers bloom in early summer and many climbers visit. Development began with the Kazoku Kumiai Uryu Farm, a farm of a group of Meiji-era nobles.","01437":"Hokuryu Town is in the northern Sorachi region, and its area of sunflower fields is one of the largest in Japan. In summer, many people visit the \"Himawari no Sato\" (Sunflower Village), where a whole hill is covered with sunflowers, and the town is developing itself around sunflowers. Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Sunflower Hokuryu also has a hot spring.","01438":"Numata Town is in the northern Sorachi region, on the north bank of the Uryu River. Its name comes from a farm opened by Numata Kisaburo from Toyama. It is known for the \"Yotaka Andon Festival,\" in which large lanterns parade on summer nights, and it has a fossil experience museum and Horoshin Onsen (hot springs).","01452":"Takasu Town is next to Asahikawa on the north, in a small basin north of the Kamikawa Basin, with roads laid out in a grid. The Kitano district in the south has been developed as a commuter town for Asahikawa. Its specialty is the tomato juice \"Okami no Momo,\" and it has Arashiyama Park and the Hokuho Wild Plants Garden.","01453":"Higashikagura Town is next to Asahikawa and has Asahikawa Airport. It has won national awards for creating a town of flowers and is known as a \"town of flowers.\" With housing development in the Hijirino district, it has grown as a commuter town for Asahikawa, and it also has Higashikagura Forest Park.","01454":"Toma Town is at the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountains, at the eastern end of the Kamikawa Basin, and it is one of Hokkaido's leading producers of high-quality rice. It is known for the brand watermelon \"Densuke,\" which has a pitch-black skin. About 65% of the town is forest, so forestry is also active. The town also has the Toma Limestone Cave.","01455":"Pippu Town is in the northwestern Kamikawa Basin and has an unusual name that begins with the sound \"pi.\" It has the Kamikawa Agricultural Experiment Station, which developed the popular rice variety \"Yumepirika,\" and it calls itself \"the town of skiing and strawberries.\" At its northern end is Shiokari Pass, known as the setting of a novel.","01456":"Aibetsu Town is at the northeastern end of the Kamikawa Basin, where the Aibetsu River flows into the Ishikari River, and it is known for producing mushrooms. It lies on the way from Asahikawa to Sounkyo Gorge. Most of the town is forest, with a chain of mountains such as Mt. Sarufu that have no climbing trails.","01457":"Kamikawa Town is the northern gateway to the Daisetsuzan mountains, and Sounkyo Onsen, one of the leading hot spring towns in Hokkaido, is at the trailhead for Mt. Kuro. In Sounkyo Gorge, with its long cliffs, are Ginga Falls and Ryusei Falls, and the autumn leaves at Daisetsu Kogen Onsen are also a famous view. The town also promotes \"Kamikawa ramen.\"","01458":"Higashikawa Town is at the foot of the Daisetsuzan mountains and includes Mt. Asahi, the highest peak in Hokkaido, and Asahidake Onsen (hot springs). It is a town without public water mains, where people live on groundwater from the Daisetsuzan mountains, and it is building the community around photography as the \"Town of Photography.\" As more people move here, cafes and workshops have opened, and its population is growing.","01459":"Biei Town spreads out at the foot of the Mt. Tokachi mountain range, with rolling hills, and is known for its patchwork-like scenery of fields. The \"Blue Pond\" and Shirahige Falls in the Shirogane area and the flower fields of Shikisai-no-oka are popular. The town also has Takushinkan, the gallery of Maeda Shinzo, a photographer who kept photographing the hills. Its summer-autumn tomatoes rank 4th in Japan.","01460":"Kamifurano Town spreads out at the western foot of Mt. Tokachi, and it is the place where lavender was first grown as a farm crop. The lavender fields of Hinode Park and Kanno Farm are popular, and there are many mountain hot springs, such as Tokachidake Onsen and Fukiage Onsen. The town has a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force camp, and about 30% of the population are its members and their families.","01461":"Nakafurano Town is a \"lavender town\" in the center of the Furano Basin, and many people visit Farm Tomita, where flowers cover the hills. The hills are used for fields and the flat land for rice paddies, and its onion production is 7th in Japan. It is an inland town with one of the largest differences between summer and winter temperatures in Hokkaido.","01462":"Minamifurano Town lies south of the Furano Basin, surrounded by mountains on all sides, and about 90% of its area is forest. In its center is Lake Kanayama, the reservoir of Kanayama Dam, and the former Ikutora Station was a setting of the film \"Poppoya\" (Railroad Man). The town made the first ordinance in Japan to protect the Sakhalin taimen (itou), a large fish, and its autumn carrots rank 5th in Japan.","01463":"Shimukappu Village lies in the uppermost part of the Mu River, surrounded by mountains on all sides, and it has the highland resort Hoshino Resorts Tomamu. Many people work at the resort, which is known for its Unkai (Sea of Clouds) Terrace, and the population has grown greatly in recent years. The Doto Expressway passes through the village, and there is the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Shizentaikan Shimukappu.","01464":"Wassamu Town spreads out at the foot of Shiokari Pass, and it has the Shiokari Pass Museum, linked to a novel by Miura Ayako. Its specialty is overwintered cabbage, which becomes sweeter under the snow. As a town where cross-country skiing is popular, it has produced many of Japan's top athletes. It is a hilly town at the southern end of the Nayoro Basin.","01465":"Kenbuchi Town lies along the Kenbuchi River, a tributary of the Teshio River, and it develops the town through picture books as a \"Picture Book Village.\" It holds an exhibition of original art from picture books from around the world, and it also has a special library, the \"Picture Book House.\" Its soba (buckwheat) production is 8th in Japan, and field farming is active.","01468":"Shimokawa Town lies east of the Nayoro Basin and once prospered from forestry and copper mining. It uses its forest resources for biomass energy to become self-sufficient in energy, and it received the Prime Minister's Award at the 1st Japan SDGs Awards. It is a ski jumping town with 4 jumping hills, and it has produced Olympic athletes.","01469":"Bifuka Town is in northern Hokkaido, with the Teshio River flowing from south to north, and forest covers most of the town. \"Torokko Okoku Bifuka,\" where visitors ride pedal-powered rail carts along the closed Bikou Line, is popular, and there are Bifuka Onsen (hot springs) and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Bifuka. Surrounded by the Teshio Mountains and the Kitami Mountains, the town is a designated area of especially heavy snow.","01470":"Otoineppu Village lies midway between Asahikawa and Wakkanai and has the smallest population of any municipality in Hokkaido. It is known for the dark-colored \"Otoineppu soba\" (buckwheat noodles), and its soba production is 6th in Japan. Calling itself the \"Village of Forests and Craftsmen,\" it promotes the village through woodcraft that uses its rich forest resources.","01471":"Nakagawa Town is the northernmost town in the Kamikawa area, a long, narrow town developed from north to south along the Teshio River. It is a \"fossil village\" where fossils such as ammonites have been found since the Meiji era; a plesiosaur fossil was also found there and is displayed at the Nakagawa Ecomuseum. The town has Ponpira Onsen (hot springs) and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Nakagawa.","01472":"Horokanai Town is in the western Kamikawa area, and its soba (buckwheat) production is 1st in Japan. It is the town with the smallest population in Hokkaido and also the town with the lowest population density in Japan. It has Lake Shumarinai, the largest artificial lake in Japan, and it is known for its severe winter cold.","01481":"Mashike Town is in the southern Rumoi area, between Mt. Shokanbetsu and the Sea of Japan, and retro buildings tell of its history of prosperity from herring fishing. Its catch of botan shrimp is the largest in Japan, and Kunimare Sake Brewery, founded in the Meiji era, is the northernmost sake brewery in Japan. The cliffs of the Ofuyu Coast and Mashike Lighthouse are also worth seeing.","01482":"Obira Town is on the Sea of Japan coast in the southern Rumoi area and once prospered as a coal-producing area of the Rumoi Coalfield. The former Hanada Family Banya, the residence of a herring-fishing boss, stands next to the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Obira Nishin-banya, and in summer the beaches of Usuya and Onishika are busy. The upper reaches of the Obirashibe River are a source of fossils.","01483":"Tomamae Town is on the Sea of Japan coast in the central Rumoi area, and it is known for its group of wind turbines, one of the largest in Hokkaido, which can be seen from the national highway. It is also where the Sankebetsu brown bear incident took place in the Taisho era, when settlers were attacked by a brown bear, and the local history museum tells of this event. In the Edo period, the Matsumae Domain opened the Tomamai trading post here.","01484":"Haboro Town is in the central Rumoi area, and its area includes the offshore islands of Teuri Island and Yagishiri Island. Teuri Island is a breeding ground for seabirds, and Yagishiri Island is known for its sheep and its virgin forest of Japanese yew. Its catch of sweet shrimp is among the top in Japan, and the town once prospered from the Haboro Coal Mine, one of the major coal mines in Japan.","01485":"Shosanbetsu Village is the only village in the Rumoi Subprefecture, and on a cape overlooking the Sea of Japan stands the Shosanbetsu Observatory, the northernmost astronomical observatory in Japan. Around the cape are Shosanbetsu Onsen (hot springs) and a Michi-no-Eki (roadside station), and Konpira Shrine, with a torii gate standing in the sea, is also known. The sunsets over the Sea of Japan are beautiful.","01486":"Embetsu Town is in the northern Rumoi area, and it is a rice-growing town with the northernmost rice paddies in Japan. It lies along the Oronron Line road on the Sea of Japan coast, and from the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Enbetsu Fujimi, visitors can see Rishiri Fuji (Mt. Rishiri) across the sea. Asahi Onsen (hot springs) rises in the inland mountains.","01487":"Teshio Town is at the mouth of the Teshio River, the 2nd longest river in Hokkaido, and it is known for its large Yamato shijimi clams. Using a good harbor at the river mouth, it has prospered from trade and fishing since early times, and dairy farming is now also active. From the shore of Kagami-numa Pond, visitors can see Rishiri Fuji (Mt. Rishiri) across the sea.","01511":"Sarufutsu Village faces the Sea of Okhotsk in the northern Soya area, and excluding the Northern Territories, it is the northernmost village in Japan. It is one of the leading landing places in Japan for wild scallops, and excluding the Northern Territories, its area is also the largest of any village in Hokkaido. The Sakhalin taimen (itou), a rare fish, lives in the rivers and the Sarufutsu wilderness, which is dotted with lakes and marshes.","01512":"Hamatonbetsu Town faces the Sea of Okhotsk in the central Soya area, and Lake Kutcharo, registered under the Ramsar Convention, is the largest stopover site in Japan for tundra swans. Wetlands spread along the coast, and the town has Cape Kitami Kamui and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Kita-Okhotsk Hamatonbetsu.","01513":"Nakatonbetsu Town is in the southern Soya area and is the northernmost municipality in Japan that does not face the sea. About 80% of the town is forest, and it is surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Pinneshiri and Mt. Matsuneshiri, with dairy farming areas along the Tonbetsu River. It has the Nakatonbetsu Limestone Cave, the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Pinneshiri and Pinneshiri Onsen (hot springs).","01514":"Esashi Town faces the Sea of Okhotsk in the southern Soya area, and its basket-trap fishing for hairy crab is the largest in Japan. A gold deposit was found in the mid-Meiji era, and the town has a history of being busy with gold panning. The Okhotsk Museum Esashi and the hot springs in the inland Utanobori area are also worth seeing.","01516":"Toyotomi Town is on the Sea of Japan side of the Soya area, where the Sarobetsu Plain of Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park spreads out. Toyotomi Onsen, the northernmost hot spring area in Japan, has unusual water containing oil, and some people visit it for skin treatment. It is a dairy farming town with pastures on its hills.","01517":"Rebun Town is on Rebun Island in the Sea of Japan, about 60 km west of Wakkanai, and it is the northernmost town in Japan. Known as the \"Floating Island of Flowers,\" where alpine plants such as the Rebun lady's slipper orchid bloom near the shore, it is popular for walks around Cape Sukoton and Cape Sukai. Cliffs continue along the west side of the island.","01518":"Rishiri Town occupies the western part of Rishiri Island, and the settlements of Kutsugata and Senposhi are scattered along the coast between Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri Fuji) and the Sea of Japan. It is known for Rishiri kombu (kelp) and sea urchin fishing, and the Rishiri Town Museum shows island life. A ferry route from Rebun Island also arrives at Kutsugata Port.","01519":"Rishirifuji Town occupies the eastern part of Rishiri Island, and its name comes from Mt. Rishiri (Rishiri Fuji), which rises in the center of the island. Oshidomari Port is the gateway for ferries from Wakkanai and Rebun Island, and it is also the starting point for climbing Mt. Rishiri. Himenuma Pond, Otadomari Pond and Cape Peshi are worth seeing.","01520":"Horonobe Town is on the Sea of Japan side of the Soya area, and the line of 45 degrees north latitude passes through it. Using its cool climate, the town keeps reindeer and also grows alpine plants such as the Himalayan blue poppy. The wind turbines of the Otonrui Wind Farm lined up along the coast and Panke-numa Pond on the Sarobetsu Plain are worth seeing.","01543":"Bihoro Town lies midway between Abashiri and Kitami and is a transportation hub in eastern Hokkaido where railways and national highways meet. Bihoro Pass, which overlooks Lake Kussharo, is known for its superb view and has a Michi-no-Eki (roadside station). Its autumn carrot production is 2nd in Japan, and its onions are 7th. It is a compact town where most of the population lives in a town center with a radius of about 2 km.","01544":"Tsubetsu Town is a forestry town just south of Bihoro Town, and forest covers 86% of its area. It is certified as a Forest Therapy Base, and Lake Chimikeppu, surrounded by forest, and Tsubetsu Pass, which looks out over Lake Kussharo, are worth seeing. Agriculture is active on the alluvial fan in the north, and its onions rank 10th in Japan.","01545":"Shari Town occupies the northern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula and is the gateway to Shiretoko, a World Natural Heritage Site. From the Utoro area, visitors can tour the Shiretoko Five Lakes, Kamuiwakka Falls (a hot-water waterfall) and Oshinkoshin Falls, and drift ice arrives in winter. It is also a farming town: its autumn carrot production is 1st in Japan and its potatoes are 2nd.","01546":"Kiyosato Town spreads out at the southern foot of Mt. Shari, and its name was made by taking one character each from Koshimizu and Shari. It has a trailhead for Mt. Shari, and \"Sakura Falls,\" where cherry salmon leap up the falls, is worth seeing. Its potato and wheat production are both 9th in Japan, and potato shochu (a distilled spirit) is also made there.","01547":"Koshimizu Town is known for the Koshimizu Genseikaen (Natural Flower Garden), where flowers bloom in early summer on the sand dunes between the Sea of Okhotsk and Lake Tofutsu. From Mt. Mokoto in the south, visitors can look down on Lake Kussharo. It is a field-farming town whose potato production is 4th in Japan and autumn carrots are 9th.","01549":"Kunneppu Town is next to the southwest of Kitami City, in a basin surrounded by mountains, with large temperature differences. Its onion production is 3rd in Japan, and melons are also a specialty. Development began in the Meiji era when a group of migrants of the Hokkosha company from Kochi Prefecture settled there, and the Tokoro River flows through the town.","01550":"Oketo Town lies southwest of Kitami City. The Tokoro River flows east from Lake Oketo, and vast forests spread out in the west. The town is known for \"Oke Craft,\" woodwork that makes use of this timber, and it also has the Oketo Poppo Art Museum. It is an inland town where some summer days become extremely hot.","01552":"Saroma Town is in the middle of the Sea of Okhotsk coast and faces Lake Saroma, the largest lake in Hokkaido. Its specialties are scallops farmed in Lake Saroma and pumpkins, and it has an observation deck on Mt. Horoiwa overlooking the lake and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Saromako. The south is hilly, and the town took its present form after merging with the former Wakasa Village.","01555":"Engaru Town is an inland town in the central Okhotsk area that leads to Kitami Pass, and it was formed in 2005 by the merger of 4 towns and villages. The Shirataki area was one of Japan's major sources of obsidian in the Paleolithic period, and it is also a geopark. The Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park, where cosmos flowers bloom, and the Ikoi-no-Mori forest park in Maruseppu are also popular.","01559":"Yubetsu Town faces the Sea of Okhotsk and Lake Saroma, and it took its present form after merging with Kamiyubetsu Town. In spring, colorful tulips bloom at the Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, and scallop fishing is active in Lake Saroma. Its onion production is 9th in Japan.","01560":"Takinoue Town lies on the upper Shokotsu River in the northern Okhotsk area and is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The moss phlox (shibazakura) of Takinoue Park is a famous sight that turns a whole hillside pink, and it is at its best from late May. The town has the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Kaori-no-sato Takinoue, which promotes the scent of herbs, and it is also developing the town as a \"Fairy Tale Village.\"","01561":"Okoppe Town is on the Sea of Okhotsk coast and developed at the mouths of the Okoppe River and the Mookoppe River. Dairy farming is active, and dairy products such as milk and cheese are known. The Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Okoppe stands on the site of the former Okoppe Station, and it has lodging in a train car.","01562":"Nishiokoppe Village is an inland village west of Okoppe Town, and about 90% of its area is forest. It is known for actively using information technology, such as building an optical fiber network across the whole village. It has also set up a hunting area for Ezo sika deer and works on tourism through hunting. Winters are severely cold.","01563":"Omu Town is the northernmost town in the Okhotsk area and faces the Sea of Okhotsk. Fishing for hairy crab, scallops and salmon and dairy farming are active, and from Cape Hinode visitors can see the sunrise over the Sea of Okhotsk. On the seashore are Okhotsk Omui Onsen (hot springs) and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Omu.","01564":"Ozora Town was formed by the merger of Memanbetsu Town and Higashimokoto Village, and it has Memanbetsu Airport, the air gateway to the Okhotsk area. The Memanbetsu shore of Lake Abashiri was chosen as one of the 100 Best Landscapes of Hokkaido, and many people visit the Higashimokoto Shibazakura (moss phlox) Park in spring. Its wheat production is 8th in Japan.","01571":"Toyoura Town is the westernmost town in the Iburi area, with a coast of many cliffs along Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay). It is part of the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark, and scallop farming and strawberry growing are active. Visitors can also enjoy the scenery of the Rebunge Coast and climbing Mt. Kombu.","01575":"Sobetsu Town is on the southeastern shore of Lake Toya and has two volcanoes, Mt. Usu and Showa-shinzan. Showa-shinzan is a mountain that formed during World War II when a field rose up, and it is a Special Natural Monument. The town is known for hosting an international snowball-fight tournament, and it also has orchards and Bankei Onsen (hot springs).","01578":"Shiraoi Town is in the Iburi area, facing the Pacific Ocean, and the Ainu people laid the foundation of the town's history. On the shore of Lake Poroto is Upopoy (the Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony), centered on the National Ainu Museum. Shiraoi beef and tarako (salted cod roe) are also known, and Lake Kuttara was once ranked 1st in Japan for water quality.","01581":"Atsuma Town is a long north-south town in the eastern Iburi area whose area almost matches the basin of the Atsuma River. Rice growing is active, and the Hama-Atsuma coast on the Pacific Ocean is one of the best surfing spots in Hokkaido. In the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake, large-scale landslides occurred, and the town suffered heavy damage.","01584":"Toyako Town is surrounded by Lake Toya, Mt. Usu and Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay), and many tourists visit, especially Toyako Onsen (hot springs) on the lakeshore. The Hokkaido Toyako Summit was held there in 2008, and the Toya-Usu Geopark was certified as one of the first Global Geoparks in Japan. From the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Toyako, visitors can see the lake and Mt. Yotei.","01585":"Abira Town was formed by the merger of Hayakita Town and Oiwake Town, on land that continues from the Yufutsu Plain into hills. There are many farms that breed racehorses, and the town is known for raising famous horses. In Oiwake, which prospered as a railway town, the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Abira D51 Station displays a steam locomotive.","01586":"Mukawa Town spreads out along the Mu River in the eastern Iburi area and is known for producing shishamo (a small smelt-like fish). In the Hobetsu area, the fossil of \"Mukawaryu,\" one of the largest dinosaurs found in Japan, was discovered, and it is displayed at the Hobetsu Museum. Jukai Onsen (hot springs) rises in the mountains.","01601":"Hidaka Town is in the northern Hidaka area. It was formed by the merger of the former Hidaka Town and Monbetsu Town, which were not next to each other, so the town has an exclave. The coastal Monbetsu area breeds racehorses and has Monbetsu Racecourse, and the mountainous Hidaka area has the Hidaka Mountains Museum and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Jukai Road Hidaka.","01602":"Biratori Town spreads out along the Saru River, and the Nibutani area is a place where Ainu culture is strongly passed down. It has the Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum and the Kayano Shigeru Nibutani Ainu Museum, and Yoshitsune Shrine is also known. It is a tomato-growing area, and its summer-autumn tomato production is 3rd in Japan.","01604":"Niikappu Town is in the central Hidaka area, and as one of Japan's leading producers of light horses, it has wide Thoroughbred farms. The town works on community development using music and records, and the \"Niikappu Record Museum\" holds more than 600,000 records. It is also a starting point for climbing Mt. Poroshiri in the Hidaka Mountains.","01607":"Urakawa Town is the seat of the Hidaka Subprefecture and, as a main Thoroughbred-producing area, has about 300 horse farms. It has Urakawa Yushun Village AERU, one of the largest horse-riding resorts in Japan, and the Pacific coast has a mild climate for Hokkaido. The Hidaka Mountains rise in the north.","01608":"Samani Town is in the southern Hidaka area, and the whole town is certified as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the Mt. Apoi Geopark. Mt. Apoi is a mountain where rock from the mantle deep underground has come to the surface, and it is rich in alpine plants. The Hidaka Yabakei cliffs that reach the sea and Cape Enrumu are also worth seeing.","01609":"Erimo Town is at the southern end of the Hidaka Mountains, with Cape Erimo jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. Reefs stretch offshore from the cape, and Kuril harbor seals can be seen there. The land has strong wind and fog, and the town is known for tree planting that turned the bare cape green again. Hidaka kombu (kelp) is also a specialty.","01610":"Shinhidaka Town was formed by the merger of Shizunai Town and Mitsuishi Town, and its town center spreads out at the mouth of the Shizunai River. It is a horse-breeding area with many racehorse farms, and the cherry tree avenue of the Nijukken Road attracts many people in spring. The coastal Mitsuishi area has the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Mitsuishi, and Hidaka kombu (kelp) is also a specialty.","01631":"Otofuke Town is in the center of the Tokachi Plain, next to the north of Obihiro, and it is the town with the largest population in Hokkaido. Its soybean production is 1st in Japan and wheat is 2nd, and it has also grown as a commuter town for Obihiro. It has Tokachigawa Onsen, known for its moor hot springs (water containing plant matter), and the Tokachi Ecology Park.","01632":"Shihoro Town is in the northern Tokachi Plain, and flat fields cover half of this farming town. Its potato production is 7th in Japan, and potato processing is also active. The Otofuke River flows through the center of the town, which has the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Pia21 Shihoro and Shihoro Onsen (hot springs).","01633":"Kamishihoro Town extends from the northern Tokachi Plain to the eastern foot of the Daisetsuzan mountains, and mountains and wilderness cover about 80% of its area. In Lake Nukabira, the Taushubetsu Bridge, which appears above the water and sinks again depending on the season, is well known, and the town is also famous for the Nukabira Onsen hot spring area and a hot-air balloon competition.","01634":"Shikaoi Town is in the northwestern Tokachi Plain, where fields spread over an alluvial fan made by the Shikaribetsu River, which flows from Lake Shikaribetsu. The whole town is the \"Tokachi Shikaoi Geopark,\" and Lake Shikaribetsu in the mountains is known for a village that is built on its ice in winter. The town also has the Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum of Art.","01635":"Shintoku Town is the western gateway to Tokachi. About 90% of its total area is forest, and the north is part of Daisetsuzan National Park. It is known for growing soba (buckwheat), and it has the trailhead for Mt. Tomuraushi, Tomuraushi Onsen (hot springs) and Sahoro Resort.","01636":"Shimizu Town is in the western Tokachi Plain, at the foot of the Hidaka Mountains, and its town center spreads out around Tokachi-Shimizu Station. Dairy farming is active, and beef and dairy products are specialties. The \"Tokachi Millennium Forest,\" a vast garden with a view of the Hidaka Mountains, is also popular. The town took its present form when the former Shimizu Town and Mikage Village merged.","01637":"Memuro Town is in the western Tokachi Plain, just west of Obihiro, and is a leading field-farming town of Tokachi: its wheat production is 1st in Japan, potatoes are 3rd and soybeans are 6th. It is also known for sweet corn. The Hidaka Mountains run through the west, with trailheads for Mt. Memuro and Mt. Fushimi.","01638":"Nakasatsunai Village spreads out along the Satsunai River in the southwestern Tokachi Plain, and it has the largest population of any village in Hokkaido. It is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association, with views of fields protected by windbreak forests. It has art and nature sights such as Rokka no Mori, the Nakasatsunai Art Village and Pyotan Falls.","01639":"Sarabetsu Village is in the southern Tokachi Plain, and most of its gentle plateau of volcanic ash east of the Hidaka Mountains is used for fields. It is a large-scale field-farming village whose potato production is 8th in Japan. The Sarabetsu Wetland, where the Japanese bog birch (yachikanba) grows, has been selected as an important wetland.","01641":"Taiki Town is in the southern Tokachi Plain and faces the Pacific Ocean. With the slogan \"town development through space,\" it holds rocket and aircraft experiments at its aerospace park. The Rekifune River, which flows from the Hidaka Mountains to the sea entirely within the town, has been chosen many times as the clearest river in Japan. Bansei Onsen (hot springs) is on the seashore.","01642":"Hiroo Town is at the southernmost tip of the Tokachi area, where the Hidaka Mountains come close to the Pacific Ocean. It is a port town with the Port of Tokachi, and it is also known as \"Santa Land,\" recognized by Oslo, the capital of Norway, the land of Santa Claus. The coastal road to Erimo Town passes below steep cliffs.","01643":"Makubetsu Town is in the center of the Tokachi Plain, just east of Obihiro, and it merged with Churui Village in 2006. Fossils of Naumann's elephant were found in Churui, and a memorial museum shows what the animal looked like. Its autumn carrots are 3rd in Japan and wheat is 4th, and the town is also known as the birthplace of park golf.","01644":"Ikeda Town is at the eastern edge of the Tokachi Plain and is known as a \"wine town,\" where the town government grows grapes and makes wine. The Wine Castle on a hill is the symbol of the town. It is a flat town where the Tokachi River and the Toshibetsu River flow, and it prospered as a river port in the Meiji era.","01645":"Toyokoro Town is at the mouth of the Tokachi River, and it is regarded as \"the birthplace of Tokachi\" because settlement advanced by going up the river. A Japanese elm tree standing in the fields is the symbol of the town. \"Jewelry Ice,\" blocks of ice that appear on the Otsu Coast in winter, is popular, and lakes and marshes such as Yudo-numa are scattered around the town.","01646":"Hombetsu Town is in the northeastern Tokachi Plain, and its town center developed where the Toshibetsu River and the Biribetsu River meet. It is a transportation hub where the Doto Expressway splits toward Kitami and toward Kushiro, and it is a \"bean town\" where bean growing is active thanks to its many sunny days. Mt. Yoshitsune (Yoshitsune-yama) is also known.","01647":"Ashoro Town is in the northeastern Tokachi area and is the largest town by area in Japan. Its specialty is rawan butterbur, which grows taller than a person, and it is also known as the hometown of the singer Matsuyama Chiharu. At the foot of Mt. Meakan is the mysterious Lake Onneto, and the town also has the Ashoro Museum of Paleontology and Meakan Onsen (hot springs).","01648":"Rikubetsu Town is inland in the northeastern Tokachi area and is known for its severe winter cold. At the \"Rikubetsu Railway,\" which uses the stations and tracks of the closed Furusato Ginga Line, visitors can try driving the rail cars. It has Yukuepira Chashi, the remains of an Ainu fort, and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Aurora Town 93 Rikubetsu.","01649":"Urahoro Town is at the eastern end of the Tokachi area. It covers the basin of the Urahoro River and faces the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is a hilly town where forests and wild land cover 70% of the area, and the lakes and marshes at the mouth of the Tokachi River have been selected as an important wetland. It has Rushin Onsen (hot springs) in the mountains and the Urahoro Town Museum.","01661":"Kushiro Town is just east of Kushiro City and covers the eastern side of the Kushiro Wetland. From the Hosooka Observatory, visitors can see the winding Kushiro River and the wetland in one view. The Pacific coast is part of Akkeshi Prefectural Natural Park, with fishing villages such as Konbumori. The town is also the birthplace of \"boot ice hockey,\" played in rubber boots.","01662":"Akkeshi Town faces Akkeshi Bay, a good natural harbor, and Lake Akkeshi behind it, and it is known for its oysters. Daikoku Island at the mouth of the bay is a Natural Monument as a breeding ground for seabirds. The town also has Kokutai-ji Temple, built by the shogunate in the Edo period, and a whisky distillery.","01663":"Hamanaka Town faces the Pacific Ocean, and the Kiritappu Wetland, full of blooming flowers in summer, spreads out there. Kombu (kelp) fishing and dairy farming are active, and as the hometown of the manga artist Monkey Punch, the town promotes itself with \"Lupin the Third.\" It has a long seawall to prepare for tsunamis, and the first tsunami disaster prevention station in Japan was also built there.","01664":"Shibecha Town is almost in the center of the Kushiro area, along the Kushiro River, and about 65% of the Kushiro Wetland is within the town. The shores of Lake Toro and Lake Shirarutoro are bases for enjoying the nature of the wetland, and canoeing down the Kushiro River is popular. Its summer daikon radish production is 7th in Japan, and dairy farming is also active.","01665":"Teshikaga Town lies at the foot of the Kussharo and Mashu calderas, and it has Lake Mashu, known for its fog, and Lake Kussharo, a large caldera lake. It has Kawayu Onsen, near the steaming Mt. Io, and Mashu Onsen, and on the shore of Lake Kussharo is Sunayu, where hot water comes out when visitors dig in the sand.","01667":"Tsurui Village spreads out north of the Kushiro Wetland, and it is home to the red-crowned crane (tancho), a Special Natural Monument. The village name also comes from the crane, and in winter many cranes gather at feeding grounds. With its landscape of dairy farmland, it has joined \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association, and the number of people moving there is growing.","01668":"Shiranuka Town lies west of Kushiro City, between two detached parts of Kushiro City to its east and west. A national highway and a railway run along the Pacific coast, and fishing is carried out mainly at Shiranuka Port. The place name \"Sekitan Misaki\" (Coal Cape) remains from the coal mines that were once opened there, and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Shiranuka Koitoi is on the Koitoi Coast.","01691":"Betsukai Town is in the Nemuro area and is the 3rd largest town by area in Japan. It is a dairy farming town where ranches cleared from wilderness spread over the whole town. The Notsuke Peninsula, which stretches long and narrow into the Nemuro Strait, has scenery such as Todowara, with rows of dead standing trees, and the scallops and Hokkai shrimp of Odaito are also known.","01692":"Nakashibetsu Town is the only inland town in the Nemuro Subprefecture, and the grid-pattern windbreak forests and ranches on the Konsen Plateau have been selected as Hokkaido Heritage. From Kaiyodai, visitors can see land stretching to the horizon, and the town has Yoroshi Onsen (hot springs) and the Hokkaido Yume-no-Mori Park. With Nakashibetsu Airport, it is the regional center.","01693":"Shibetsu Town faces the Nemuro Strait and looks out across the sea to Kunashiri Island, and it is one of Japan's leading salmon-producing areas. At the Shibetsu Salmon Science Museum, visitors can watch salmon swimming upstream, and there is also the Northern Territories Museum. The town is at the base of the Notsuke Peninsula, a sand spit, and the Shibetsu Wetland is also worth seeing.","01694":"Rausu Town is on the southeastern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula and faces Kunashiri Island across the Nemuro Strait. It is part of Shiretoko, a World Natural Heritage Site, and boat trips to see whales and orcas and watching drift ice and Steller's sea eagles in winter are popular. It produces Rausu kombu (kelp), and it also has Lake Rausu and Rausu Onsen (hot springs).","01695":"Shikotan Village covers all of Shikotan Island and is one of the Northern Territories. The island consists of gentle mountains and hills and has good natural harbors such as Shakotan Bay. In the Meiji era, the Kuril Ainu people of the northern Kuril Islands were made to move to this island. Japanese administration currently does not reach the village, and it exists as a village under Japanese law.","01696":"Tomari Village occupies the western half of Kunashiri Island and is one of the Northern Territories. Before World War II, fishing that made use of the rich sea, such as kombu (kelp) fishing and salmon and trout fishing, was carried out there. Japanese administration currently does not reach the village, and it exists as a village under Japanese law.","01697":"Ruyobetsu Village occupies the eastern half of Kunashiri Island and is one of the Northern Territories. It has mountains such as Mt. Chacha, and lakes, and the village office was located in Chinomiji. Japanese administration currently does not reach the village; all of its settlements have been abandoned, and it exists as a village under Japanese law.","01698":"Rubetsu Village occupies almost half of Etorofu Island on its southwestern side and is the largest village by area in Japan. It has many plains, lakes and marshes and good natural harbors such as Hitokappu Bay, and it prospered as a center of fishing. It is one of the Northern Territories; Japanese administration currently does not reach the village, and it exists as a village under Japanese law.","01699":"Shana Village is in the central part of Etorofu Island and covers the area around the Chirippu Peninsula, which juts out into the Sea of Okhotsk. Its area is the 2nd largest of any village in Japan. Mt. Chirippu, which was called \"Etorofu Fuji,\" rises there, and horses and cattle were raised on ranches. It is one of the Northern Territories, and Japanese administration currently does not reach the village.","01700":"Shibetoro Village occupies the eastern part of Etorofu Island and is the northernmost village in Japan. Steep volcanoes line the village, and it has Cape Kamoiwakka at the northern tip and Rakkibetsu Falls, said to have the largest drop in Japan. It is one of the Northern Territories; Japanese administration currently does not reach the village, and it exists as a village under Japanese law.","02201":"Aomori City is the prefectural capital of Aomori Prefecture and a port town on Aomori Bay, at the inner end of Mutsu Bay. Shin-Aomori Station is the junction of the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Hokkaido Shinkansen. The city is known for the Sannai-Maruyama Site, a large Jomon-period settlement, and the Aomori Nebuta Festival. It also has many onsen (hot springs), such as Sukayu on Mt. Hakkoda and Asamushi Onsen by the sea.","02202":"Hirosaki City is the main city of the Tsugaru region and grew as the castle town of the Hirosaki Domain. Hirosaki Castle and the cherry blossom festival in Hirosaki Park are known throughout Japan, and the city's apple production is the largest in Japan. Iwakiyama Shrine and the samurai residences of Nakacho remain, and Hirosaki is also a college town with Hirosaki University.","02203":"Hachinohe City is the main city of the Nanbu region of Aomori Prefecture, and its Port of Hachinohe is an industrial, fishing and ferry port. Specialties include the Enburi folk performance, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival, senbei-jiru (soup with rice crackers) and ichigo-ni (sea urchin and abalone soup). Sights include Kabushima Island, a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls, the Tanesashi Coast and the Gassho Dogu, a clay figurine that is a National Treasure.","02204":"Kuroishi City lies at the western foot of Mt. Hakkoda and is the northwestern gateway to Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The Kuroishi Domain was based here in the Edo period, and the old townscape survives on Nakamachi Komise Street, which is lined with \"komise,\" wooden eaves that protect walkers from snow. Apples are widely grown on the hills, and Aoni Onsen, an inn lit by oil lamps, is popular.","02205":"Goshogawara City is in the center of the Tsugaru Peninsula, on the Tsugaru Plain where the Iwaki River flows. It is known for Tachineputa, huge festival floats paraded through the streets, which are displayed at the Tachineputa Museum. The Kanagi area has Shayokan, the birthplace of the writer Dazai Osamu, and the shore of Lake Jusan has the remains of Tosaminato, a medieval port town.","02206":"Towada City is the main city of the Kamikita area and includes Lake Towada and the Oirase Stream. Its garlic production is the largest of any municipality in Japan, and its summer green onions rank 5th in Japan. The Towada Art Center stands on Kanchogai-dori, a government-office street lined with cherry trees, and the city is developing itself as a \"town of art.\"","02207":"Misawa City has the U.S. Forces Japan Misawa Air Base and a Japan Air Self-Defense Force base, and it is an international city where many Americans live. It has the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum and a memorial museum for Terayama Shuji, whose hometown was here. The Hotokenuma wetland, where wild birds gather, spreads out in the city, and Misawa also produces carrots and daikon radishes.","02208":"Mutsu City occupies the center of the Shimokita Peninsula and is the northernmost city on Honshu. It was the first city in Japan to be given a name written in hiragana. Mt. Osore, one of Japan's three great sacred places, has the caldera lake Lake Usori, and Yagen Onsen and Yunokawa Onsen are also in the city. Ominato is a port town with a base of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.","02209":"Tsugaru City faces the Sea of Japan in the western Tsugaru Plain and was formed in 2005 by the merger of 1 town and 4 villages. The Kamegaoka Stone Age Site, where a \"goggle-eyed\" clay figurine was found, and the Tagoyano Shell Mound are components of the World Heritage Site \"Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.\" The rows of torii gates at Takayama Inari Shrine are also a highlight.","02210":"Hirakawa City is in the southern Tsugaru region and was formed in 2006 by the merger of Onoe Town, Hiraka Town and Ikarigaseki Village. Its name comes from the Hirakawa River, a tributary of the Iwaki River. It has Seibi-en, known for its mansion and garden in a mix of Japanese and Western styles, and Saruga Shrine with its lotus ponds. Ikarigaseki has onsen (hot springs) and a Michi-no-Eki (roadside station).","02301":"Hiranai Town is on the Natsudomari Peninsula, which juts into Mutsu Bay, and scallop farming is active here. Asadokoro Beach is known as a place where swans come in winter, and the tip of the peninsula is said to be the northern limit of wild camellias. Yogoshiyama Forest Park and Oshima and other islands in the bay are also sights.","02303":"Imabetsu Town is at the northern tip of the Tsugaru Peninsula, facing Minmaya Bay. A story links the origin of its place names to the legend that Minamoto no Yoshitsune fled to the north. It has Okutsugaru-Imabetsu Station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen, and from the lighthouse at Cape Takano, Hokkaido can be seen across the Tsugaru Strait. Strange rocks on the coast and Daruma Falls are also sights.","02304":"Yomogita Village is a small village on the east side of the Tsugaru Peninsula, facing Mutsu Bay. Rivers flowing from Mt. Okura water the Yomogita Plain, where people farm scallops and grow rice and tomatoes. The village also raises Yomogita beef, a local brand, and the remains of the medieval Yomogita Castle survive.","02307":"Sotogahama Town occupies the northeastern part of the Tsugaru Peninsula and is split into two areas by Imabetsu Town. Cape Tappi, which juts into the Tsugaru Strait, has a lighthouse and the Seikan Tunnel Museum, and Hokkaido can be seen from there. The Odai Yamamoto I Site is one of the World Heritage \"Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.\"","02321":"Ajigasawa Town faces the Sea of Japan and is long from north to south; to the south it borders Akita Prefecture in the Shirakami Mountains. It has the remains of Tanesato Castle, said to be the birthplace of the Tsugaru clan, and in the Edo period it prospered as a port of the Hirosaki Domain. Sights include a ski resort at the foot of Mt. Iwaki, Kurokuma Falls and the Umi-no-Eki Wando (a seaside rest area).","02323":"Fukaura Town lies along the Sea of Japan, where mountains come close to the sea, and forests and wilderness cover about 90% of its area. It includes the Shirakami Mountains, a World Heritage Site, and Aoike, a blue pond among the Juniko lakes surrounded by beech forests, is popular. Other sights are the Japan Canyon, an unusual coastal landform, and Enkaku-ji Temple, which tells the history of the town as a port of call for Kitamaebune trading ships.","02343":"Nishimeya Village is in southwestern Aomori Prefecture on the border with Akita Prefecture, and it is the Aomori-side entrance to the Shirakami Mountains, a World Heritage Site. Anmon Falls, deep in the beech forest, is a famous sight, and on the upper Iwaki River is Tsugaru Shirakami Lake, the reservoir of Tsugaru Dam. Nishimeya is also the only municipality left in Nakatsugaru District.","02361":"Fujisaki Town is in the center of the Tsugaru Plain, and it gave its name to \"Fuji,\" Japan's leading apple variety. The variety was bred at a national research station in the town. The Hirakawa River and the Asaseishi River flow through the town, and a historic park tells the Kamakura-period legend of Karaito Gozen.","02362":"Owani Town is at the southern end of the Tsugaru region, along the Hirakawa River, and is a town of skiing and onsen (hot springs). The Owani Onsen Ski Area on Mt. Ajara has courses certified by the International Ski Federation, and it has produced many Olympic athletes. Owani Onsen Moyashi, bean sprouts grown with the heat of the hot springs, are a local specialty.","02367":"Inakadate Village is in the center of the Tsugaru Plain, between the Asaseishi River and the Hirakawa River. It has the Tareyanagi Site, where rice paddies from the Yayoi period were found, and it is regarded as the birthplace of rice-farming culture in northern Japan. Its \"Tanbo Art,\" giant pictures made in rice paddies with rice plants of different colors, draws many people every year.","02381":"Itayanagi Town is almost in the center of the Tsugaru Plain, along the Iwaki River. The town has almost no forest land, and apples and rice are its main products. It once prospered from boat transport on the Iwaki River, and the Hirosaki Domain placed a magistrate's office here. Until the middle of the Showa era, Itayanagi Station was busy with apple shipments by rail.","02384":"Tsuruta Town is on the Tsugaru Plain. Apple growing is active, and its production of the Steuben grape variety is the largest in Japan. Tsuru-no-Mai Bridge, a wooden bridge with three arches, crosses Tsugaru Fujimi Lake, and the view of Mt. Iwaki across the lake is popular.","02387":"Nakadomari Town is in the central part of the Tsugaru Peninsula and is split into two separate areas, the former Nakasato Town and the former Kodomari Village. It faces Lake Jusan, and Kodomari, on the Sea of Japan side, has scenic spots such as Cape Kodomari and Nanatsudaki Falls. The town center is the Nakasato area, where Tsugaru-Nakasato Station, the terminus of the Tsugaru Railway, is located.","02401":"Noheji Town is at the base of the Shimokita Peninsula, at the head of Mutsu Bay. It has long been a transport hub, and in the Edo period it was a port of the Morioka Domain, busy with Kitamaebune trading ships. Because of the yamase (a cool northeasterly wind), the climate is cool all year, and in winter the town is one of the snowiest areas in the prefecture. It has Makado Onsen.","02402":"Shichinohe Town is on the east side of Mt. Hakkoda, and Shichinohe-Towada Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen is a gateway to Lake Towada. The Futatsumori Shell Mound from the Jomon period is a component of a World Heritage Site, and the town also has the remains of Shichinohe Castle, linked to the Nanbu clan, and the Takayama Uichi Memorial Museum of Art.","02405":"Rokunohe Town is a flat town in southeastern Kamikita District, and the Oirase River, which starts at Lake Towada, flows through it from west to east. The Inoi River, an artificial river, was dug on the Sanbongihara plateau, and farmland spreads along it. The town produces carrots, and its spring-summer carrots rank 7th in Japan.","02406":"Yokohama Town is a long, narrow town in the middle of the Shimokita Peninsula, facing Mutsu Bay. Its rapeseed production ranks 4th in Japan, and in spring the land is covered with fields of rapeseed flowers. The town is said to have been established before Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture, and the remains of Yokohama-date, a fort held by a branch of the Nanbu clan, survive.","02408":"Tohoku Town is in the center of Kamikita District, with Lake Ogawara in its eastern part. People fish for shijimi clams and wakasagi (pond smelt) in the lake, and the town's summer daikon radish production ranks 10th in Japan. Not counting names that include a district name, it is the only town name in Japan that contains two compass directions, and within the prefecture it is also known as an \"ekiden town\" (ekiden: long-distance relay race).","02411":"Rokkasho Village is on the Pacific coast of the Shimokita Peninsula. Energy facilities are concentrated here, including nuclear fuel cycle facilities, a national oil stockpiling base and wind power plants that use the yamase (a cool northeasterly wind). The village produces summer daikon radishes and rapeseed, and when all the villages in Japan are listed in Japanese syllabary order, it comes last.","02412":"Oirase Town was formed in 2006 by the merger of Shimoda Town and Momoishi Town. It faces the Pacific Ocean, and the Oirase River, which gave the town its name, flows through it. As a commuter town for Hachinohe and Misawa, it has the largest population of any town or village in the prefecture, and it is one of Japan's leading producers of carrots and daikon radishes. The Akobo Kofun Cluster (ancient burial mounds) also remains.","02423":"Oma Town is at the northwestern tip of the Shimokita Peninsula, facing the Tsugaru Strait, and is the northernmost town on Honshu. At Cape Oma stands a monument marking \"the northernmost point of Honshu,\" and Omazaki Lighthouse stands on Bentenjima Island offshore. Oma tuna, caught by single-line fishing, is known throughout Japan as a high-end brand.","02424":"Higashidori Village occupies the northeastern part of the Shimokita Peninsula and faces the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Tsugaru Strait to the north. The white Shiriyazaki Lighthouse stands at Cape Shiriya at the tip of the peninsula, where Kandachime, horses that are strong against the cold, are grazed. The Higashidori Nuclear Power Station is on the Pacific coast, where the Sarugamori Sand Dunes stretch.","02425":"Kazamaura Village is in the northern Shimokita Peninsula, facing the Tsugaru Strait, and is the northernmost village on Honshu. Mountains come close to the sea, and forests and wilderness cover about 96% of its area. Shimofuro Onsen has been known as a place for therapeutic hot-spring stays since the era of the feudal domains. Fishing, tourism and forestry support the village.","02426":"Sai Village is on the west coast of the Shimokita Peninsula; if the peninsula is seen as an axe (masakari), the village is at the blade. Hotokegaura, a line of white, oddly shaped rocks along the shore, is a national Place of Scenic Beauty, and the village is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association. The fishing-village kabuki of Fukuura is also carried on.","02441":"Sannohe Town is at the southern end of Aomori Prefecture and borders both Iwate and Akita prefectures. In medieval times the Nanbu clan had its base here, and the remains of Sannohe Castle are a popular park, Shiroyama Park. The Mabechi River flows through the town center, and the town is also known as the hometown of the picture-book author Baba Noboru.","02442":"Gonohe Town is an inland town with many slopes in northern Sannohe District, and forests cover more than half of its total area. The Gonohe River and the Asamizu River flow through it, and historic sites such as the remains of the Nanbu clan's Asamizu Castle survive. Horse meat dishes are a local specialty, and Hibarino Park is a place for residents to relax.","02443":"Takko Town is the southernmost town in Aomori Prefecture, a mountain town bordering both Iwate and Akita prefectures. Garlic farming is active, and the town is known throughout Japan as the \"garlic town\"; Takko beef is also a specialty. In the Edo period it prospered on a trade route from the Osarizawa Mine to the port of Noheji, and its beautiful starry sky is also highly rated.","02445":"Nanbu Town is in central Sannohe District, and the Mabechi River flows through it from east to west. As the birthplace of the Nanbu Domain, it has historic sites linked to the Nanbu clan, such as the Shojujidate Site and Hoko-ji Temple. Fruit growing is active at the foot of Mt. Nakui, and the town produces cherries and apples.","02446":"Hashikami Town is at the southeastern end of Aomori Prefecture, bordering Iwate Prefecture and facing the Pacific Ocean to the east. Housing development has grown as it became a commuter town for Hachinohe. Its specialties, ichigo-ni (sea urchin and abalone soup) and salted sea urchin, use the riches of the Sanriku fishing grounds. Mt. Hashikami, which offers a view over southern Aomori, is a popular place for easy outings.","02450":"Shingo Village is at the foot of Mt. Herai, east of Lake Towada. It was long a grazing land for the Nanbu clan's warhorses, and later dairy farming became active. It is known for a legend that it has the grave of Christ, and it is also called \"the mysterious village.\" It has Gongen Falls and the Michi-no-Eki Shingo (roadside station).","03201":"Morioka City is the prefectural capital of Iwate Prefecture, in the center of the Kitakami Basin, where the Shizukuishi River and the Nakatsu River join the Kitakami River. The castle town spreads around the remains of Morioka Castle, built by the Nanbu clan, and Meiji-era buildings such as the Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building remain. The city is linked to the writers Ishikawa Takuboku and Miyazawa Kenji, and Morioka reimen (cold noodles) and jajamen (noodles with meat miso) are local specialties.","03202":"Miyako City is in the middle of the Sanriku Coast and calls itself \"the easternmost town of Honshu\" because it includes Cape Todo, the easternmost point of Honshu. Jodogahama, with its white rocks and pine trees, is the representative scenic spot of Sanriku Fukko National Park, and fishing thrives thanks to the fishing grounds off Sanriku. The city's area is the largest in the prefecture, and inland it includes Mt. Hayachine.","03203":"Ofunato City is a coastal industrial city on the southern Sanriku Coast. On Ofunato Bay, surrounded by a ria coast, it has the prefecture's only \"key port\" (a port given priority for national development). Besides fisheries near the Sanriku fishing grounds, a cement plant that uses local limestone operates here. The Goishi Coast, with its cliffs and oddly shaped rocks, is a national Place of Scenic Beauty.","03205":"Hanamaki City is in central-western Iwate Prefecture on the Kitakami Plain and is the birthplace of Miyazawa Kenji. It is said to be the birthplace of wanko soba (buckwheat noodles served in many small bowls), and it has Hanamaki Airport, the only airport in the prefecture. The Hanamaki Onsen area in the west includes Dai Onsen, Osawa Onsen and Shidotaira Onsen, and the city's summer-autumn green pepper production ranks 9th in Japan.","03206":"Kitakami City in southwestern Iwate Prefecture is one of the leading industrial cities in Tohoku, a hub of distribution and industry where many companies are located. Tenshochi along the Kitakami River is known for its rows of cherry trees, and the calcareous sinter at Geto Onsen is a Natural Monument of Japan. The city also has the Michinoku Folklore Village and the Museum of Contemporary Japanese Poetry, Tanka and Haiku.","03207":"Kuji City faces the Pacific Ocean with the Kitakami Mountains behind it and is known as the town of the \"northernmost ama (women free divers).\" It is the largest source of amber in Japan and has the Kuji Amber Museum, and Moguranpia, which began as Japan's first underground aquarium, is also popular. Kuji is also the birthplace of Mifune Kyuzo, called the \"god of judo.\"","03208":"Tono City spreads across the Tono Basin, the largest basin in the Kitakami Mountains, and is the setting of Yanagita Kunio's \"The Legends of Tono.\" Folk tales of kappa (water imps) and zashiki-warashi (house spirits) are handed down here. Visitors can experience the world of old tales at Joken-ji Temple, which has the Kappa Pool, and at Denshoen, where a magariya (L-shaped farmhouse) has been relocated. Part of Mt. Hayachine is also within the city.","03209":"Ichinoseki City is at the southern end of Iwate Prefecture and borders both Miyagi and Akita prefectures. Genbikei, a gorge carved by the Iwai River, and Geibikei, known for boat rides, are famous scenic spots, and the Honedera Village Shoen Site preserves a medieval rural landscape. The city's summer-autumn green peppers rank 6th in Japan, and its summer-autumn eggplants rank 8th.","03210":"Rikuzentakata City lies at the head of Hirota Bay and has one of the largest plains on the Sanriku Coast. Takata Matsubara, a long pine grove, was badly damaged by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the single pine tree that survived is known as the \"Miracle Pine.\" Today the Takatamatsubara Memorial Park and the Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum have been built there.","03211":"Kamaishi City is in the middle of the Sanriku Coast and is \"the birthplace of Japan's modern iron industry,\" where an ironworks was built in the Meiji era. The Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site is a component of the World Heritage Site \"Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution,\" and visitors can learn this history at the Iron History Museum. Kamaishi is also known as a rugby town.","03213":"Ninohe City is at the northern inland end of Iwate Prefecture and is the hub of northern Iwate; the Mabechi River flows through it. It has Tendai-ji Temple, said to have been founded by the monk Gyoki, and the remains of Kunohe Castle, where Kunohe Masazane resisted the large army of the Toyotomi government. The Joboji area produces urushi lacquer and Joboji lacquerware, and Kintaichi Onsen and the sake brewery Nanbu Bijin are also well known.","03214":"Hachimantai City is in northwestern Iwate Prefecture, surrounded by Mt. Iwate and the Hachimantai mountains. Highland tourist areas such as Appi Kogen Ski Resort and Toshichi Onsen spread across it, and the Yakehashiri Lava Flow is a Natural Monument of Japan. The city also has the Matsuo Mine, once the largest sulfur mine in Japan, and Japan's first geothermal power plant.","03215":"Oshu City was formed in 2006 by the merger of Mizusawa City, Esashi City and others, and it has the 2nd largest population in the prefecture. It is known for Maesawa beef, a brand of beef, Nanbu ironware, and the Esashi-Fujiwara Heritage Park, which recreates the era of the Oshu Fujiwara clan. The ancient Isawa Castle site and the Tsunozuka Kofun (burial mound) also remain. The city's summer-autumn green peppers rank 3rd in Japan.","03216":"Takizawa City lies on the northwest side of Morioka City and includes the wide foothills of Mt. Iwate. Its population grew as a commuter town for Morioka, and for a long time it was \"the most populous village in Japan,\" but it became a city in 2014. It has Onikoshi Sozen Shrine, the starting point of the early-summer festival \"Chagu Chagu Umakko.\"","03301":"Shizukuishi Town is in central Iwate Prefecture, borders Akita Prefecture and spreads across the southwestern foothills of Mt. Iwate. It is a tourist town with the vast Koiwai Farm, Amihari Onsen, Oshuku Onsen and ski resorts, and it has hosted the Alpine World Ski Championships. The Kakkonda River and the Tatsu River join at Lake Gosho to become the Shizukuishi River.","03302":"Kuzumaki Town is a mountain town in the northeastern Kitakami Highlands, and forests cover 86% of the town. Dairy farming and forestry are its key industries. It calls itself \"the town of milk, wine and clean energy\" and also works on wind power. In the Edo period it prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Noda Kaido, a road used to carry salt.","03303":"Iwate Town is in north-central Iwate Prefecture. The Kitakami River flows through the center of the town, and its source is also in the town. Highland cabbage farming is active: the town's summer-autumn cabbage ranks 3rd in Japan, and its summer-autumn green peppers rank 7th. The town focuses on hockey and sculpture, and the Michi-no-Eki Ishigami-no-Oka (roadside station) has an art museum.","03321":"Shiwa Town is between Morioka and Hanamaki, and the Kitakami River flows through its center. As the home of the Nanbu toji (master sake brewers), it has a tradition of sake brewing, and fruit growing and winemaking are also active. It has Shiwa Inari Shrine and the Nomura Kodo and Araebisu Memorial Museum, and its town development through the public-private \"Ogal Project\" also attracts attention.","03322":"Yahaba Town is a farming town bordering Morioka to the south, and it has been developed as a commuter town for Morioka. It has the remains of Tokutan Castle, built at the beginning of the Heian period. At the foot of Mt. Nansho are sights and historic places such as Nusakake Falls and Yahaba Onsen.","03366":"Nishiwaga Town is surrounded on three sides by the Ou Mountains and opens toward the Yokote Basin in Akita Prefecture. It is in a special heavy-snow area, and its weather and dialect are close to those of Akita. The Yuda Onsen area spreads around Lake Kinshu, a dam lake, and at the Hekisho-ji Museum visitors can see tools of daily life in snow country.","03381":"Kanegasaki Town is in southwestern Iwate Prefecture, between the Kitakami River and the Isawa River. In the Edo period it was a key point at the northern edge of the Date Domain. The samurai residences of Jonai Suwakoji remain and are designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The town also has the Gunba-no-Sato Rokuhara Museum, about military horses, and Senganishi Onsen.","03402":"Hiraizumi Town prospered as the base of the Oshu Fujiwara clan at the end of the Heian period, and \"Hiraizumi\" is registered as a World Heritage Site. Chuson-ji Temple, known for its Golden Hall (Konjikido), Motsu-ji Temple with its Pure Land garden, and Mt. Kinkei show the prosperity of that time. Hiraizumi is the smallest municipality in the prefecture by area.","03441":"Sumita Town is a landlocked town in the southern Kitakami Highlands, and forests cover about 90% of its total area. Using its rich timber, it aims to be \"Japan's best town for forests and forestry.\" The clear Kesen River flows through it, and it has Rokan Cave, a limestone cave, and Matsubi Bridge, which is built on the assumption that it will be washed away when the river rises.","03461":"Otsuchi Town faces Otsuchi Bay on the Pacific Ocean, and its center is on the plain where the Otsuchi River and the Kozuchi River flow into the bay. Horai Island in the bay is said to be one of the models for the puppet show \"Hyokkori Hyotanjima,\" and the town's chime plays the show's theme song. Many Jomon-period sites also remain.","03482":"Yamada Town is in the middle of the Sanriku Coast and faces Funakoshi Bay and Yamada Bay. Oyster and scallop farming that makes use of the ria coast is active. Oranda Island in Yamada Bay is named after the history of a Dutch ship that called there in the Edo period. The town also has the Whale and Sea Science Museum.","03483":"Iwaizumi Town is in the eastern Kitakami Mountains and is the largest town by area on Honshu. Ryusendo Cave, one of Japan's three great limestone caves, is known for its clear blue underground lakes, and its water is also used for the town's water supply. Iwaizumi is also the town where a dinosaur fossil, \"Moshiryu,\" was found for the first time in Japan.","03484":"Tanohata Village is on the northern Sanriku Coast, and its entire coastline is part of Sanriku Fukko National Park. Kitayamazaki and the Unosu Cliffs, with their sheer rock walls, are representative landscapes of Sanriku. \"Tsunami stones\" that tell of the great tsunami of the Meiji era and the Tsukuehama Banya, a group of fishermen's huts that shows the history of the fishing village, also remain.","03485":"Fudai Village faces the Pacific Ocean in northeastern Iwate Prefecture and is the easternmost point in the world on the 40th parallel north. Its coast is lined with cliffs and has the Rikuchu Kurosaki Lighthouse and Unotori Shrine. In the Great East Japan Earthquake, the 15.5 m high Fudai floodgate and the seawall held back the tsunami and kept flooding of the settlements to a minimum.","03501":"Karumai Town is at the northern end of the Kitakami Mountains and borders Aomori Prefecture. The Yukiya River and the Setsukinai River flow through it, and \"Folist Park Karumai,\" around the Yukiya River Dam, is known for its tulips in spring. The remains of the medieval Karumai Castle and the old temple Tokuraku-ji also survive.","03503":"Noda Village faces Noda Bay on the Pacific Ocean in northeastern Iwate Prefecture. Salt-making has long been active here, and the Noda Kaido, the road that carried Noda salt inland, is well known. The long sandy beach of Tofugaura stretches along the coast. The village was badly damaged by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake and has since worked on its recovery.","03506":"Kunohe Village is inland in northern Iwate Prefecture, and its settlements spread across a basin along the Setsukinai River. The area near the summit of Mt. Oritsume is a habitat of the himebotaru firefly, and in summer countless lights fill the night. The village is one of Japan's leading producers of amacha (sweet hydrangea tea), and charcoal is also produced.","03507":"Hirono Town is at the northern end of the Iwate coast and was formed in 2006 by the merger of Taneichi Town and Ono Village. It faces the Pacific Ocean to the east, and highlands spread across the west. Taneichi is known for sea urchins, and the tradition of \"Nanbu moguri,\" a diving technique, is carried on.","03524":"Ichinohe Town is inland in northern Iwate Prefecture, along the Mabechi River. The Goshono Site, a large Jomon-period settlement, is one of the World Heritage \"Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan,\" and the town has the Goshono Jomon Museum. It also has Natural Monuments such as the large silicified wood of Nesori and ski slopes on the Okunakayama Highlands, and its summer-autumn lettuce ranks 9th in Japan.","04100":"Sendai City is the largest city in Tohoku, the prefectural capital of Miyagi Prefecture and a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture). It grew as the castle town of the Sendai Domain and is called the \"City of Trees\" for the greenery of the Hirose River and Mt. Aoba. Sites linked to Date Masamune include the Sendai Castle site, Zuihoden and Osaki Hachimangu Shrine; the Sendai Tanabata summer festival and nearby Akiu Onsen are also popular.","04202":"Ishinomaki City is the second largest city in the prefecture, a port town at the mouth of the Kitakami River that includes the Oshika Peninsula. It is one of Japan's leading fishing cities, near the fishing grounds off Kinkasan, and offshore lie Kinkasan, a sacred island, and Tashirojima, known as \"cat island.\" It also has the Ishinomori Manga Museum and the Ishii Lock, and its six-row barley production ranks 4th in Japan.","04203":"Shiogama City developed as the shrine town of Shiogama Shrine, the ichinomiya (highest-ranking shrine) of Mutsu Province, and as a fishing port city. The Port of Shiogama is known for landings of fresh tuna, and the city is famous for its many sushi restaurants. Katsurashima, Nonoshima and other islands of the Urato Islands in Matsushima Bay are also part of the city.","04205":"Kesennuma City is a port town on the Sanriku Coast at the northeastern end of Miyagi Prefecture. Around Kesennuma Fishing Port, a base for coastal, offshore and deep-sea fishing, the fishing industry is concentrated, from shipbuilding to seafood processing, and the city is known for bonito and shark fin. Kesennuma Oshima Island, Cape Iwai and Kugunarihama, a beach of \"singing sand,\" are also sights.","04206":"Shiroishi City is at the foot of the Zao Mountains, at the southern end of Miyagi Prefecture, and in the Edo period it prospered as the castle town of Shiroishi Castle. The rebuilt three-story turret of Shiroishi Castle stands tall, and Shiroishi umen, a thin noodle, is a local specialty. Kamasaki Onsen, Obara Onsen and the Miyagi Zao Fox Village, where visitors can meet many foxes, are also popular.","04207":"Natori City borders Sendai to the south, faces the Pacific Ocean and has Sendai Airport. It has the Raijinyama Kofun, the largest kofun (ancient burial mound) in the Tohoku region. Yuriage, at the mouth of the Natori River, is known as a port town, and Kawamachi Terrace Yuriage is its lively center. The city has developed as a commuter town for Sendai.","04208":"Kakuda City is in southern Miyagi Prefecture, and the Abukuma River flows through it from south to north. In the Edo period it was ruled by the Kakuda Ishikawa clan. It has a facility of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and factories for electrical equipment and auto parts are also located here. The city has Kozo-ji Temple, known for its Amida Hall, and soybeans and plums are widely grown.","04209":"Tagajo City borders Sendai to the northeast and takes its name from Tagajo, where the provincial government of Mutsu was placed in the Nara period. The Tagajo Stele, a National Treasure, stands on the vast Tagajo site, and at the Tohoku History Museum visitors can learn about ancient Tohoku. The city also has Sue no Matsuyama, a place famous in classical poetry (utamakura).","04211":"Iwanuma City is in southern Miyagi Prefecture, on the north bank of the mouth of the Abukuma River. In the past it was called \"Takekuma,\" and it prospered as a shukuba (post town) where the Oshu Kaido and the Rikuzen Hama Kaido roads split. Takekoma Inari Shrine, said to be one of Japan's three great Inari shrines, and Kanahebisui Shrine attract visitors, and part of Sendai Airport is also in the city.","04212":"Tome City is in northern Miyagi Prefecture, bordering Iwate Prefecture, and is one of the leading rice-growing areas in the prefecture, with the Kitakami River and other rivers flowing through it. Its paddy rice production ranks 6th in Japan. Izunuma and Uchinuma, where swans and geese come, are Ramsar Convention wetlands, and the Toyoma area, where Western-style Meiji buildings remain, is called the \"Meiji Village of Miyagi.\"","04213":"Kurihara City is in northwestern Miyagi Prefecture, borders both Iwate and Akita prefectures and is the largest city in the prefecture by area. The whole city, including Mt. Kurikoma, is the Kurikoma-sanroku Geopark, and it has Izunuma, a Ramsar Convention wetland, and the Sekaiyachi natural flower garden. It is a rice-growing area with wide paddy fields, and its paddy rice production ranks 10th in Japan.","04214":"Higashimatsushima City is in central Miyagi Prefecture and faces Matsushima Bay and Ishinomaki Bay. In Oku-Matsushima, east of Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, lies Miyato Island, where the Jomon-period Satohama Shell Mound remains. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Matsushima Air Base is known as the home of the Blue Impulse aerobatic team.","04215":"Osaki City in northwestern Miyagi Prefecture was formed in 2006 by the merger of 1 city and 6 towns, including Furukawa City. It prospered as the domain of the Osaki clan, and the former Yubikan remains in Iwadeyama. It has many onsen (hot springs), including the Naruko Onsen area, and the Onikobe geyser is also a sight. It produces Sasanishiki and Hitomebore rice, and its paddy rice production ranks 9th in Japan.","04216":"Tomiya City borders Sendai to the north and has developed as a commuter town since the 1970s. In the Edo period, Tomiya-juku, a shukuba (post town) on the Oshu Kaido road, was located here, and the \"Shinmachi area,\" which keeps the atmosphere of the post town, is the city center. Large commercial facilities are located along National Route 4, and Tomiya became a city after its population grew.","04301":"Zao Town spreads across the eastern foothills of the Zao Mountains in southern Miyagi Prefecture. Okama, an emerald-colored crater lake, is near the summit of Mt. Katta, and Togatta Onsen is the base for Zao sightseeing and also a production area of traditional kokeshi dolls. The town also has the \"Kitaharao\" area, which people who returned from Palau settled after the war.","04302":"Shichikashuku Town is in the Ou Mountains at the southwestern end of Miyagi Prefecture and has the smallest population in the prefecture. Its name comes from the seven shukuba (post towns) on the road connecting the Ushu Kaido and the Oshu Kaido. It has Shichikashuku Dam, the water source for Sendai, Nametsu Falls and Lake Choro, and it is known as \"the village that protects water.\"","04321":"Ogawara Town in southern Miyagi Prefecture prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Oshu Kaido road and is called \"the commercial capital of Sennan (southern Miyagi).\" The \"Hitome Senbon Zakura,\" a thousand cherry trees along both banks of the Shiroishi River that can be seen at a glance, was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots, and many people come in spring. In winter, swans and other migratory birds visit the Shiroishi River.","04322":"Murata Town is a basin town in southern Miyagi Prefecture, surrounded by mountains on three sides. In the Edo period it prospered as a collection center for safflower. Its streets of shop-warehouses with namako-kabe walls (tiles joined with raised white plaster) are an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the town is called \"the little Kyoto of Michinoku Miyagi.\" It also has the Sportsland SUGO circuit.","04323":"Shibata Town is in southern Miyagi Prefecture along the Shiroishi River, and Funaoka Castle Ruins Park and the Hitome Senbon Zakura on the Shiroishi River banks are known for cherry blossoms. Funaoka was the castle town of Harada Kai, a key figure in the Date Disturbance. The town has the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Camp Funaoka and Sendai University.","04324":"Kawasaki Town is at the foot of the Zao Mountains in southwestern Miyagi Prefecture, and mountains and hills cover 85% of the town. It prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Sasaya Kaido road linking Sendai and Yamagata, and Michinoku Lakewood National Government Park spreads along the shore of Lake Kamafusa. Mountain hot springs such as Aone Onsen and Gaga Onsen are also an attraction.","04341":"Marumori Town is at the southern end of Miyagi Prefecture and juts into Fukushima Prefecture; about 70% of the town is forest. The Abukuma River cuts through the mountains, and visitors can enjoy boat rides down the gorge. \"Kura no Kyodokan Sairi Yashiki,\" a museum where the storehouses of a wealthy merchant stand in a row, conveys the history of the town.","04361":"Watari Town in southern Miyagi Prefecture faces the Pacific Ocean and the Abukuma River, and it prospered as the castle town of the Watari Date clan, whose first lord was Date Shigezane. Strawberry growing that uses the mild climate is active, and harakomeshi, a local dish of rice topped with salmon and salmon roe, is a specialty. The town also has Arahama Port on Lake Torinoumi.","04362":"Yamamoto Town is at the southeastern end of Miyagi Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean and bordering Fukushima Prefecture. Its land is divided into mountains in the west, a plateau of fields and orchards in the middle and low paddy fields in the east, and it is known for strawberries. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Yamashita Station and Sakamoto Station on the Joban Line were moved inland and reopened.","04401":"Matsushima Town faces Matsushima Bay in central Miyagi Prefecture and is known for Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan, with many islands in the bay. At Zuigan-ji Temple, rebuilt by Date Masamune, the main hall and the kuri (priests' quarters) are National Treasures, and places linked to the Date family, such as Entsu-in Temple and Kanrantei, line the bay. Matsushima has long appeared in poems as an utamakura (a place famous in classical poetry).","04404":"Shichigahama Town is on a peninsula that juts into Sendai Bay, east of Sendai, and it is the smallest municipality by area in Hokkaido and Tohoku. The town's name comes from seven settlements along the coast, and it has Shobutahama Beach and Hanabuchi Lighthouse. The Jomon-period Daigigakoi Shell Mound is a national Historic Site.","04406":"Rifu Town borders Sendai to the northeast. Miyagi Stadium in Miyagi Sports Park was a venue of the 2002 soccer World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The town has a general Shinkansen rolling stock center, and AEON MALL Shin-Rifu is its commercial core. Rifu is also known for growing pears.","04421":"Taiwa Town is north of Sendai, and companies and large stores have continued to move in. In the Edo period, Yoshioka-juku, a post town organized by Date Munekiyo, the third son of Date Masamune, was an important point on the Dewa Kaido road. The town is surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Funagata and the Nanatsumori hills, and it has a memorial museum for the poet Hara Asao.","04422":"Osato Town is almost in the center of Miyagi Prefecture, with fields along the Yoshida River. Shinainuma, once the largest lake in the Sendai Domain, was here, but it disappeared through land reclamation that began in the Edo period. The town is said to be linked to Hasekura Tsunenaga of the Keicho Embassy to Europe, and it has a memorial park.","04424":"Ohira Village is almost in the center of Miyagi Prefecture, an area of gentle hills, and it is the only village in the prefecture. A plant of Toyota Motor East Japan operates here, and the village is a base of the automobile industry. It has the Showa Man'yo Forest, created to mark the 60th year of Emperor Showa's reign, and the Ohira Village Furusato Museum.","04444":"Shikama Town is a farming town on the Osaki Plain in northwestern Miyagi Prefecture, and to the west it extends to Mt. Funagata in the Ou Mountains. Rice growing is central, and the town also grows egoma (perilla) as a crop in converted rice paddies. It is an old place: the name \"Shikama Stockade\" appears in the Nara-period chronicle \"Shoku Nihongi.\" The town also has Shikama Falls.","04445":"Kami Town in northwestern Miyagi Prefecture was formed in 2003 by the merger of Nakaniida Town, Onoda Town and Miyazaki Town, and it borders Yamagata Prefecture across the Ou Mountains. The Naruse River flows through it, and Yakurai Garden spreads at the foot of the cone-shaped Mt. Yakurai. The site of the ancient Jo-no-saku stockade also remains.","04501":"Wakuya Town in northeastern Miyagi Prefecture is where gold was first produced in Japan, in the Tenpyo era. That gold was used for the Great Buddha of Todai-ji Temple in Nara, and the Koganeyama Gold Mine Site is a national Historic Site. In the Edo period the town was ruled by the Wakuya Date clan, and a history museum stands on the site of Wakuya Castle.","04505":"Misato Town on the Osaki Plain was formed in 2006 by the merger of Kogota Town and Nango Town. The Eai River and the Naruse River flow through it and provide plenty of water, and about 70% of the town is farmland. It is one of the leading rose-growing areas in Tohoku, and strawberries and Kitaura pears are also specialties. Kogota Station is known as a railway junction.","04581":"Onagawa Town is on the Pacific coast at the base of the Oshika Peninsula and has Onagawa Fishing Port, a good harbor on the ria coast. Farming of oysters, scallops and coho salmon is active, and its landings of Pacific saury are among the largest in Japan. The town has the Onagawa Nuclear Power Station, and after the earthquake disaster a new townscape was built around the station.","04606":"Minamisanriku Town in northeastern Miyagi Prefecture faces Shizugawa Bay and Isatomae Bay. Its whole coastal area is part of Sanriku Fukko National Park, and farming of oysters, wakame seaweed and coho salmon is active in the bays of the ria coast. The Minamisanriku Sun Sun Shopping Village and the earthquake recovery memorial park show the steps of the recovery.","05201":"Akita City is the prefectural capital of Akita Prefecture, on the central coast at the mouth of the Omono River. It prospered as the castle town of the Kubota Domain; Senshu Park has the ruins of Kubota Castle, and a garden of a Satake family villa remains. Tsuchizaki Port was a port of call for the kitamaebune (merchant ships of the Sea of Japan). The ruins of ancient Akita Castle and the summer Kanto Festival are also well known.","05202":"Noshiro City is in northern Akita Prefecture, at the mouth of the Yoneshiro River, facing the Sea of Japan. It prospered by processing Akita cedar wood and was called \"the greatest timber city in the East.\" Kaneyu, a former traditional restaurant built with plenty of Akita cedar, remains. The city is known as a basketball town because of the success of the former Noshiro Technical High School, and its autumn-winter green onions rank 3rd in Japan.","05203":"Yokote City is in southeastern Akita Prefecture, in the center of the Yokote Basin. It is known for the traditional winter event \"Kamakura\" (snow huts) and for Yokote yakisoba (fried noodles), and its rice production is the 3rd largest in Japan. The streets of Masuda, with their indoor storehouses, are a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the city also has the Yokote Masuda Manga Museum.","05204":"Odate City is a basin city in northern Akita Prefecture that borders Aomori Prefecture, and the Yoneshiro River flows through its center. It is the home of the Akita dog, and as the birthplace of the loyal dog Hachiko it has the Akita Dog Visitor Center. The city is a center of Hinai-jidori chicken and kiritanpo (grilled rice sticks), and it is also known for magewappa, a traditional craft of bent wooden boxes.","05206":"Oga City is in western Akita Prefecture and covers most of the Oga Peninsula, which juts into the Sea of Japan. It is known for \"Namahage of Oga,\" held on New Year's Eve. Varied landscapes spread across the city, such as Mt. Kanpu, Cape Nyudo and Ichinomegata, a lake formed by a volcano. The Oga Aquarium, which has polar bears, is also popular.","05207":"Yuzawa City is at the southeastern tip of Akita Prefecture, in the southern part of the Yokote Basin, and borders both Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures. It produces Inaniwa udon (wheat noodles) and Kawatsura lacquerware, and it is also known for sake brewing. A legend says that the poet Ono no Komachi was born here. Mountain hot springs such as Kawarageoyu Falls and the Akinomiya Onsen area are also attractions.","05209":"Kazuno City is at the northeastern tip of Akita Prefecture and borders both Aomori and Iwate Prefectures. The Oyu Stone Circles from the Jomon period are a component of the World Heritage Site \"Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan.\" The city is known for the Hanawa-bayashi festival music and is said to be the birthplace of kiritanpo (grilled rice sticks). Hot springs, such as the Hachimantai Onsen area and Oyu Onsen, are scattered around the city.","05210":"Yurihonjo City is in southwestern Akita Prefecture and was formed in 2005 by the merger of Honjo City and 7 towns of Yuri District. It has the largest area of any municipality in the prefecture. The city spreads along the Koyoshi River, which flows into the Sea of Japan, and Mt. Chokai rises to the south. It has Hottai Falls, one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls, and ski areas on the Chokai Highlands.","05211":"Katagami City lies between Akita City and Oga City and faces Hachirogata and the Sea of Japan. It is the smallest city in the prefecture by area. It is known for tsukudani (fish simmered in soy sauce and sugar) made from fish of Hachirogata, and Detohama Beach is on its coast. At Toko Yasaka Shrine in Tenno, festival rites such as riding on a bull and the spider dance are handed down.","05212":"Daisen City is in southeastern Akita Prefecture and was formed in 2005 by the merger of 8 municipalities, including Omagari City. It hosts the \"Omagari Fireworks,\" one of Japan's three great fireworks festivals. It is a rice-growing area with paddy fields across the Senboku Plain, and its rice production is the 2nd largest in Japan. The city also has the ruins of the ancient Hotta-no-saku fort and the Former Ikeda Family Gardens.","05213":"Kitaakita City is in northern Akita Prefecture and was formed in 2005 by the merger of 4 towns, including Takanosu Town. Odate-Noshiro Airport is in the city. The Isedotai Site from the Jomon period is a component of a World Heritage Site, and the Ani area is known as a home of the matagi (traditional hunters). At the foot of Mt. Moriyoshi there are Yasu Falls, Todo Falls and the Komata-kyo Gorge.","05214":"Nikaho City lies at the foot of Mt. Chokai and faces the Sea of Japan. It is the only city in the prefecture whose name is written in hiragana. Kisakata, which Matsuo Basho visited in \"The Narrow Road to the Deep North,\" is a scenic spot where small islands float in rice paddies on the site of a former lagoon raised by an earthquake. The city is the hometown of the Antarctic explorer Shirase Nobu and has a memorial museum to him.","05215":"Semboku City is in eastern Akita Prefecture and has Lake Tazawa, the deepest lake in Japan. The samurai residence street of Kakunodate is a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and a famous cherry blossom spot called \"the little Kyoto of Michinoku (northern Japan).\" The city has many well-known hot springs, such as the Nyuto Onsen area and Tamagawa Onsen, and the tradition of kabazaiku (cherry bark craft) is also handed down.","05303":"Kosaka Town is in northeastern Akita Prefecture, and its area includes the western side of Lake Towada. It prospered with the Kosaka Mine, and the Meiji-era Kosaka Mine Office and the wooden playhouse Korakukan are Important Cultural Properties of Japan. After the mine closed, the town became a recycling center that uses its smelting technology, and Nanataki Falls is also a well-known sight.","05327":"Kamikoani Village is in central Akita Prefecture, and forests and wild land cover 92.7% of its total area; it produces Akita cedar. It has the smallest population of any municipality in the prefecture. The history of mountain life is handed down, for example in the Yagisawa settlement, which matagi (traditional hunters) settled and opened in the Edo period.","05346":"Fujisato Town is at the northern end of Akita Prefecture, on the south side of the Shirakami Mountains. All of the Akita side of the World Heritage area of the Shirakami Mountains lies within the town, and visitors can experience its beech forests. Gorge and waterside scenery, such as Choshi Falls, Garokyo Gorge and Lake Subari of the Subari Dam, are also attractions.","05348":"Mitane Town is in northwestern Akita Prefecture and was formed in 2006 by the merger of Kotooka Town, Yamamoto Town and Hachiryu Town; its name comes from the Mitane River. Its production of junsai, a slimy water plant, is the largest in Japan, at about 90% of the national total. The town has Moritake Onsen (hot springs) and also includes an area facing Lake Hachiro.","05349":"Happo Town is at the northwestern tip of Akita Prefecture, between the Sea of Japan and the Shirakami Mountains, and borders Aomori Prefecture. It is known for hatahata (sandfish) fishing. Its sights include the Hachimori Isaribi Onsen Hatahata-kan, Shirataki Shrine and Oshima Island, which floats in the sea. The whole area is certified as the Happo Shirakami Geopark.","05361":"Gojome Town is in central Akita Prefecture, north of Akita City. A morning market with a history of 500 years is still held regularly and supports town life. The town spreads from the mountains in the east to farmland in the west, and it was once known as the northern limit of the habitat of bell crickets (suzumushi).","05363":"Hachirogata Town lies east of the eastern drainage canal of Hachirogata and is the smallest municipality in the prefecture by area. It is at the northern end of the flat Akita Plain, and old shops line the street in front of Hachirogata Station. The Ou Main Line and National Route 7 pass through the town, and it is also close to an interchange of the Akita Expressway.","05366":"Ikawa Town is in central Akita Prefecture and stretches long and narrow along the Ikawa River, which flows from the Dewa Hills into Hachirogata. The Nihon Kokkaen park, planted with cherry trees collected from all over Japan, is crowded with cherry blossom viewers in spring. The town is also known as the place where Japan's first certified center for early childhood education and care (nintei kodomoen) was established.","05368":"Ogata Village was created by reclaiming Hachirogata, which was once the 2nd largest lake in Japan, and it is the largest reclaimed land in Japan. It was established in 1964, large-scale rice farming is carried out, and its rice production ranks 8th in Japan. The intersection of 40 degrees north latitude and 140 degrees east longitude is in the village, and a marker tower stands there.","05434":"Misato Town is in the eastern Yokote Basin and was formed in 2004 by the merger of Senhata Town, Rokugo Town and Sennan Village. Groundwater springs up in many places on its alluvial fan, and Rokugo is a village of clear springs selected as one of the \"100 Water Villages.\" In summer, the Misato Town Lavender Garden turns purple with flowers.","05463":"Ugo Town is in southern Akita Prefecture and developed as the castle town of the Onodera clan. The \"Nishimonai Bon Odori,\" said to be one of Japan's three great Bon dances, is known for its graceful dancing with faces hidden by woven hats or hoods. The town has some of the heaviest snowfall in the prefecture and produces Akitakomachi rice and Japanese Black cattle.","05464":"Higashinaruse Village is at the southeastern tip of Akita Prefecture, at the foot of the Ou Mountains, and borders both Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. It includes Kurikoma Quasi-National Park, and Sukawa Kogen Onsen (hot springs) is on the slopes of Mt. Kurikoma. It is known as \"the village with the best academic ability in Japan\" based on the results of the national academic achievement survey, and it chose to stay independent without merging.","06201":"Yamagata City is the prefectural capital of Yamagata Prefecture, and its urban area spreads over an alluvial fan in the southeastern Yamagata Basin. It developed as the castle town of Yamagata Castle (Kajo) of the Mogami clan, and the Bunshokan, a Western-style building from the Taisho era, remains. Yama-dera (Risshaku-ji Temple), linked to Matsuo Basho, and Zao Onsen, known for its snow monsters (frost-covered trees), are also in the city.","06202":"Yonezawa City is the central city of the Okitama region and is known as the castle town of the Yonezawa Domain of the Uesugi clan. Uesugi Shrine stands on the site of Yonezawa Castle, and the Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum holds the National Treasure \"Uesugi version of the Rakuchu Rakugai-zu Byobu\" (folding screens showing scenes in and around Kyoto). The Uesugi family mausoleum, where successive lords rest, and the Yonezawa beef brand are also famous.","06203":"Tsuruoka City is in the southern Shonai region and has the largest area of any city in the Tohoku region. On Mt. Haguro, one of the Three Mountains of Dewa, a five-story pagoda that is a National Treasure stands along an avenue of cedar trees. The Kamo Aquarium, known for its jellyfish, and the hot springs of Yunohama and Atsumi are popular. The city is Japan's first UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and its rice production ranks 4th in Japan.","06204":"Sakata City is a port city in the northern Shonai region at the mouth of the Mogami River, and it has the Port of Sakata, the only major port in the prefecture. It prospered as a port of call for the kitamaebune (merchant ships of the Sea of Japan), and the Sankyo Warehouses used for storing rice and the Homma Museum of Art, linked to the wealthy Homma merchant family, remain. The Ken Domon Museum of Photography and Tobishima Island offshore are also attractions.","06205":"Shinjo City is in northeastern Yamagata Prefecture and is the central city of the Mogami area; in the Edo period it was the castle town of the Shinjo Domain of the Tozawa clan. It has some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan, and as the birthplace of a movement to relieve snow damage it has the Yukinosato Information Center. The city is the terminus of the Yamagata Shinkansen, and the Shinjo Festival in summer is also well known.","06206":"Sagae City is near the center of Yamagata Prefecture, on an alluvial fan where the Mogami River and the Sagae River meet. Under the slogan \"Sagae, Japan's number one cherry village,\" it produces cherries, and its pick-your-own cherry orchards are among the largest in Japan. The main hall of the ancient Jion-ji Temple is an Important Cultural Property of Japan.","06207":"Kaminoyama City borders Yamagata City to the south. In the Edo period it prospered as the castle town of the Kaminoyama Domain and as a shukuba (post town) on the Ushu Kaido road. It has three faces, as a castle town, a post town and a hot spring town, and Kaminoyama Onsen is well known. It is the hometown of the tanka poet Saito Mokichi and has a memorial museum to him, and the streets of Narage-shuku also remain.","06208":"Murayama City is in central Yamagata Prefecture, between mountains to the east and west, and the Mogami River flows north through it. The three most difficult places for former river transport, \"Goten,\" \"Mikkase\" and \"Hayabusa,\" are all in the city, and there is also Goten Onsen. Higashizawa Rose Park is a famous spot where many roses bloom, and there is also a memorial museum to the explorer Mogami Tokunai.","06209":"Nagai City is in the Nagai Basin in southern Yamagata Prefecture, where the Shira River and the Nogawa River join the Mogami River. Under the slogan \"a town of water, greenery and flowers,\" cherry blossoms, azaleas and irises reach their best one after another from spring to summer. The Asahi Mountains spread over the west, and Mt. Oasahi rises at the northwestern end.","06210":"Tendo City is in eastern Yamagata Prefecture and is known as a town of shogi (Japanese chess) pieces and hot springs. In the cherry blossom season, \"Human Shogi\" is held, with people acting as the pieces, and many ryokan (Japanese inns) line Tendo Onsen. The city has Takeisao Shrine, which enshrines Oda Nobunaga, and the Dewazakura Museum of Art, and it also produces cherries and other fruit.","06211":"Higashine City is in the northern Yamagata Basin, and its cherry production ranks 1st among all municipalities in Japan. Apples and other fruit are widely grown, and its production of yakifu (baked wheat gluten) is also the largest in Japan. The city has the Special Natural Monument \"Great Zelkova of Higashine,\" Higashine Onsen and Sekiyama Otaki Falls, and Yamagata Airport is also in the city.","06212":"Obanazawa City is in the Obanazawa Basin in northeastern Yamagata Prefecture and produces Obanazawa watermelons and Obanazawa beef. Ginzan Onsen, where wooden inns in the romantic style of the Taisho era line the river, is popular, and the Basho-Seifu Historical Museum tells of Matsuo Basho's stay. The city is designated as a special heavy snowfall area.","06213":"Nanyo City is in the northern Okitama Basin in southeastern Yamagata Prefecture. It is known for Akayu Onsen and as a village where the folk tale of the grateful crane is handed down, and it has the Yuzuru no Sato Museum. It has Inari-mori Kofun, the 6th largest keyhole-shaped burial mound in the Tohoku region, and Lake Hakuryu, and it also produces grapes and wine.","06301":"Yamanobe Town borders Yamagata City to the west across the Sukawa River, and traditional textile industries such as knitwear are active. It has Ankoku-ji Temple, the only one surviving in the former Dewa Province, and the Yamagata Prefectural Citizens' Forest spreads around Mt. Shirataka to the south. Local \"Yamabe Milk\" is also well known.","06302":"Nakayama Town is an almost flat town in the western Yamagata Basin, between the Mogami River and the Sukawa River. In the Edo period it prospered with river transport on the Mogami River, and it is said to be one of the birthplaces of the imoni-kai (outdoor taro stew party). When Nagasaki Town and Toyoda Village merged, the town took its name from the Nakayama family, the former local lords.","06321":"Kahoku Town is near the center of Yamagata Prefecture and once prospered as a collection point for safflower carried by river transport on the Mogami River. It has a safflower museum and is known as \"the home of hina dolls and safflower.\" Cold meat soba (buckwheat noodles) is a local specialty, and the town is also famous for table tennis. It is the only town in the prefecture whose name uses the reading \"cho\" for \"town.\"","06322":"Nishikawa Town is in central Yamagata Prefecture, between Mt. Gassan and Mt. Asahi. Lake Gassan of the Sagae Dam has a large fountain more than 100 m high, and summer skiing is possible on Mt. Gassan until July. It is also the only place in the prefecture that has brewers of sake, wine and beer using its spring water.","06323":"Asahi Town is in central Yamagata Prefecture and uses the slogan \"the home of apples and wine.\" It is the main producer of Fuji apples grown without bags, and a winery for Asahi Town Wine, which uses its grapes, is in the Oya area of the town. The Mogami River flows through the town, which is also one of the gateways to Mt. Asahi, and Ringo Onsen is popular.","06324":"Oe Town stretches long and narrow from east to west, from the western edge of the Yamagata Basin to Mt. Koasahi in the Asahi Mountains. From the Genroku era to the Taisho era it prospered as a relay point for river transport on the Mogami River, and Aterazawa, the town center, has the terminal station of the JR Aterazawa Line. From the ruins of Aterazawa Tateyama Castle, visitors can see the winding Mogami River.","06341":"Oishida Town is along the Mogami River in northeastern Yamagata Prefecture and is the only municipality in Kitamurayama District. It prospered with river transport as a river port where cargo was reloaded before the three most difficult places on the Mogami River, and the town center is right beside the river. It is also known as the town where the tanka poet Saito Mokichi lived after World War II.","06361":"Kaneyama Town is in northeastern Yamagata Prefecture and borders Akita Prefecture, and forests cover 3/4 of its area. The town has worked on its landscape, with streets of \"Kaneyama-style houses\" built with Kaneyama cedar and white walls, and the Ozeki, a stone waterway where colored carp swim. The Kamuro Mountains rise to the northeast.","06362":"Mogami Town is in the Oguni Basin in northeastern Yamagata Prefecture, surrounded by the Ou Mountains. The Mogamioguni River flows through it, and it has two hot spring areas, Akakura Onsen and Semi Onsen. The Hojin-no-Ie house, where Matsuo Basho stayed during his journey of \"The Narrow Road to the Deep North,\" remains. Despite the town's name, the Mogami River does not flow through it.","06363":"Funagata Town is in northern Yamagata Prefecture, where the Oguni River joins the Mogami River. In the Edo period it was a shukuba (post town) on the Ushu Kaido road and a key point of travel over the Saruhane Pass. Tomita prospered as a port for river transport on the Mogami River, and the town is also where the National Treasure clay figure \"Jomon Venus\" was found.","06364":"Mamurogawa Town is in northern Yamagata Prefecture and borders Akita Prefecture; forests cover most of it, and it has long prospered with forestry. Flat land spreads in the south, where the Sake River and the Mamuro River meet, and the ruins of Sakenobe Castle from the Sengoku (Warring States) period remain. The town is also known as the birthplace of the folk song \"Mamurogawa Ondo.\"","06365":"Okura Village is in the southern Mogami region at the foot of Mt. Gassan and is a member of the association of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" It is known for Hijiori Onsen, a mountain hot spring for therapeutic stays, and for the terraced rice fields of Shikamura that line the mountain slopes. It is in a special heavy snowfall area and is covered in deep snow in winter.","06366":"Sakegawa Village is in a basin at the foot of the Dewa Mountains in northern Yamagata Prefecture, and the Sake River flows through its center from north to south. Culture related to salmon is handed down, such as historic sites like the \"Salmon Stone\" and the local dish \"sake no nikiri\" (salted salmon), and the village is also known for mushrooms. It also has Niwatsuki Kannon and Hanesawa Onsen.","06367":"Tozawa Village is in northern Yamagata Prefecture, and the Mogami River flows west through its center. It is a base for boat rides down the Mogami River, and in the Mogami Gorge, which Basho also went down by boat, Shiraito Falls pours down. It also has a day-use hot spring facility using hot water that came out during oil drilling in the Showa era.","06381":"Takahata Town is in southeastern Yamagata Prefecture, and organic farming is active there. Its production of Delaware grapes is the largest in Japan, and it is also the birthplace of La France pears. A memorial museum to the children's story writer Hamada Hirosuke, the \"Dog Shrine and Cat Shrine,\" which enshrine gods of pets, and cave sites from the Jomon period are also attractions.","06382":"Kawanishi Town is near the center of the Okitama Basin and occupies the west bank of the Matsukawa River. The Kawanishi Dahlia Garden is a famous spot where many varieties of dahlia bloom, and many kofun (ancient burial mounds), such as the Shimokomatsu Kofun Cluster, remain. It is the hometown of the writer Inoue Hisashi, and it has the Chihitsudo Bunko library, which holds his book collection.","06401":"Oguni Town is in southwestern Yamagata Prefecture and borders Niigata Prefecture; it has the 2nd largest area of any municipality in the prefecture. It is a heavy snowfall area surrounded by the Asahi Mountains and the Iide Mountains, and it has Kairagi Falls, Iide Onsen and Awanoyu Onsen. It is also certified as a Forest Therapy Base.","06402":"Shirataka Town is in southern Yamagata Prefecture, the Mogami River flows through its center, and it produces hops and safflower. Town functions are gathered in Arato, the terminus of the Yamagata Railway, and Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Shirataka Yana Park, with a weir for catching sweetfish (ayu), is popular. The town is surrounded by Mt. Shirataka to the east and the Asahi Mountains to the west.","06403":"Iide Town is in southern Yamagata Prefecture at the foot of the Iide Mountains and is a member of the association of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" Its landscape is a dispersed settlement, with houses scattered among rice paddies, and it also produces Yonezawa beef. It has the Dondendaira Lily Garden, Lake Shirakawa of the Shirakawa Dam and mountain hot springs.","06426":"Mikawa Town is near the center of the Shonai Plain, and its name comes from three rivers: the Akagawa, Fujishima and Oyama Rivers. About 70% of its area is rice paddies, making it a rice-growing area, and it has views of Mt. Chokai to the north and Mt. Gassan to the east-southeast. The Shonai General Branch Administration Office of the prefecture is in the town, which lies at the center of the Shonai region.","06428":"Shonai Town stretches long and narrow from the center of the Shonai Plain to the foot of Mt. Gassan. In the Edo period the Kitadate Oseki canal was built, turning wild land into a rice-growing area. Kiyokawa was a relay point for river transport on the Mogami River and has a memorial museum to the late Edo period activist Kiyokawa Hachiro. The town is also the birthplace of the rice variety \"Kamenoo.\"","06461":"Yuza Town is at the northernmost end of Yamagata Prefecture and faces the Sea of Japan; Mt. Chokai, the second highest mountain in the Tohoku region, rises to the north. It has many springs and self-flowing wells and was selected as one of the \"100 Water Villages.\" It has Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine and Kamaiso Beach, and it is the only municipality in Akumi District.","07201":"Fukushima City is the prefectural capital of Fukushima Prefecture and the central city of the northern Nakadori region, spreading across the Fukushima Basin. It is a \"fruit kingdom\" where peaches, pears and other fruit are widely grown, and Hanamiyama Park is a famous spot in spring. The city has three hot spring areas, Iizaka, Tsuchiyu and Takayu, and it is also the birthplace of the composer Koseki Yuji.","07202":"Aizuwakamatsu City is the central city of the Aizu region and prospered as the castle town of the Aizu Domain, ruled by the Aizu Matsudaira family. Tsuruga Castle (Wakamatsu Castle), a battlefield of the Boshin War, Mt. Iimori, linked to the Byakkotai (a unit of young samurai), and the Aizu Sazae-do, a hall with a spiral path for worshippers, remain. The hot springs of Higashiyama and Ashinomaki and Aizu lacquerware are also local specialties.","07203":"Koriyama City is a commercial and industrial city in the central Nakadori region with the largest population in the prefecture, and it is also called \"the economic capital of the prefecture.\" It is at a \"crossroads of transport,\" where railways and expressways meet from all four directions, and the Asaka Canal, which brings water from Lake Inawashiro, turned wild land into a grain-producing area. The city also has Bandai-Atami Onsen and the Oyasuba Kofun Cluster.","07204":"Iwaki City is the central city of the southern Hamadori region and has the largest area in the prefecture. It once prospered with the Joban coalfield, and it is known for a large leisure facility that uses hot water from the coal mines. Its sights also include Aquamarine Fukushima, an aquarium at Onahama Port, the National Treasure Shiramizu Amida-do hall and Iwaki Yumoto Onsen.","07205":"Shirakawa City is in the southern Nakadori region. In ancient times the Shirakawa Barrier was set up here, and the area has long been seen as \"the gateway to Michinoku (northern Japan).\" It has Shirakawa Komine Castle, with its beautiful stone walls, and Nanko Park, which Matsudaira Sadanobu, lord of the Shirakawa Domain, built as a place for people of every social class to enjoy. Shirakawa ramen is also popular.","07207":"Sukagawa City is in the central Nakadori region and is known for the Sukagawa Peony Garden, a national Place of Scenic Beauty, and for \"Taimatsu Akashi,\" said to be one of Japan's three great fire festivals. It is the birthplace of the special-effects director Tsuburaya Eiji, and it promotes town development using Ultraman. Its summer-autumn cucumbers rank 3rd in Japan.","07208":"Kitakata City is in the northern Aizu region and is known as the town of Kitakata ramen and as a \"town of storehouses,\" with many kura (storehouses). It has the Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings of Oazuke and Shingu-Kumano Shrine, known for its Nagatoko hall. The soba (buckwheat noodles) of Yamato and the view of the Iide Mountains are also attractions.","07209":"Soma City is in the northern Hamadori region, facing the Pacific Ocean, and prospered as the castle town of the Nakamura Domain of the Soma clan. Soma Nakamura Shrine stands on the site of Nakamura Castle, and the city is one of the stages of the Soma Nomaoi (wild horse chase) festival. Matsukawa Lagoon, with its wide tidal flats, is known as a scenic spot, and fishing and nori (seaweed) farming are also active.","07210":"Nihonmatsu City is a castle town in the northern Nakadori region, known for Mt. Adatara, which appears in the poetry collection \"Chieko-sho,\" and the Abukuma River. Nihonmatsu Castle is one of Japan's Top 100 Castles, and the chrysanthemum doll show in autumn and the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival draw crowds. The city has Dake Onsen and is also known for its many sake breweries.","07211":"Tamura City is at the easternmost end of the Nakadori region and is surrounded by the gentle mountains of the Abukuma Highlands. The limestone cave Abukuma-do and Mushi Mushi Land, an insect-themed park, are popular, and Mt. Otakadoya has a station that transmits radio signals for Japan Standard Time. Its summer-autumn green peppers rank 8th in Japan.","07212":"Minamisoma City is in the northern Hamadori region and was formed by the merger of Haramachi City, Odaka Town and Kashima Town. It is the center of the Soma Nomaoi (wild horse chase) festival, an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, and the sight of mounted warriors in armor galloping is spectacular. The city is working on recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident.","07213":"Date City covers the northeastern part of the Fukushima Basin and developed as a sericulture (silk farming) town from the Edo period on. It produces its specialty anpo-gaki (semi-dried persimmons) and peaches, and its summer-autumn cucumbers rank 1st in Japan. Mt. Ryozen, with its rows of strange rocks, Ryozen Shrine and the ruins of Yanagawa Castle are also historic attractions.","07214":"Motomiya City is in the central Nakadori region on both sides of the Abukuma River, and it is an inland industrial base served by the Tohoku Main Line and the Tohoku Expressway. It has the smallest population and also the smallest area of any city in the prefecture. It has the flower spot \"Hana to Rekishi no Sato Janohana\" and Adatara Shrine.","07301":"Koori Town is in the northern Fukushima Basin and prospered as a key point where the Oshu Kaido and Ushu Kaido roads divided. It produces high-quality peaches and is called \"the home of peaches offered to the Imperial family,\" and it is also the birthplace of the Orin apple. The Western-style former Date District Office and the ruins of Koori Nishiyama Castle remain.","07303":"Kunimi Town is in the northern Nakadori region and borders Miyagi Prefecture, and the Abukuma River flows to its south. The Atsukashiyama Barrier, built by the army of Fujiwara no Yasuhira to meet Minamoto no Yoritomo in the Oshu War, remains and is a national Historic Site. Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Kunimi Atsukashi-no-Sato serves as a local hub.","07308":"Kawamata Town is in the hills of the northern Abukuma Highlands. It is called \"the home of silk\" because of sericulture and silk weaving that began in the Heian period, and the legend of Princess Kotehime is handed down. In recent years its specialty Kawamata shamo (gamecock chicken) has gained a good reputation, and the town is also trying to set a record for \"the world's longest yakitori (grilled chicken skewer).\"","07322":"Otama Village is on an alluvial fan at the foot of Mt. Adatara and is the only municipality in Adachi District. It is a member of the association of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan,\" and it is also known for unique exchanges, such as a friendship agreement with Machu Picchu in Peru.","07342":"Kagamiishi Town is on a flat plateau in the southern Nakadori region, with the Shakado River to the west and the Abukuma River to the east. It is known for the Iwase Ranch, said to be the setting of the school song \"Bokujo no Asa\" (Morning at the Ranch), and it is a quiet town with spreading farmland. It has Kagamiishi Station on the Tohoku Main Line, and it is also a residential area for people who commute to Sukagawa City and Koriyama City.","07344":"Ten-ei Village straddles the watershed of the Ou Mountains, between the Pacific side and the Sea of Japan side, and it has long been a key point linking Aizu and Nakadori. The area around Lake Hatori is a resort with facilities such as British Hills, an English-style complex, and old hot springs such as Futamata Onsen are scattered around the village.","07362":"Shimogo Town is in the southern Aizu region, and Ouchi-juku, a shukuba (post town) with rows of thatched-roof houses, is a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. It also has To-no-Hetsuri, towers of strange rocks formed by erosion of the Aga River, and Yunokami Onsen, and the sights are gathered along the Aizu Railway.","07364":"Hinoemata Village is in the mountains of Oku-Aizu and is the Fukushima-side gateway to Oze. A legend of Heike warriors who fled after defeat is handed down, along with Hinoemata Kabuki performed by villagers and yamado ryori (mountain cuisine). The village is in a special heavy snowfall area, and Hinoemata Onsen and Sanjo Falls also welcome visitors.","07367":"Tadami Town is at the westernmost end of the prefecture and is one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Japan, and the dams on the Tadami River generate hydroelectric power. Nature remains in places such as Lake Tagokura, Mt. Asakusa and Mt. Aizu-Asahi, and the town calls itself the \"Nature Capital.\" The Daihachi (No. 8) Tadamigawa Bridge of the Tadami Line is a popular spot for photography.","07368":"Minamiaizu Town is the central town of Oku-Aizu and was formed by the merger of 4 municipalities: Tajima, Tateiwa, Ina and Nango. Forests cover most of its area, and its sights include Maezawa, a settlement of magariya (L-shaped farmhouses), the Tajima Gion Festival and the ski areas of Aizu Kogen. The clear Ina River and Tateiwa River also flow through the town.","07402":"Kitashiobara Village is in \"Urabandai,\" at the northern foot of Mt. Bandai, and large and small lakes and ponds, such as Lake Hibara and Goshiki-numa (Five-Colored Ponds), formed by the Meiji-era eruption, are scattered around it. In winter, people fish for wakasagi (pond smelt) on the ice, and in summer hiking and mountain climbing draw crowds. The village also has the Museum of the Mount Bandai Eruption and the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art.","07405":"Nishiaizu Town is in the northwestern Aizu region and borders Niigata Prefecture; it prospered around Nozawa, a shukuba (post town) on the Echigo Kaido road. The Aga River flows in winding curves, and mountains such as the Iide Mountains surround the town. It is also working on town development for health under the slogan \"the challenge to reach 100 years of age.\"","07407":"Bandai Town spreads over the southern foot of Mt. Bandai and originated as the temple town of Enichi-ji Temple, founded by the monk Tokuitsu in the Heian period. The Enichi-ji ruins are the historic site of a temple that flourished as the center of Buddhist culture in Aizu. The town has the Alts Bandai ski area and is also a trailhead for Mt. Bandai.","07408":"Inawashiro Town faces the northern shore of Lake Inawashiro and looks up at Mt. Bandai. It is the birthplace of the bacteriologist Noguchi Hideyo, and the Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum preserves his birth house. Tenkyokaku, a former villa of the Imperial family, stands on the lakeshore, and the town is a busy resort for lake swimming, skiing and more.","07421":"Aizubange Town is in the western Aizu Basin and has long prospered as a key point on the Echigo Kaido road and as a market town for trade. On its flat land of rice paddies stand Eryu-ji Temple, known as Tachiki Kannon, and Kokoroshimizu Hachiman Shrine, and its food culture, such as basashi (raw horse meat), is also well known.","07422":"Yugawa Village is near the center of the Aizu Basin and is the smallest municipality in the prefecture by area. Shojo-ji Temple, said to have been founded by Tokuitsu in the Heian period, holds a National Treasure seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha). The village is \"a home of rice and culture,\" with its specialty Aizu Yugawa rice, a Koshihikari variety.","07423":"Yanaizu Town is at the entrance to Oku-Aizu and developed as the temple town of Enzo-ji Temple, which looks down on the Tadami River. It is said to be the birthplace of the legend of akabeko (a red cow toy), a folk toy of Aizu, and the habitat of ugui (Japanese dace) in the Tadami River is a Natural Monument of Japan. The town also has the hot springs of Yanaizu and Nishiyama.","07444":"Mishima Town is along the Tadami River in Oku-Aizu and is a member of the association of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" The Daiichi (No. 1) Tadamigawa Bridge of the Tadami Line is known as a famous spot to photograph trains running through river mist. The town also produces amikumi zaiku, a craft of weaving wild grape vines and other materials.","07445":"Kaneyama Town is in western Oku-Aizu and borders Niigata Prefecture; the Tadami River flows through it, and it is a special heavy snowfall area. Lake Numazawa, formed by a volcano, is known as the only lake in the prefecture where himemasu (kokanee salmon) live. The town has hot springs such as Aizu-Kawaguchi and Oshio, and the bridges of the Tadami Line are also attractions.","07446":"Showa Village is in the center of Oku-Aizu, surrounded by mountains, and is designated as a special heavy snowfall area. It is the only place in Honshu that produces karamushi (ramie), and traditional karamushi weaving is handed down. Using its cool summers, it is also a major producer of perennial baby's breath, and the Komado Marsh is also an attraction.","07447":"Aizumisato Town covers the southwestern Aizu Basin and was formed by the merger of Aizutakada Town, Aizuhongo Town and Niitsuru Village. It is known for Isasumi Shrine, regarded as the chief guardian shrine of Aizu, and for Aizu Hongo ware pottery. Rice farming is active on the northern plain, and otane ninjin (Asian ginseng) is also grown near the mountains.","07461":"Nishigo Village borders Shirakawa City to the west and is the only village in Japan with a Shinkansen stop, Shin-Shirakawa Station. It serves as a commuter town for Shirakawa and is known as a village with a large population. The Kashi Highlands spread at the foot of the Nasu Mountains, and Kashi Onsen and the beautiful gorge at Yukiwari Bridge are attractions.","07464":"Izumizaki Village is in the southern Nakadori region, where the Abukuma River and the Izumi River flow; in the Middle Ages it was within the sphere of power of the Shirakawa Yuki clan. It is known for Tennodai New Town, Satsuki Onsen and \"Chokinkai,\" an effort to build muscle strength for older people. It also has the Sekiwaku Site, thought to be the remains of an ancient government office.","07465":"Nakajima Village is a small village in the southern Nakadori region, spreading along the west bank of the Abukuma River. In ancient times the Tosando road passed through it, and from the end of the Heian period the area was ruled by the Mutsu Ishikawa clan. In the Sengoku (Warring States) period, Namezu Fort was attacked by Date Masamune and fell.","07466":"Yabuki Town is in the southern Nakadori region and is said to be one of \"Japan's three great reclaimed lands,\" where wild land was cleared for farming. More than half of the town's area is farmland, and fields spread widely. According to the story of its name, Hachimantaro Yoshiie (Minamoto no Yoshiie) built a shrine with a roof thatched with arrow shafts.","07481":"Tanagura Town is in the southern Nakadori region and prospered in the Edo period as the castle town of the Tanagura Domain. The ruins of Tanagura Castle are now Kamegajo Park, a famous cherry blossom spot. Tsutsukowake Shrine, regarded as the Ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of Mutsu Province, is in two places, Baba and Yatsuki, and the upper Kuji River flows through the town.","07482":"Yamatsuri Town is at the southernmost end of the prefecture and borders Ibaraki Prefecture, and the Kuji River flows around Mt. Yamatsuri. Mt. Yamatsuri is a scenic spot of strange rocks and gorges, and the Ayu no Tsuribashi suspension bridge spans the river. The town also drew attention for issuing a \"declaration of no merger\" during the great Heisei-era municipal mergers.","07483":"Hanawa Town is at the southern end of the prefecture and borders Ibaraki Prefecture; it lies between the Abukuma Mountains and the Yamizo Mountains, and the Kuji River flows north to south through its center. In the Edo period it was land directly ruled by the shogunate, and the Hanawa magistrate's office was set up here. It is known for its dahlia garden, Yujimata Onsen and Shiho-no-Yu Onsen.","07484":"Samegawa Village is in the southern Abukuma Highlands, in a high-altitude area, and borders Ibaraki Prefecture. Most of the village is forest, and farming takes advantage of the cool highland climate. The village puts effort into growing soybeans, and Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Samegawa serves as a local hub.","07501":"Ishikawa Town is in the southern Nakadori region, where tributaries of the Abukuma River gather. It is known as one of \"Japan's three great mineral-producing areas,\" producing rare minerals, and it has a facility that displays minerals. It is a hot spring town with Bobata Onsen and Nekonaki Onsen, and it also has Lake Bobata of the Sengozawa Dam.","07502":"Tamakawa Village is a rural village in the central Nakadori region where the Abukuma River flows, and Fukushima Airport is located in the village, extending into Sukagawa City. On the Abukuma River are Otogakubo Falls, one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls, and the village is working on products made from its specialty fruit, sarunashi (hardy kiwi).","07503":"Hirata Village is in the gentle mountains of the Abukuma Mountains, about halfway between Iwaki City and Koriyama City. It is on high land between Mt. Yomogida and Mt. Shibayama, and the summit area of Mt. Shibayama is Jupia Land Hirata, a famous spot for moss phlox (shibazakura).","07504":"Asakawa Town is in the southern Nakadori region, surrounded by the nature of the Abukuma Mountains and rural scenery. The Yashiro River, a tributary of the Abukuma River, flows through it, and the ruins of Asakawa Castle remain on Mt. Shiroyama. The Asakawa Fireworks in summer are known as a traditional event handed down in the area.","07505":"Furudono Town is in the highlands of the Abukuma Mountains and borders Iwaki City, and the Same River crosses it from east to west. At the autumn grand festival of Furudono Hachiman Shrine, yabusame (horseback archery) is performed as an offering. Forests cover most of the town, and forestry and the gorge scenery along the Same River are also features of the town.","07521":"Miharu Town is a castle town on the hills at the foot of the Abukuma Mountains, northeast of Koriyama City, and it was ruled by the Miharu Domain. Miharu Takizakura, said to be one of Japan's three great cherry trees, is a Natural Monument of Japan, and many people visit it in spring. The local folk toys Miharu-goma (wooden horses) and Miharu hariko (papier-mache) are also well known.","07522":"Ono Town is in the central Abukuma Highlands, and a legend that the poet Ono no Komachi was born here is handed down. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the Natsui River flows through its center. It has rich nature in the prefectural natural park, such as the azaleas of Mt. Takashiba and Mt. Yadaijin, and the Jiji-sugi and Baba-sugi cedars of Suwa Shrine are also attractions.","07541":"Hirono Town is in the southern Hamadori region and was Hirono-juku, a shukuba (post town) on the Hama Kaido road, in the Edo period. Because of its warm climate with little snow, it calls itself \"the town that announces spring to Tohoku.\" J-Village, the national soccer training center, is located in the town and extends into Naraha Town.","07542":"Naraha Town is near the center of the Hamadori region, facing the Pacific Ocean, and salmon swim up the Kido River. The whole town was evacuated after the nuclear accident, but the evacuation order has been lifted and recovery is progressing. From Tenjinmisaki Onsen visitors can look out over the Pacific Ocean, and J-Village also extends into the town.","07543":"Tomioka Town is near the center of the Hamadori region, facing the Pacific Ocean. The row of cherry trees in the Yonomori area is known as a famous cherry blossom spot. The whole town was evacuated after the nuclear accident, and part of it is still a difficult-to-return zone, but evacuation orders are being lifted and the town's renewal continues.","07544":"Kawauchi Village is a highland village on the eastern slopes of Mt. Otakine, the highest peak of the Abukuma Highlands. After the nuclear accident, it returned its village office functions to the village at an early stage, and the evacuation order for the entire village has been lifted. It is known for Heifukunuma Pond, home to the forest green tree frog, and for Tenzan Bunko, linked to the poet Kusano Shinpei.","07545":"Okuma Town is in the center of the Hamadori region, and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is located in the town, extending into Futaba Town. The whole town was forced to evacuate after the nuclear accident, and decommissioning and recovery are under way. A new town office has opened in the Okawara area, and the renewal of the town has begun.","07546":"Futaba Town is near the center of the Hamadori region, facing the Pacific Ocean, and prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Hama Kaido road. The whole town was evacuated after the nuclear accident; the evacuation order has been lifted in some areas, and residents have begun to return. The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum passes on the memory of the disaster.","07547":"Namie Town is in the northern Hamadori region, and Ukedo Fishing Port is at the easternmost point of Fukushima Prefecture. The town was badly damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident, and after the evacuation order was partly lifted, recovery is progressing. Namie yakisoba with thick noodles and the traditional craft Obori Soma ware (pottery) are local specialties.","07548":"Katsurao Village is in the mountains of the Abukuma Highlands and was formed by the merger of 4 villages: Kaminogawa, Nogawa, Ochiai and Katsurao. The ruins of the residence of the \"Katsurao Daijin,\" a family that built its wealth through ironmaking and other businesses, remain. After the whole village was evacuated due to the nuclear accident, the evacuation orders were lifted in stages, and renewal is progressing.","07561":"Shinchi Town is at the northernmost end of the Hamadori region and borders Miyagi Prefecture. In the domain era it was the only area in the prefecture that belonged to the Sendai Domain, so its dialect and customs still have much in common with Miyagi. Mt. Karo offers views of the Pacific Ocean, and the northern half of the Port of Soma lies within the town.","07564":"Iitate Village is in a high-altitude area on the slopes of the Abukuma Highlands and is known for village development based on the spirit of \"madei\" (carefully and wholeheartedly). The whole village was evacuated after the nuclear accident, but after the evacuation order was lifted, renewal has been pursued with Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) Madeikan as its base.","08201":"Mito City is the prefectural capital of Ibaraki Prefecture and grew as the castle town of the Mito branch of the Tokugawa family. Kairaku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens, is famous for its plum trees, and many people visit the Mito Plum Festival in early spring. Mito is also known for the Kodokan school and for natto (fermented soybeans).","08202":"Hitachi City is where the company Hitachi, Ltd. was founded, and it is a company town that helped build Japan's heavy electrical and electronics industries. The city lies between the Pacific coastline and the Abukuma Mountains. Its sights include the cherry blossoms of Kamine Park and the glass-walled Hitachi Station, which seems to float above the sea.","08203":"Tsuchiura City is a lakeside city on the western shore of Lake Kasumigaura, and it is one of the leading producers of lotus root in Japan. The Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition in autumn is counted among Japan's three great fireworks festivals, and the city is also being developed as a base for cycling.","08204":"Koga City is a transportation hub at the western end of Ibaraki Prefecture, near the Watarase River and the Tone River. In history, it flourished as the base of the Koga kubo (a line of regional governors in the Kanto region). At the Koga Peach Festival in spring, flowering peach trees bloom in Koga Kubo Park, and the atmosphere of the old castle town remains.","08205":"Ishioka City is a historic city where the provincial government of ancient Hitachi Province was located. It is famous for the Ishioka Festival, one of the three great festivals of the Kanto region. At the eastern foot of the Mt. Tsukuba range lies the Yasato area, where visitors can pick fruit and go paragliding.","08207":"Yuki City produces Yuki-tsumugi, a high-quality silk fabric that is on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Its streets of misegura (old storehouse-style shops) keep its history alive, and in the Middle Ages the city prospered as the castle town of the Yuki clan.","08208":"Ryugasaki City is a residential city in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, and its population grew with the development of Ryugasaki New Town. The city promotes itself as \"the town of croquettes,\" and the small Kanto Railway Ryugasaki Line is popular with local people.","08210":"Shimotsuma City lies on a plain between the Kinu River and the Kokai River, and it produces many fruits and vegetables, such as Japanese pears and watermelons. The area around Lake Sanuma is known for its cherry blossoms. With large shopping facilities and the Sun Beach pool, the city is a center of western Ibaraki.","08211":"Joso City is a farming and commercial city between the Kinu River and the Kokai River. Its center, the former town of Mitsukaido, was a riverside port town that prospered from boat transport on the Kinu River. Since the Ken-O Expressway (Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway) opened, the city has also been developing as a logistics base.","08212":"Hitachiota City has Seizanso, the retreat where Tokugawa Mitsukuni (known as Mito Komon), the 2nd lord of the Mito domain, spent his last years. The city has the largest area in Ibaraki Prefecture. It is a mountain area close to the Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge and to the Fukuroda area, which is famous for autumn leaves.","08214":"Takahagi City is a small city facing the Pacific Ocean in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, and it is the birthplace of Nagakubo Sekisui, a scholar of the Edo period. The autumn leaves of Hananuki Gorge and the Shiomi Falls Suspension Bridge are popular, and visitors can enjoy both the sea and the mountains.","08215":"Kitaibaraki City is a coastal city at the northern tip of Ibaraki Prefecture, bordering Fukushima Prefecture. It is known for the Izura Coast, with the Rokkakudo hall associated with Okakura Tenshin, and for Hirakata Port, famous for anglerfish hot pot. The birthplace of the poet Noguchi Ujo is also in the city.","08216":"Kasama City is a pottery town known for Kasama ware, and it is the temple-and-shrine town in front of Kasama Inari Shrine, one of Japan's three great Inari shrines. It is also famous for its autumn chrysanthemum festival and for chestnuts, and the Himatsuri pottery festival is held in Kasama Geijutsu no Mori Park.","08217":"Toride City is a commuter town in the Tokyo area, bordering Chiba Prefecture across the Tone River. A campus of Tokyo University of the Arts is in the city, and Toride promotes town development through art. The Joban Line gives good access to central Tokyo.","08219":"Ushiku City is known for the Ushiku Daibutsu (Great Buddha), which stands 120 m tall and is among the tallest bronze standing statues in the world. The buildings of Chateau Kamiya, Japan's first full-scale winery, are also Important Cultural Properties of Japan.","08220":"Tsukuba City is Tsukuba Science City, where national research institutes and the University of Tsukuba are located. It includes Mt. Tsukuba, one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains. The Tsukuba Express connects the city with Akihabara in as little as 45 minutes, and the population continues to grow.","08221":"Hitachinaka City is known across Japan for the nemophila and kochia plants at Hitachi Seaside Park, a national government park. It is also famous for the Nakaminato fish market and as a producer of hoshi-imo (dried sweet potatoes), and it has the Ajigaura swimming beach.","08222":"Kashima City is the home of Kashima Jingu Shrine, where people have long worshipped the god of martial arts. The city is the center of the Kashima Coastal Industrial Zone and is also well known as the hometown of the J.League soccer club Kashima Antlers.","08223":"Itako City is known as a suigo (waterside town). During the Suigo Itako Iris Festival, a bridal boat travels along the canal. Irises bloom mainly at the Suigo Itako Iris Garden, and the scenery is surrounded by the waters of the Tone River and Lake Kasumigaura.","08224":"Moriya City is a residential city at the southern tip of Ibaraki Prefecture, and its population grew quickly after the Tsukuba Express opened. Surrounded by the Tone River, the Kinu River and the Kokai River, it is known as an easy place to live and is popular with families raising children.","08225":"Hitachiomiya City is a mountain city in northwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, where the clear Kuji River and Naka River flow. It has many places for ayu (sweetfish) fishing and viewing autumn leaves, and it is also known for producing Nishinouchi-shi, a traditional Japanese paper.","08226":"Naka City is a rural city bordering Mito City to the north, and the double cherry blossoms of Shizumine Furusato Park are famous. In the past, its population grew as a commuter town for Mito and Hitachinaka City. The city also has the Kiuchi Brewery sake brewery and the Ibaraki Botanical Garden.","08227":"Chikusei City is the central city of western Ibaraki Prefecture and was formed by a merger centered on the former Shimodate City. It is the birthplace of the potter Itaya Hazan, and it has Shimodate Station, the starting point of the Moka Railway. The city is also known for Kodama watermelons and Japanese pears.","08228":"Bando City is said to be the home base of Taira no Masakado, and historic sites associated with him remain. The city grows many vegetables, such as lettuce and green onions, for the Tokyo area, and tundra swans spend the winter at Sugao Marsh.","08229":"Inashiki City is a rice-growing city along the Tone River, south of Lake Kasumigaura. It produces the brand vegetable \"Edosaki pumpkin,\" and it has Osugi Shrine, which local people affectionately call \"Anba-sama.\"","08230":"Kasumigaura City lies between Lake Kasumigaura and the Mt. Tsukuba range. The sail-trawling boats of Lake Kasumigaura have been restored and now run as sightseeing boats. Fruit growing, such as Japanese pears and grapes, is also active.","08231":"Sakuragawa City is known for its wild mountain cherry trees, \"the Cherry Trees of Sakuragawa,\" which are designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. The city is also famous for the misegura (storehouse-style shops) of the Makabe district and for Makabe stone, and the town is lively during its Hina doll festival.","08232":"Kamisu City is an industrial city at the mouth of the Tone River in the southeastern corner of Ibaraki Prefecture, and it is part of the Kashima Coastal Industrial Zone. It is also one of the leading producers of green peppers in Japan, and wind turbines stand in a row along the Pacific coast.","08233":"Namegata City is a farming and fishing city between Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Kitaura, and it grows many sweet potatoes. Local dishes made with fish from the lakes and sweet potato specialties such as baked sweet potatoes are popular.","08234":"Hokota City is a farming city that produces the most melons in Japan, and it also grows many strawberries and sweet potatoes. The city faces the Pacific Ocean and Lake Kitaura, and it has swimming beaches near Oarai.","08235":"Tsukubamirai City is a new city where housing is being developed around Miraidaira Station on the Tsukuba Express. It is the birthplace of Mamiya Rinzo, a surveyor of the Edo period, and it has Warp Station Edo, a filming location for period dramas.","08236":"Omitama City is the location of Ibaraki Airport, which is being developed as a gateway by air. Egg and dairy production is active, and the city also promotes itself as \"the yogurt town.\"","08302":"Ibaraki Town lies on the western shore of Lake Hinuma, a brackish lake known for its shijimi clams. The town also produces many farm products, such as melons and chestnuts.","08309":"Oarai Town is a port town facing the Pacific Ocean. The Kamiiso no Torii, a shrine gate of Oarai Isosaki Shrine standing on the rocks, is a popular place to see the first sunrise of the year. The town has Aquaworld Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium, the ferry terminal of the Port of Oarai, and swimming beaches.","08310":"Shirosato Town is a green town along the Naka River in central Ibaraki Prefecture. It has facilities for enjoying nature, such as Fureai no Sato and the Hororu no Yu hot spring, and tea is also grown in the town.","08341":"Tokai Village is \"the village of nuclear power,\" where nuclear power generation was carried out for the first time in Japan. Research facilities and business sites are concentrated there, while pine forests and sand dunes spread along the coast. It is known as one of the most livable villages in the prefecture.","08364":"Daigo Town is a mountain town at the northwestern end of Ibaraki Prefecture, famous for Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan's three great waterfalls. It has many tastes of the mountain countryside, such as Okukuji tea, apples, Hitachi beef and shamo chicken.","08442":"Miho Village lies on the southern shore of Lake Kasumigaura and is \"the village of racehorses,\" where the Japan Racing Association's Miho Training Center is located. The Okadaira Shell Mound is designated a national Historic Site.","08443":"Ami Town faces Lake Kasumigaura and has the Yokaren Peace Memorial Museum, which tells the history of the former Imperial Navy's Yokaren (preparatory flight training corps) that was based there. Ami Premium Outlets is also popular.","08447":"Kawachi Town is a rural town at the southern tip of Ibaraki Prefecture, between the Tone River and the Shin-Tone River. Almost all of the town is land that was reclaimed before or during the Edo period, and the Joso Bridge connects it with Chiba Prefecture on the opposite bank.","08521":"Yachiyo Town is a farming town in western Ibaraki Prefecture, and its production of Chinese cabbage is among the highest in Japan. Melons and Japanese pears are also widely grown, and rich fields of the Kanto Plain spread across the town.","08542":"Goka Town is at the southwestern tip of Ibaraki Prefecture, between the Tone River and the Edo River. It has the Goka Interchange on the Ken-O Expressway, and it also serves as a logistics base for the Tokyo area.","08546":"Sakai Town is a riverside town that prospered from boat transport on the Tone River. It is attracting attention for its unique town development, such as regular self-driving bus services and facilities designed by the architect Kuma Kengo.","08564":"Tone Town is located on the northern bank of the Tone River at the southern tip of Ibaraki Prefecture. The folklorist Yanagita Kunio spent part of his boyhood here, and the town has the Kunio Yanagita Memorial Park.","09201":"Utsunomiya City is the prefectural capital of Tochigi Prefecture and the largest city in the northern Kanto region. It is known across Japan as a city of gyoza (dumplings), and many gyoza restaurants line its streets. The Oya History Museum, a former quarry of Oya stone, and the LRT (Light Line) that opened in 2023 also attract attention.","09202":"Ashikaga City is the birthplace of the Ashikaga clan, which founded the Muromachi shogunate. Ashikaga Gakko, said to be the oldest school in Japan, and Banna-ji Temple remain in the city. The great wisteria of Ashikaga Flower Park is famous around the world, and the city also prospered as a textile town.","09203":"Tochigi City is a \"town of storehouses\" that prospered in the Edo period from boat transport on the Uzuma River. Its streets of white-walled storehouses are called a \"Little Edo.\" The hydrangeas and cherry blossoms of Mt. Ohira and the Watarase Retarding Basin are also worth seeing.","09204":"Sano City is known for Sano Yakuyoke Daishi, a temple visited for protection from bad luck, and for Sano ramen, whose noodles are made by pressing the dough with a green bamboo pole. Sano Premium Outlets attracts many visitors from outside the prefecture.","09205":"Kanuma City developed as a woodworking town. The \"Yatai Float Festival of Kanuma Imamiya Shrine,\" in which richly carved floats parade through the streets, is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The city is also famous for Kanuma soil, used in gardening, and for satsuki azaleas.","09206":"Nikko City has the \"Shrines and Temples of Nikko,\" which include Nikko Tosho-gu, Futarasan Shrine and Rinno-ji Temple and are a World Heritage Site. The city also includes many nature and hot spring destinations, such as Kegon Falls, Lake Chuzenji, Senjogahara and Kinugawa Onsen.","09208":"Oyama City is a transportation hub in southern Tochigi Prefecture where the Tohoku Shinkansen and conventional lines meet. It is part of the production area of Honba Yuki-tsumugi silk, which is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and it is the birthplace of the Omoigawa cherry. The Watarase Retarding Basin is registered under the Ramsar Convention.","09209":"Mooka City is one of the leading strawberry producers in Japan and supports Tochigi's position as a \"strawberry kingdom.\" Steam locomotives run on the Moka Railway, and the tradition of Moka cotton is carried on in the city.","09210":"Otawara City lies in the southern part of the Nasunogahara plain and is known for its connection with Nasu no Yoichi. Traces of the poet Matsuo Basho's journey in \"Oku no Hosomichi\" (The Narrow Road to the Deep North) also remain, such as Ungan-ji Temple and the Basho Museum in Kurobane.","09211":"Yaita City is a highland city in northern Tochigi Prefecture. Its sights include the Tochigi Prefectural Forest, chosen as one of the 100 best forests for forest bathing, and the wild azaleas of Happogahara. Apple growing is also active.","09213":"Nasushiobara City is a dairy farming city on the Nasunogahara plain, and its raw milk production is said to be the largest on Honshu. It has the Shiobara Onsen area of hot springs, with a history of 1,200 years since it opened, and Nasushiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen.","09214":"Sakura City was formed in 2005 by the merger of Ujiie Town and Kitsuregawa Town. Kitsuregawa Onsen is known as a hot spring that is good for the skin, and people can enjoy cherry blossoms along the Kinu River, where the site of Katsuyama Castle is located.","09215":"Nasukarasuyama City is a mountain city blessed with the clear Naka River. Its Yamaage Festival, which has a long history, is UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ryumon Falls and the battery-powered trains of the JR Karasuyama Line are also known.","09216":"Shimotsuke City is connected with the ancient province of Shimotsuke, and remains from the Nara period are found there, such as the site of Shimotsuke Kokubun-ji Temple and the site of Shimotsuke Yakushi-ji Temple. It is also known for producing kanpyo (dried gourd strips) and is a commuter town for Utsunomiya.","09301":"Kaminokawa Town borders Utsunomiya City to the south. A car manufacturer's factory is located there, and the town's industrial shipments are high. Farming, such as strawberries and kanpyo (dried gourd strips), is also active.","09342":"Mashiko Town is the home of Mashiko ware, where Hamada Shoji of the mingei (folk craft) movement was based. Several hundred thousand people visit its pottery fairs in spring and autumn. Kilns and galleries are scattered around this town of craftsmanship.","09343":"Motegi Town is a mountain town along the Naka River and has Mobility Resort Motegi, a sacred place for motor sports. It is also known for its terraced rice fields and as a home of yuzu citrus.","09344":"Ichikai Town is a countryside town in southeastern Tochigi Prefecture. It is known as a breeding area of the grey-faced buzzard (sashiba) and calls itself \"the home of the sashiba.\" The Shibazakura Park, where moss phlox blooms, is also popular.","09345":"Haga Town borders Utsunomiya City to the east, and automobile-related research centers and factories are located there. It produces Japanese pears, and it has Haga-Takanezawa Industrial Park stop, the terminus of the Utsunomiya LRT.","09361":"Mibu Town is a town of the toy industry centered on the Omocha Danchi (toy industrial park), and it is known as \"the toy town.\" It also produces kanpyo (dried gourd strips), and the Mibu Castle Ruins Park and groups of kofun (ancient burial mounds) remain.","09364":"Nogi Town is at the southern tip of Tochigi Prefecture and borders Koga City in Ibaraki Prefecture. The brick kiln (Hoffmann kiln) of the former Shimotsuke Brick Manufacturing Company is an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Sunflower fields are also a summer attraction.","09384":"Shioya Town lies at the southern foot of Mt. Takahara and has the Shojinzawa Spring, chosen as one of the 100 best waters of Japan. The town is proud of the rice and vegetables grown with its clear water.","09386":"Takanezawa Town is a rural town in east-central Tochigi Prefecture and one of the major rice-growing areas in the prefecture. It has community facilities such as the day-trip hot spring \"Genki Uppu Mura,\" and it is also a commuter town for Utsunomiya.","09407":"Nasu Town is a highland resort at the foot of Mt. Nasu, at the northern tip of Tochigi Prefecture. The Nasu Imperial Villa is located here, and the Nasu Onsen hot spring area, ranches, art museums and many other tourist facilities are scattered around the town. Sessho-seki (the Killing Stone) is also a sight.","09411":"Nakagawa Town is a town of clear water known for the ayu (sweetfish) of the Naka River, and it has the Bato Onsen hot spring area. The Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum of Art, designed by Kuma Kengo, holds works by Utagawa Hiroshige.","10201":"Maebashi City is the prefectural capital of Gunma Prefecture and spreads over the southern foot of Mt. Akagi as \"the city of water, greenery and poetry.\" It is the birthplace of the poet Hagiwara Sakutaro. Nature is close at hand, including the rose garden of Shikishima Park along the Tone River and Lake Onuma and Kakumanbuchi Marsh on Mt. Akagi.","10202":"Takasaki City is a transportation hub where the Joetsu Shinkansen and the Hokuriku Shinkansen divide, and it is a commercial city with the largest population in Gunma Prefecture. It produces more good-luck daruma dolls than anywhere else in Japan, and the Takasaki Byakue Dai-Kannon statue watches over the city.","10203":"Kiryu City is a silk textile town once called \"Nishijin in the west, Kiryu in the east.\" Factories with sawtooth roofs remain, as do streets in a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Himokawa udon (wide flat noodles) and sauce katsudon (pork cutlet on rice) are local specialties.","10204":"Isesaki City is a textile town that prospered from Isesaki meisen silk, and it is now one of the leading industrial cities in Gunma Prefecture. It is also known for Kezoji Park and as an international city with many residents of foreign nationality.","10205":"Ota City is known as the company town of SUBARU and is one of the leading manufacturing cities in the northern Kanto region. It is associated with Nitta Yoshisada, and from Mt. Kanayama, where the ruins of Kanayama Castle remain, visitors can see across the Kanto Plain.","10206":"Numata City is the central city of northern Gunma Prefecture, with its castle town spread over river terraces. There are many tourist orchards for apples and cherries, and Fukiware Falls is called \"the Niagara of the East.\"","10207":"Tatebayashi City is \"the town of flowers,\" known for the azaleas of Tsutsujigaoka Park, and it has Morin-ji Temple, linked to the folk tale of Bunbuku Chagama (the magic tea kettle). The city often makes news for its summer heat, and it is also where Nisshin Seifun (a flour milling company) was founded.","10208":"Shibukawa City is in central Gunma Prefecture and calls itself \"the navel of Japan.\" It has Ikaho Onsen, famous for its street of stone steps. The city is the home of Mizusawa udon, and it spreads over the foot of Mt. Haruna and Mt. Akagi.","10209":"Fujioka City is in southwestern Gunma Prefecture. It has Sakurayama Park, famous for its winter-flowering cherry trees, and the site of Takayama-sha, a component of the UNESCO World Heritage Site \"Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites.\"","10210":"Tomioka City has the Tomioka Silk Mill, a World Heritage Site, and is a city that symbolizes the modernization of Japan. The strange rock formations of Mt. Myogi and Gunma Safari Park are also popular tourist spots.","10211":"Annaka City prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Nakasendo road, which crossed Usui Pass. It has Usui Bridge No. 3 (Megane Bridge) of the former Shin'etsu Main Line and the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park. Isobe Onsen is said to be the birthplace of the hot spring map symbol.","10212":"Midori City is a mountain city where the Watarase Keikoku Railway runs. The Iwajuku Site is the place that proved that a Paleolithic period existed in Japan. The city also has Lake Kusaki and the Tomihiro Art Museum.","10344":"Shinto Village spreads over the eastern foot of Mt. Haruna and is known for producing grapes. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Somagahara is located here, and peaceful countryside, such as Furusato Park, spreads around the village.","10345":"Yoshioka Town is at the eastern foot of Mt. Haruna, between Maebashi City and Shibukawa City, and its population is growing as a commuter town. It has Michi-no-Eki Yoshioka Onsen (a roadside station), and kofun (ancient burial mounds) such as the Mitsuya Kofun are scattered around the town.","10366":"Ueno Village is a mountain village at the southwestern end of Gunma Prefecture, at the source of the Kanna River. Osutaka Ridge is in the village. Its specialties are mushrooms, Jikkoku miso and \"inobuta,\" a cross between wild boar and pig.","10367":"Kanna Town is \"the dinosaur town,\" where fossil dinosaur footprints were discovered, and it has the Kanna Dinosaur Center. The Koinobori Festival, in which carp streamers flutter over the Kanna River, is also famous.","10382":"Shimonita Town is known for Shimonita green onions and Shimonita konnyaku (a jelly made from devil's tongue). The Arafune Cold Storage is a component of the World Heritage Site \"Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites,\" and the whole town is certified as a Japanese Geopark, the \"Shimonita Geopark.\"","10383":"Nanmoku Village is a deep mountain village south of Shimonita Town, and it is also known for its high proportion of elderly people. Its features include villages with stone walls, the Hoshio Great Rock and the growing of konnyaku (devil's tongue).","10384":"Kanra Town is the castle town of the Obata domain, which was ruled by the descendants of Oda Nobukatsu, the second son of Oda Nobunaga. The waterways of the Ogawa Weir and streets of samurai residences remain. Rakusan-en, a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty, is also a sight.","10421":"Nakanojo Town includes hot spring areas such as Shima Onsen and Sawatari Onsen, and the \"Nakanojo Biennale,\" a festival of contemporary art, is held there.","10424":"Naganohara Town is known for the construction of the Yamba Dam, and the dam lake \"Yamba Agatsuma Lake\" has become a new tourist spot. The town has Kawarayu Onsen and the vacation home area of Kita-Karuizawa.","10425":"Tsumagoi Village is a highland village at the foot of Mt. Asama and Mt. Azumaya, and it produces the most summer-autumn cabbage in Japan. It is also known for Onioshidashi Park, Manza Onsen and as a \"sacred place for devoted husbands.\"","10426":"Kusatsu Town has Kusatsu Onsen, one of the largest hot springs in Japan by natural flow, and it is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts. The Yubatake (hot water field) in the town center and the yumomi (water-stirring) show are famous, and in winter the Kusatsu Onsen Ski Resort is busy.","10428":"Takayama Village is a highland village in northern Gunma Prefecture with the Gunma Astronomical Observatory, where the stars can be seen clearly. The streets of Nakayama-juku and the peaceful nature along National Route 145, part of the Japan Romantic Road, are its attractions.","10429":"Higashiagatsuma Town lies along the Agatsuma River, and the ruins of Iwabitsu Castle are a mountain castle associated with the Sanada clan. The rail bikes of Agatsuma Gorge and several hot spring areas are also found in the town.","10443":"Katashina Village is the gateway to Oze on the Gunma side, and hikers visit Ozegahara and Mt. Shibutsu. The village is also known for ski resorts such as Marunuma Kogen and for producing corn.","10444":"Kawaba Village is known for \"Denen Plaza Kawaba,\" one of the most popular Michi-no-Eki (roadside stations) in Japan. It lies at the foot of Mt. Hotaka, and its specialties are \"Yuki Hotaka\" rice and apples.","10448":"Showa Village is a highland vegetable village at the northwestern foot of Mt. Akagi, and it is a major producer of konnyaku potatoes and lettuce. A grand farming landscape spreads over its river terraces.","10449":"Minakami Town is a mountain resort that includes Mt. Tanigawa, and it is the town at the source of the Tone River. Outdoor activities are popular, such as Minakami Onsen, Takaragawa Onsen and rafting. The area is also registered as a UNESCO Eco Park.","10464":"Tamamura Town lies on the southern bank of the Tone River and prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Nikko Reiheishi Road. It is developing as a residential area located between Maebashi, Takasaki and Isesaki.","10521":"Itakura Town is a waterside town at the southeastern tip of Gunma Prefecture, next to the Watarase Retarding Basin. The culture of \"mizuka\" (raised mounds built to prepare for floods) remains, and the town has the head shrine of the Raiden Shrines.","10522":"Meiwa Town lies along the Tone River. Industrial parks are located there, close to the Tatebayashi Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. It is also known for producing Japanese pears.","10523":"Chiyoda Town lies along the Tone River, where the Tone Diversion Weir works as a water source for the Tokyo area. The Akaiwa Ferry is an unusual ferry that operates as part of a prefectural road.","10524":"Oizumi Town is an international town where many residents of foreign nationality, mainly Brazilians, live, and there are authentic Brazilian restaurants and food stores. It is also an industrial town with food and electronics factories.","10525":"Ora Town is a rural town in southeastern Gunma Prefecture, with the swans of Lake Tataranuma and the symbol tower \"Mirai.\" The town is also a commuter town.","11100":"Saitama City is the prefectural capital of Saitama Prefecture and a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture). It was formed in 2001 when the 3 cities of Urawa, Omiya and Yono merged. The city has many sides, including Omiya Station, a key transport hub of eastern Japan, the Railway Museum, the Bonsai Village and the soccer culture of Urawa.","11201":"Kawagoe City is a tourist city known as \"Little Edo\" for its streets of kurazukuri (clay-walled storehouse-style) buildings and its Toki no Kane bell tower. It has Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Kita-in Temple and Kashiya Yokocho (Candy Alley). The float procession of the Kawagoe Festival in autumn is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.","11202":"Kumagaya City is known as \"the hottest city in Japan\". In 2018 it recorded 41.1°C, which was then the highest temperature ever recorded in Japan. As a rugby city, it has Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, and the Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi, a cherry tree embankment along the Ara River, is also a famous spot.","11203":"Kawaguchi City prospered as a city of metal casting and was the setting of the film \"Foundry Town\" (Kyupora no Aru Machi). It borders Tokyo across the Ara River and is a commuter town with the 2nd largest population in the prefecture.","11206":"Gyoda City is said to be the origin of the name \"Saitama\". It has the Sakitama Kofun Cluster (ancient burial mounds), where an iron sword with a gold-inlaid inscription, now a National Treasure, was found. The city is also known for Oshi Castle from the film \"The Floating Castle\" (Nobo no Shiro), rice paddy art and the production of tabi (traditional split-toe socks).","11207":"Chichibu City lies in a basin surrounded by the Chichibu Mountains in the west of the prefecture. It is known for the Chichibu Night Festival, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and for the pilgrimage of thirty-four Kannon temples of Chichibu. Mitsumine Shrine and the moss phlox (shibazakura) of Hitsujiyama Park are also popular.","11208":"Tokorozawa City is the birthplace of aviation in Japan and has the Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park. It is also home to the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team and to \"Tokorozawa Sakura Town\", a cultural complex of the company KADOKAWA.","11209":"Hanno City is blessed with the mountains of Oku-Musashi and the clear water of the Iruma River, and it is known for Moomin Valley Park. It produces Nishikawa timber and is a base for hiking to places such as Mt. Tenran and the Naguri Valley.","11210":"Kazo City is known as a city of handmade udon (thick wheat noodles), and its production of koinobori (carp streamers) is among the highest in Japan. Sights include an event where a giant carp streamer flies, the Watarase Retarding Basin, Kisai Castle and Tamashiki Shrine.","11211":"Honjo City is the town of Honjo-shuku, which prospered as the largest shukuba (post town) on the Nakasendo road. It has Honjo-Waseda Station on the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines. Heritage of the silk industry also remains, such as the Kyoshinsha model silkworm-rearing house, which helped improve sericulture techniques.","11212":"Higashimatsuyama City is known as a \"yakitori\" city, with a unique custom of eating pork cheek meat (kashira) with spicy miso. It hosts the Japan Three-Day March, an international walking event.","11214":"Kasukabe City prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Nikko Kaido road in the Edo period, and it produces paulownia chests (kiri-tansu) and oshie hagoita (decorated battledores). Visitors can tour the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, called the \"underground temple\". The city is also famous as the setting of the anime \"Crayon Shin-chan\".","11215":"Sayama City is a main production area of Sayama tea, praised in a song that says \"Shizuoka for color, Uji for aroma, but Sayama is the best for taste.\" The Tanabata festival and the waterside of the Iruma River are also points of local pride.","11216":"Hanyu City is known as an \"indigo-dyeing city\", where the tradition of Bushu Shoaizome indigo dyeing continues. It also drew attention as the host of a festival of yuru-chara (local mascot characters) such as Mujinamon.","11217":"Konosu City is known as a city of hina dolls (dolls for the Girls' Festival), and a huge pyramid-shaped doll display is set up there. It is also a \"city of flowers\" with active flower growing, and it has the point where the Ara River is the widest in Japan (2,537 m).","11218":"Fukaya City is the birthplace of Shibusawa Eiichi, called the father of Japanese capitalism, and it is known throughout Japan for Fukaya green onions. It has the former factory of Nippon Renga Seizo, which made the bricks used in the Marunouchi building of Tokyo Station.","11219":"Ageo City prospered as a shukuba (post town) on the Nakasendo road and is now a residential and industrial city in the center of the prefecture. It has Ageo Sports Park and Maruyama Park, a well-known spot for cherry blossoms.","11221":"Soka City is the birthplace of Soka senbei (rice crackers). Soka Matsubara, a pine-lined stretch of the Nikko Kaido road where Matsuo Basho also walked, is a national Place of Scenic Beauty as one of the landscapes of \"Oku no Hosomichi\" (The Narrow Road to the Deep North). The leather industry is also active.","11222":"Koshigaya City grew from a shukuba (post town) on the Nikko Kaido road into a central city of eastern Saitama. It is known for the huge shopping mall Aeon LakeTown, the traditional craft of Koshigaya daruma dolls, and hina dolls.","11223":"Warabi City is the smallest city in Japan by area, and its population density is at the highest level among all cities in Japan. It is the birthplace of the Coming of Age Ceremony, and traces of Warabi-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo road, remain.","11224":"Toda City borders Tokyo across the Ara River, and the Toda Rowing Course was the rowing venue of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It is a residential city with many young people.","11225":"Iruma City is a main production area of Sayama tea, with hills covered by tea fields. The air show at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Iruma Air Base and the Mitsui Outlet Park are also popular.","11227":"Asaka City has the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Asaka, which was the shooting venue of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It is a residential city known for the rows of cherry trees along the Kurome River and for the \"Saikasai\" festival.","11228":"Shiki City was a riverside port town that prospered with boat transport on the Shingashi River. Legends of kappa (water imps) remain, and kappa statues stand around the city. The area around Shiki Station on the Tobu Tojo Line is a busy commercial district.","11229":"Wako City is a research city with the headquarters of RIKEN, where the new element \"nihonium\" was discovered. It is a residential city with convenient transport, served by Tokyo Metro and the Tobu Tojo Line.","11230":"Niiza City is known for the mixed woodland of Heirin-ji Temple, a national Natural Monument and a famous spot for autumn leaves. Many universities are located in the city, and it is also a commuter town for people working in central Tokyo.","11231":"Okegawa City keeps traces of Okegawa-juku, a shukuba (post town) on the Nakasendo road, and it prospered as a trading center for safflower (benibana). It has Honda Airport and the Benibana Festival in Kawataya.","11232":"Kuki City is a transport hub in northeastern Saitama, and the Kuki Lantern Festival \"Tenno-sama\" is a summer highlight. Washinomiya Shrine in the former Washimiya Town is said to be the oldest major shrine in the Kanto region.","11233":"Kitamoto City is known for its cherry blossoms, and the Ishido Kabazakura tree is one of Japan's five great cherry trees. The city keeps rich mixed woodland, such as in Kitamoto Nature Observation Park.","11234":"Yashio City became more urban after Yashio Station on the Tsukuba Express opened, and it is a manufacturing city with many small and medium-sized factories. It is also known for growing komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach).","11235":"Fujimi City was named because Mt. Fuji can be seen on clear days. Nanbata Castle Park and the Mizuko Shell Mound are in the city, and it also has the shopping mall LaLaport Fujimi.","11237":"Misato City borders Chiba Prefecture across the Edo River and Tokyo at the prefectural border. The Misato-Nagareyama Bridge and large commercial facilities are located here, and with Misato Junction it is a key point for logistics.","11238":"Hasuda City is a rural city along the Minumadai irrigation canal, and the Kurohama Shell Mound from the Jomon period is a national Historic Site. Pear growing is active, and the rows of cherry trees along the Moto-Arakawa River are a highlight.","11239":"Sakado City is a residential city along the Koma River and also a college town with several university campuses. It is known as the host of the Sakado Yosakoi dance festival.","11240":"Satte City was a shukuba (post town) on the Nikko Kaido road. The cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers blooming together at the Gongendo embankment are one of the best sights in the Tokyo area. In autumn, red spider lilies (manjushage) also bloom across the area.","11241":"Tsurugashima City is a residential city in central Saitama, with Tsurugashima Junction, where the Ken-O Expressway and the Kan-Etsu Expressway meet. The \"Sunaori Amagoi\" rain-making ritual, a nationally selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is a powerful event in which a dragon god is paraded through the town.","11242":"Hidaka City is linked to immigrants from the Asian continent (toraijin), as the ancient Koma District was set up here, and it has Koma Shrine. The red spider lily field of Kinchakuda is a famous spot where the ground turns red in autumn.","11243":"Yoshikawa City is known as the \"village of catfish\", with restaurants that serve catfish dishes. It is a residential city on low land surrounded by the Naka River and the Edo River.","11245":"Fujimino City was formed in 2005 by the merger of Kamifukuoka City and Oi Town, and it is a residential city with good access to central Tokyo. History of the Kawagoe Kaido road remains, such as the former Oi-juku post town.","11246":"Shiraoka City is a relatively new city that changed from a town to a city in 2012, and pear growing is active there. It is a residential area served by the Utsunomiya Line and the Tohoku Shinkansen.","11301":"Ina Town is served by the New Shuttle transit line and is one of the leading producers of garden trees and plants in Japan. The rose festival at the Town Commemorative Park, a well-known spot for roses, is popular.","11324":"Miyoshi Town is in southwestern Saitama, where the long, narrow strip-shaped fields of \"Santome Shinden\", a remnant of the development of new farmland on the Musashino plateau, remain. It produces the sweet potato brand \"Tomi no Kawagoe Imo\".","11326":"Moroyama Town has a long tradition of yabusame (horseback archery), and it is known for its yuzu citrus, \"Katsuragi Yuzu\". Traces of the old Kamakura Kaido road also remain.","11327":"Ogose Town is known for the Ogose Bairin plum grove and as a village of yamabuki (Japanese kerria) flowers. It has the rich nature of Oku-Musashi, such as the Three Waterfalls of Kuroyama, and hikers visit it.","11341":"Namegawa Town has Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park, and many irrigation ponds remain. It is known as a habitat of the Tokyo bitterling (miyakotanago), an endangered fish.","11342":"Ranzan Town was named because the scenery of the Tsuki River valley resembles Arashiyama in Kyoto. It has the National Women's Education Center and the Sugaya Yakata ruins, linked to the Kamakura-period samurai Hatakeyama Shigetada.","11343":"Ogawa Town produces Hosokawa-shi paper, which is part of \"Washi\", a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is also known for organic farming and local sake breweries, and it is called the \"Little Kyoto of Musashi\".","11346":"Kawajima Town is surrounded by rivers on all four sides, and in winter swans come to the Oppe River. \"Suttate\", udon noodles eaten in a cold soup, is a beloved local dish.","11347":"Yoshimi Town is known for the Yoshimi Hyakuana (Hundred Caves), a group of cave tombs from the Kofun period. Strawberry growing is active, and the town is one of the prefecture's leading places for strawberry picking.","11348":"Hatoyama Town grew in population with the development of Hatoyama New Town, and residential areas spread over its green hills.","11349":"Tokigawa Town is a mountain town along the Toki River and a woodworking village with active production of fittings such as doors and sliding screens. It has old temples such as Jiko-ji Temple, and visitors can enjoy hiking and camping.","11361":"Yokoze Town lies at the foot of Mt. Buko and is the gateway to Chichibu. Highlights include the icicles of Ashigakubo and the Terasaka rice terraces.","11362":"Minano Town is in the north of the Chichibu Basin and is known as the birthplace of the Chichibu Ondo folk song and dance. Minoyama Park is a famous spot for cherry blossoms and hydrangeas.","11363":"Nagatoro Town is a scenic area known for the Iwadatami rock terraces of the Ara River and the Nagatoro river boat rides, and it is a famous geological site called the \"Window of the Earth\". The wintersweet flowers of Mt. Hodo and shaved ice are also popular.","11365":"Ogano Town is in the west of the Chichibu region, and as a \"town of kabuki\" it keeps alive local amateur kabuki theater. The icicles of the Onouchi Valley and waraji katsudon (rice topped with large, flat pork cutlets) are local highlights.","11369":"Higashichichibu Village is the only village in Saitama Prefecture, and as a village of washi (Japanese paper) it keeps the tradition of Hosokawa-shi paper. It is a peaceful satoyama (rural hill) village with houses scattered among the mountains.","11381":"Misato Town is a rural town in northern Saitama, where groups of kofun (ancient burial mounds) and the history of the Inomata band of samurai remain. Blueberry-picking farms are also popular.","11383":"Kamikawa Town lies along the Kanna River. Kanasana Shrine is an ancient shrine that has no main hall and worships Mt. Mimuro itself as its sacred body. Jomine Park is a famous spot for winter-blooming cherry trees.","11385":"Kamisato Town is at the northwestern tip of the prefecture and borders Gunma Prefecture. It has the Kamisato Service Area on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, and pears and vegetables are widely grown.","11408":"Yorii Town lies at the head of the alluvial fan of the Ara River. The ruins of Hachigata Castle, a mountain castle of the Sengoku (Warring States) period, are a national Historic Site, and the town prospered as the castle town of Hojo Ujikuni.","11442":"Miyashiro Town has Tobu Zoo, and its charm is its satoyama (rural) landscape where fields and mixed woodland remain, such as at \"Atarashii Mura\" (New Village).","11464":"Sugito Town prospered as Sugito-juku, a shukuba (post town) on the Nikko Kaido road, and it is also known for growing pears.","11465":"Matsubushi Town lies between the Edo River and the Naka River, and rural scenery spreads across it. At Matsubushi Midorinooka Park, visitors can enjoy nature.","12100":"Chiba City is the prefectural capital of Chiba Prefecture and a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture). It has many sides, including Makuhari Messe and ZOZO Marine Stadium in the Makuhari New City Center, one of the world's longest suspended monorails, and the Kasori Shell Mound, a Special Historic Site of Japan.","12202":"Choshi City is a port city where the mouth of the Tone River meets the Pacific Ocean, and Choshi Fishing Port has recorded the largest fish landings in Japan many times. It is also known for soy sauce brewing by Yamasa and Higeta, and for the scenery of Inubosaki Lighthouse and the Byobugaura cliffs.","12203":"Ichikawa City borders Tokyo across the Edo River and is a residential city famous for its pears, \"Ichikawa no Nashi\". History remains here, such as the story of Mama no Tekona, a woman sung about in the Man'yoshu poetry anthology, and Nakayama Hokekyo-ji Temple.","12204":"Funabashi City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) with the 2nd largest population in the prefecture. It has LaLaport TOKYO-BAY and Funabashi Racecourse. It also produces nori seaweed and hard clams (honbinosu) from the Sanbanze tidal flats, as well as komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and pears.","12205":"Tateyama City has a mild climate and lies near the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula. It has Tateyama Castle of the Satomi clan and Nago-dera Temple. It is full of the charms of the sea, such as Okinoshima Island, the sunset at Hojo Beach, and diving spots.","12206":"Kisarazu City is the Chiba-side gateway of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line and is known as a famous spot for clam digging. It also has Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu and the legend of the drum-playing tanuki (raccoon dogs) of Shojo-ji Temple.","12207":"Matsudo City borders Tokyo across the Edo River and is a residential city with Tojo-tei, the residence linked to Tokugawa Akitake. It is the birthplace of the Nijisseiki pear, and it is also known as a highly competitive area for ramen shops.","12208":"Noda City is a soy sauce city known as the place where Kikkoman was founded, and it has the soy sauce museum \"Monoshiri Shoyukan\". It also has Shimizu Park, and rural scenery spreads across the city, which is surrounded by the Edo River and the Tone River.","12210":"Mobara City is known for producing natural gas, and the city sits on top of a gas field. The Mobara Tanabata Festival is one of the three great Tanabata festivals of the Kanto region, and Mobara Park is a famous spot for cherry blossoms.","12211":"Narita City has Narita International Airport, Japan's gateway by air. It is the temple town of Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, where restaurants serving eel dishes line the Omotesando approach street, and the temple receives one of the largest numbers of New Year visitors (hatsumode) in Japan.","12212":"Sakura City prospered as the castle town of the Sakura Domain in the Edo period, and it has samurai residences and the National Museum of Japanese History. The Dutch windmill and tulips at Sakura Furusato Square are a spring highlight.","12213":"Togane City is a central city of the Kujukuri Plain, where the Onari Kaido road, built by Tokugawa Ieyasu for falconry, remains. Lake Hakkaku is a famous spot for cherry blossoms.","12215":"Asahi City is at the northern end of Kujukuri Beach and has one of the highest agricultural outputs among municipalities in Japan. It has plenty of vegetables, livestock and seafood, and from Iioka Lighthouse there is a superb view of Cape Gyobu.","12216":"Narashino City is a residential city on Tokyo Bay, and \"Narashino sausage\" is regarded as the origin of sausage making in Japan. The Yatsu Tidal Flat is a wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention.","12217":"Kashiwa City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) in northwestern Chiba. At Kashiwa-no-ha Campus, smart city development is progressing in cooperation with universities. The city lies on the shore of Lake Tega and is home to Kashiwa Reysol, a J.League soccer club.","12218":"Katsuura City is a port town known for the Katsuura Morning Market, one of Japan's three great morning markets, and for its landings of skipjack tuna (katsuo). Katsuura Tantanmen (spicy noodles) is a popular local dish, and thanks to its oceanic climate the town is relatively cool even in summer.","12219":"Ichihara City has the largest area in the prefecture, and petrochemical complexes of the Keiyo Industrial Region stand along its coast. Its attractions include the \"Chibanian\" rock layers, which show evidence of a reversal of the Earth's magnetic field, and the satoyama (rural) scenery along the Kominato Railway.","12220":"Nagareyama City saw its population grow rapidly with development along the Tsukuba Express, and it attracted families raising children with the slogan \"If you are going to be a mother, choose Nagareyama.\" It is also linked to Kondo Isami of the Shinsengumi (a samurai police force).","12221":"Yachiyo City is a residential city along the Shinkawa River, and the Yachiyodai housing estate is one of the earliest housing estates in Japan. The Keisei Rose Garden is a famous rose garden with many varieties.","12222":"Abiko City is on the shore of Lake Tega, and in the Taisho era writers of the Shirakaba school, such as Shiga Naoya and Mushanokoji Saneatsu, lived here. It has the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, and the city's \"Museum of Birds\" is also popular.","12223":"Kamogawa City is on the Pacific side of the Boso Peninsula and is known for Kamogawa Sea World. The Oyama Senmaida rice terraces are popular as the terraced fields closest to Tokyo, and the city also has Tanjo-ji Temple, linked to the monk Nichiren.","12224":"Kamagaya City is known for growing pears and has Kamagaya Stadium, the home of the minor league (farm) team of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. It is a residential city where railway lines cross.","12225":"Kimitsu City is a steel city with the Kimitsu Area of Nippon Steel's East Nippon Works. In its mountain areas there are Lake Kameyama, the Nomizo Falls and the Kameiwa Cave, and they are also popular spots for autumn leaves.","12226":"Futtsu City is known for Cape Futtsu, which sticks out into Tokyo Bay, Mt. Nokogiri, whose summit can be reached by ropeway, and Mother Farm. Nori seaweed farming is also active, and visitors can enjoy leisure by the sea and in the mountains.","12227":"Urayasu City is home to Tokyo Disney Resort and greatly expanded its area through land reclamation. Traces of a fishing town remain around the Sakai River in the old town, which is the setting of Yamamoto Shugoro's novel \"Aobeka Monogatari\".","12228":"Yotsukaido City is a residential city between Chiba City and Sakura City. It was once a military town with an army artillery school, and green hills spread across the city.","12229":"Sodegaura City is a city of industry and agriculture on Tokyo Bay, with Sodegaura Seaside Park and Tokyo German Village. Peanuts and other farm products are also widely grown.","12230":"Yachimata City is a \"peanut city\" that produces the most peanuts in Japan. It is a farming city on the Hokuso Plateau, where vegetables such as carrots and watermelons are also widely grown.","12231":"Inzai City is the core of Chiba New Town and ranked near the top of a \"livability ranking\" for many years. It is also drawing attention as a cluster of data centers.","12232":"Shiroi City is known for its pears, \"Shiroi no Nashi\", and is a residential city that forms part of Chiba New Town.","12233":"Tomisato City is famous for its watermelons, and the Tomisato Watermelon Road Race is held there. It is close to Narita Airport and also has a history as the site of an imperial ranch.","12234":"Minamiboso City is at the southernmost tip of the Boso Peninsula and is known for flower picking and loquat growing, which make use of the mild climate. It has beautiful coastal scenery, such as Nojimazaki Lighthouse in Shirahama.","12235":"Sosa City is in the northern part of Kujukuri Beach and is one of the leading producers of garden trees and plants in Japan. Historic sites linked to the Nichiren school of Buddhism also remain, such as the ruins of the Iidaka Danrin seminary.","12236":"Katori City is home to Katori Jingu Shrine, the ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of the old Shimosa Province. Sawara, where Ino Tadataka lived, is called \"Little Edo of Hokuso\" for its townscape along the Ono River. The Sawara Grand Festival is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.","12237":"Sanmu City faces Kujukuri Beach and is known as a producer of Sanbu cedar. The \"Strawberry Road\", where visitors can pick strawberries, is popular.","12238":"Isumi City faces the Sotobo coast and has Ohara Fishing Port, which lands a large catch of Japanese spiny lobster (ise-ebi). Trains of the Isumi Railway running through fields of rapeseed flowers are a sign of spring.","12239":"Oamishirasato City has the Shirasato Coast facing Kujukuri Beach, and residential areas spread inland. It has developed as a commuter town for Chiba City.","12322":"Shisui Town is south of Lake Inba, and its name comes from a legend of a well from which sake flowed. Shisui Premium Outlets is popular, and the ruins of Moto-Sakura Castle are a national Historic Site.","12329":"Sakae Town is north of Lake Inba and has the Ryukakuji Kofun Cluster (ancient burial mounds) and the Chiba Prefectural Boso-no-Mura museum. At Boso-no-Mura, townscapes of the Edo period are recreated.","12342":"Kozaki Town on the Tone River is known as a \"village of fermentation\", and it is building the town around fermented foods, centered on its sake breweries.","12347":"Tako Town lies along the Kuriyama River and produces the brand rice \"Takomai\". Yamato-imo yam and shiitake mushrooms are also local specialties.","12349":"Tonosho Town lies between the Tone River and the Kurobe River and is known as the setting of \"Tenpo Suikoden\", a story featuring outlaws (kyokaku) such as Sasagawa no Shigezo.","12403":"Kujukuri Town is a seaside town in the central part of Kujukuri Beach that prospered with sardine fishing. In summer it is busy with swimmers, and the tradition of jibikiami (beach seine fishing) continues at Katakai Fishing Port.","12409":"Shibayama Town is next to Narita Airport and has the Museum of Aeronautical Science and the Shibayama Kofun Cluster, which is known for the haniwa (clay figures) found there.","12410":"Yokoshibahikari Town faces Kujukuri Beach and was formed in 2006 by the merger of Yokoshiba Town and Hikari Town. It has Yakata Beach and a plum grove at the Sakata Castle ruins.","12421":"Ichinomiya Town is home to Tamasaki Shrine, the ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of the old Kazusa Province. Tsurigasaki Beach was the surfing venue of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and the town is a seaside town where surfers gather.","12422":"Mutsuzawa Town is in the rural area of Boso, and the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) \"Tsudoi no Sato Mutsuzawa\" is popular as a facility with a hot spring.","12423":"Chosei Village is in the southern part of Kujukuri Beach and is the only village in Chiba Prefecture. Seaside nature, such as Hitotsumatsu Beach, and farmland spread across the village.","12424":"Shirako Town faces Kujukuri Beach and is a \"tennis town\" with one of the largest numbers of tennis courts in Japan. Onion growing is also active, and the town has hot springs.","12426":"Nagara Town is a town of green hills in inland Boso, with leisure facilities such as Resol no Mori.","12427":"Chonan Town is in inland Boso. The Kannon hall of Kasamori Kannon has a rare structure called shiho-kakezukuri, raised on pillars on all four sides, and it is a national Important Cultural Property.","12441":"Otaki Town is the castle town of Otaki Castle, built by Honda Tadakatsu, and it is called \"Little Edo of Boso\". The autumn leaves of the Yoro Gorge and the Isumi Railway are also attractions.","12443":"Onjuku Town is known for its beautiful white-sand beach on the Sotobo coast, which became the setting of the children's song \"Tsuki no Sabaku\" (The Desert under the Moon). The town also has a history of exchange with Mexico.","12463":"Kyonan Town is on the south side of Mt. Nokogiri and has the Great Buddha of Nihon-ji Temple. It is the birthplace of the ukiyo-e artist Hishikawa Moronobu, and it also has \"Okuzure Suisenkyo\", known for its wild daffodils.","13101":"Chiyoda City is one of Tokyo's special wards. It is centered on the Imperial Palace, and the core institutions of the national government, such as the National Diet Building, the Prime Minister's Office and the Supreme Court, are located here. The ward has many sides: the business districts of Marunouchi and Otemachi, the secondhand bookshop district of Kanda and the electronics district of Akihabara.","13102":"Chuo City is one of Tokyo's special wards and has been a center of commerce since the Edo period. It includes Nihonbashi, Ginza, Tsukiji and Tsukishima. Its many sights include Nihonbashi Bridge, the starting point of Japan's roads, long-established department stores, Tsukishima with its monjayaki (a runny savory pancake), and Harumi on the waterfront.","13103":"Minato City is an international ward among Tokyo's special wards. It includes Roppongi, Akasaka, Shiodome and part of Odaiba, and many embassies and foreign companies are located here. Old and new landmarks stand side by side, such as Tokyo Tower, Zojo-ji Temple, Sengaku-ji Temple and Takanawa Gateway.","13104":"Shinjuku City is one of Tokyo's special wards and the seat of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Shinjuku Station is said to have the largest number of passengers per day in the world. The ward has many different areas, such as the Kabukicho entertainment district, Shinjuku Gyoen garden, the back streets of Kagurazaka and the student district of Waseda.","13105":"Bunkyo City is one of Tokyo's special wards and a center of education, with many universities such as the University of Tokyo and Ochanomizu University. History and culture live on in daimyo (feudal lord) gardens such as Koishikawa Korakuen Garden and Rikugien Garden, as well as at Tokyo Dome and Nezu Shrine.","13106":"Taito City is one of Tokyo's special wards and a center of shitamachi (old downtown) culture, with Ueno and Asakusa. Senso-ji Temple and its Kaminarimon Gate, the art museums and museums of Ueno Park, and the Ameyoko market street are busy with visitors. Kappabashi, a street of kitchenware shops, keeps the feel of a town of craftspeople.","13107":"Sumida City is one of Tokyo's special wards and has Tokyo Skytree and the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena. Its attractions include the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, the Edo-Tokyo Museum, small factories, manufacturing and the atmosphere of shitamachi (old downtown).","13108":"Koto City is one of Tokyo's special wards where the old downtown of Fukagawa sits alongside new waterfront districts such as Toyosu, Ariake and part of Odaiba. The ward has Toyosu Market, Tokyo Big Sight, Tomioka Hachiman Shrine and Kiyosumi Garden.","13109":"Shinagawa City is one of Tokyo's special wards. It was the gateway of the Tokaido highway and prospered as Shinagawa-juku, a shukuba (post town). Business districts spread around Oimachi, Gotanda and Osaki. The Togoshi Ginza shopping street, Shinagawa Aquarium and the waterfront of Tennozu are also popular.","13110":"Meguro City is one of Tokyo's special wards, mostly residential, and is known for the cherry trees along the Meguro River. Nakameguro and Jiyugaoka are popular as stylish neighborhoods. The ward has Meguro Fudoson Temple and the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.","13111":"Ota City has the largest area of Tokyo's 23 special wards and is home to Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport). Many small factories are found around Kamata and support manufacturing in Japan. The upscale residential area of Den-en-chofu is also well known.","13112":"Setagaya City has the largest population of Tokyo's 23 special wards, and quiet residential areas spread across it. It has distinctive neighborhoods such as Shimokitazawa, Sangenjaya and Futako-Tamagawa, as well as Todoroki Valley, Gotoku-ji Temple and the Equestrian Park (Baji Koen).","13113":"Shibuya City is one of Tokyo's special wards and a source of youth culture. It includes Shibuya, known for its scramble crossing, the fashion streets of Harajuku and Omotesando, and Ebisu and Daikanyama. The greenery of Meiji Jingu Shrine and Yoyogi Park also spreads across the ward.","13114":"Nakano City is one of Tokyo's special wards and is known as a mecca of subculture, represented by Nakano Broadway. Busy shopping areas such as the Nakano Sun Mall shopping street spread around Nakano Station. As a residential area, the ward has a high population density.","13115":"Suginami City is a residential ward among Tokyo's special wards, with distinctive neighborhoods such as Asagaya, Koenji and Ogikubo along the Chuo Line. Many animation studios are located here, and green spaces along the Zenpukuji River are plentiful.","13116":"Toshima City is one of Tokyo's special wards and is centered on Ikebukuro, with Sunshine City and the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. The Jizo-dori shopping street in Sugamo is affectionately called \"the Harajuku for grandmothers.\"","13117":"Kita City is one of Tokyo's special wards and includes Oji, Akabane and Tabata. Asukayama Park, laid out by the shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune, is a famous place for cherry blossoms. The ward is connected with Shibusawa Eiichi, and it also has a factory of the National Printing Bureau.","13118":"Arakawa City is one of Tokyo's special wards. The Toden Arakawa Line, the only remaining line of the Toden (Tokyo's city tram), runs through it. Machiya, Nippori and Minamisenju keep the atmosphere of shitamachi (old downtown), and the Nippori Textile Town is known as a district of fabric wholesalers.","13119":"Itabashi City is one of Tokyo's special wards. Itabashi-juku, the first shukuba (post town) on the Nakasendo highway, was located here, and factories for optical equipment and printing are concentrated in the ward. It is also known for the Takashimadaira housing complex, Jorenji Temple with the Tokyo Daibutsu (Great Buddha), and its efforts as a town of picture books.","13120":"Nerima City has the 2nd largest population of Tokyo's 23 special wards and keeps some of the largest farmland in Tokyo. It is known for Nerima daikon radish and, as the birthplace of Japanese animation, has many animation studios. \"Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo\" opened on the former site of Toshimaen amusement park.","13121":"Adachi City is one of Tokyo's special wards and is centered on Kitasenju, with Nishiarai Daishi Temple and Toneri Park. It is an old downtown area surrounded by rivers such as the Ara River, the Sumida River and the Ayase River, and it is also developing as a student town by inviting universities.","13122":"Katsushika City is a shitamachi (old downtown) ward among Tokyo's special wards, known for Shibamata Taishakuten Temple and as the setting of the film series \"Otoko wa Tsurai yo\" (It's Tough Being a Man). It has the Horikiri Iris Garden and Kameari, the setting of the manga \"Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Koen-mae Hashutsujo,\" and many small factories.","13123":"Edogawa City is one of Tokyo's special wards, lying between the Edo River and the Ara River. It has Kasai Rinkai Park and its aquarium. The ward is also known for goldfish production and as the birthplace of komatsuna (a leafy green vegetable), and it is a residential area with strong support for raising children.","13201":"Hachioji City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) with the largest population in the Tama area of Tokyo. It has Mt. Takao, which has one of the largest numbers of climbers in Japan. Once called \"Soto\" (the city of mulberries), it was a town of silk textiles, and it is also a college town with many universities.","13202":"Tachikawa City is the center of commerce and transportation in the Tama area of Tokyo and has the national government's Showa Memorial Park. Redevelopment around the station, such as GREEN SPRINGS, is progressing, and the Tama Monorail connects the north and south.","13203":"Musashino City is a popular residential city that includes Kichijoji and is the gateway to Inokashira Park. It is also known for Seikei University and the Harmonica Yokocho shopping alleys.","13204":"Mitaka City is connected with the writer Dazai Osamu and has the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. It includes part of Inokashira Park and is a green residential city.","13205":"Ome City is a city in the mountains along the upper Tama River. It has Musashi Mitake Shrine on Mt. Mitake and Ome Railway Park. It is also known for Yoshino Baigo, a famous place for plum blossoms, and for streets that keep the feel of the Showa era, such as the Showa Retro Packaging Museum.","13206":"Fuchu City is a historic town where the provincial capital of Musashi Province was located, and the Kurayami Festival of Okunitama Shrine is famous. The city also has Tokyo Racecourse and is the base of football and rugby teams.","13207":"Akishima City is a residential and industrial city along the Tama River. It is the only city in Tokyo that supplies 100% of its tap water from deep groundwater. The city has Showa no Mori and the Mori Town shopping center.","13208":"Chofu City is a \"town of movies\" with many film studios, and Jindai-ji soba (buckwheat noodles) is a specialty in front of Jindai-ji Temple. The city has Ajinomoto Stadium and Chofu Airport, and Mizuki Shigeru, the creator of \"GeGeGe no Kitaro,\" lived here.","13209":"Machida City is a commercial city in the Tama area that juts out at the southern edge of Tokyo, and large shopping facilities line the area around Machida Station. It has Yakushi-ike Park, and hills rich in nature spread across the city.","13210":"Koganei City is a residential city where springs and greenery remain along the Kokubunji Cliff Line (known locally as \"Hake\"). Koganei Park, a Tokyo metropolitan park that contains the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, is known for its cherry blossoms.","13211":"Kodaira City is a residential city where woodlands remain along the Tamagawa Aqueduct, and it is the birthplace of blueberry growing in Japan. It is known for Kodaira Furusato Village and as an educational district with many universities.","13212":"Hino City is the birthplace of Hijikata Toshizo, vice commander of the Shinsengumi, and the honjin (official inn for lords) of Hino-juku still remains. The city has Tama Zoological Park and factories of automobile makers and other companies.","13213":"Higashimurayama City has the Jizo Hall of Shofuku-ji Temple, a National Treasure built in the Zen style of the Muromachi period. The city is also known as the hometown of the comedian Shimura Ken, and the irises of Kitayama Park are splendid.","13214":"Kokubunji City is a historic town with the ruins of the Musashi Kokubun-ji Temple. The springs of Otaka-no-michi path and Masugata-no-ike Pond were selected as one of Japan's 100 Famous Waters. It is a residential city along the Chuo Line.","13215":"Kunitachi City is a college town known for the campus of Hitotsubashi University and the cherry trees along Daigaku-dori street. The old Kunitachi Station building has been restored and is a symbol of the city.","13218":"Fussa City has the U.S. Yokota Air Base and is known for streets along National Route 16 with an American atmosphere. It also has sake breweries and places for cherry blossoms along the Tama River.","13219":"Komae City has the smallest area of any city in Tokyo and is a residential area along the Tama River. It is also known for its group of kofun (ancient burial mounds) and as the birthplace of etegami (illustrated postcards).","13220":"Higashiyamato City is a town on the shore of Lake Tama (Murayama Reservoir), where the nature of the Sayama Hills spreads out. The former Hitachi Aircraft substation is preserved as a war heritage site.","13221":"Kiyose City has a history as a \"town of hospitals,\" where tuberculosis sanatoriums gathered, and many medical and welfare facilities are still here today. Nature along the Yanase River, such as Kiyose Kanayama Ryokuchi Park, is also attractive.","13222":"Higashikurume City is a town with clear streams fed by springs, such as the Ochiai River and the Kurome River. The Ochiai River and the Minamisawa springs were selected as one of the Heisei-era 100 Famous Waters of Japan.","13223":"Musashimurayama City is the only city in Tokyo without a railway station, and an extension of the Tama Monorail is planned. The city has the traditional craft of Murayama Oshima Tsumugi (pongee silk), Sayama tea and AEON MALL Musashimurayama.","13224":"Tama City is the center of Tama New Town and has Sanrio Puroland. It also has Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, the setting of the animated film \"Whisper of the Heart.\"","13225":"Inagi City is a city along the Tama River and produces pears known as \"Inagi no Nashi\" and grapes. It has Yomiuriland and is said to be the setting of Studio Ghibli's film \"Pom Poko.\"","13227":"Hamura City has the Hamura Intake Weir, the water intake of the Tamagawa Aqueduct, which tells the history of sending water to Edo (old Tokyo). The Hamura City Tulip Festival in spring is also popular.","13228":"Akiruno City is a city rich in nature, where the Akigawa Valley flows, and it is a popular place for barbecues and playing in the river. It has Tokyo Summerland and the day-trip onsen (hot spring) \"Seoto no Yu.\"","13229":"Nishitokyo City is a residential city created in 2001 by the merger of Tanashi City and Hoya City. It has a farm of the University of Tokyo, and Tanashi Tower (Sky Tower West Tokyo) is its symbol.","13303":"Mizuho Town is located at the western end of the Sayama Hills and produces Sayama tea. The town includes part of the U.S. Yokota Air Base, and the observation deck of Rokudoyama Park looks out over the Kanto Plain.","13305":"Hinode Town is a town in the mountains of the Tama area. Mt. Hinode is popular for its hiking course that links it with Mt. Mitake. The town also has AEON MALL Hinode.","13307":"Hinohara Village is the only village in Tokyo outside the islands, and more than 90% of its area is forest. It has Hossawa Falls, the only waterfall in Tokyo on the list of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls, and the Hinohara Tomin no Mori forest park.","13308":"Okutama Town is a mountain town at the western end of Tokyo. It has Ogochi Dam (Lake Okutama), the main water reservoir for Tokyo. Mountains such as Mt. Kumotori, the highest peaks in Tokyo, line up here, and the town is a base for hiking and camping.","13361":"Oshima Town is the town on Izu Oshima, the largest of the Izu Islands, and has the active volcano Mt. Mihara. It is known as the island of camellias, and its sights include camellia oil and the \"Great Stratum Cross-Section,\" a road cut that records the history of eruptions.","13362":"Toshima Village is a small island in the Izu Islands. The whole island is covered with camellia trees, and its production of camellia oil is among the largest in Japan. The sea, where people can swim with dolphins, is also attractive.","13363":"Niijima Village consists of Niijima Island, known for the white sands of Habushiura Beach and the Moyai statues made of koga stone, and Shikinejima Island. It is also popular as a mecca for surfing.","13364":"Kozushima Village is an island in the Izu Islands centered on Mt. Tenjo, and its very clear sea and starry skies are attractive. A legend says that the gods of the Izu Islands gathered on this island.","13381":"Miyake Village is the village on Miyakejima Island, which has the active volcano Mt. Oyama. During the eruption in 2000, all residents had to evacuate the island. It is an island for birdwatching and diving.","13382":"Mikurajima Village is an island known as a place where people can swim with wild dolphins, and it keeps a forest of giant trees and rich nature. Visitors cannot enter the island without a reservation at a place to stay, and this rule protects its untouched nature.","13401":"Hachijo Town is the town on Hachijojima Island, about 1 hour by plane from Haneda. Its specialties are Kihachijo silk fabric, shimazushi (island-style sushi) and ashitaba (a leafy green plant). The island is full of the charms of a southern island, such as Hachijo-Fuji, onsen (hot springs) and diving.","13402":"Aogashima Village, with a population of about 170, is one of the municipalities with the smallest population in Japan, and it is known for the spectacular view of its double caldera. Its specialty is \"Hingya no Shio,\" a salt made with geothermal heat.","13421":"Ogasawara Village is the village of the Ogasawara Islands, about 1,000 km south of Tokyo, which are registered as a World Natural Heritage Site. The regular ship Ogasawara Maru takes about 24 hours to reach the islands, and visitors can see humpback whales, dolphins and native plants and animals found nowhere else.","14100":"Yokohama City is the prefectural capital of Kanagawa Prefecture. With a population of about 3.75 million, it is the largest city in Japan. It has been an international port since it opened to foreign trade in 1859, and its sights with a foreign atmosphere include Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama Chinatown, Yamashita Park and the Red Brick Warehouse.","14130":"Kawasaki City is a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) between Tokyo and Yokohama, and it has been a core part of the Keihin Industrial Zone. Kawasaki Daishi (Heiken-ji Temple) has one of the largest numbers of visitors in Japan for hatsumode (the first temple or shrine visit of the New Year). The Fujiko F. Fujio Museum and the high-rise residential area of Musashi-Kosugi are also well known.","14150":"Sagamihara City is a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) in northern Kanagawa. It has rich mountains such as the Tanzawa Mountains and Mt. Jinba, and waterside areas at Lake Sagami and Lake Tsukui. The JAXA Sagamihara Campus is located here, and a station on the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line is planned.","14201":"Yokosuka City is a port city that covers most of the Miura Peninsula, with bases of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy. Its attractions include the memorial ship Mikasa, Sarushima Island, Kurihama, where Commodore Perry landed, and Yokosuka Navy Curry.","14203":"Hiratsuka City is one of the central cities of the Shonan area. The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival is counted as one of Japan's three great Tanabata (star festival) celebrations. The city is the hometown of the football club Shonan Bellmare and spreads out at the mouth of the Sagami River.","14204":"Kamakura City is an old capital of the samurai, where Minamoto no Yoritomo founded his shogunate (military government). Its temples and shrines, such as Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kotoku-in Temple), Hase-dera Temple, Kencho-ji Temple and Engaku-ji Temple, are popular, as is the seaside scenery of the Enoden railway and Yuigahama Beach.","14205":"Fujisawa City is a town for tourism and housing with the sea of Shonan and Enoshima Island, and it prospered as Fujisawa-shuku, a shukuba (post town) on the Tokaido highway. Enoshima Shrine on Enoshima Island, the New Enoshima Aquarium and the swimming beaches of Shonan are busy with visitors.","14206":"Odawara City is a castle town that prospered as the base of the Hojo clan, a family of warlords in the Sengoku (Warring States) period, and Odawara Castle is its symbol. Its specialties are kamaboko (fish cakes), himono (dried fish) and umeboshi (pickled plums). As the gateway to Hakone, the city is also a stop for the Shinkansen.","14207":"Chigasaki City is a town in the Shonan area known as the hometown of Kuwata Keisuke of the band Southern All Stars. Surfing culture has taken root here, and the seaside with a view of Eboshi Rock is popular.","14208":"Zushi City is a seaside residential city at the base of the Miura Peninsula, and the shallow Zushi Beach is popular for swimming. From the Meiji era onward it prospered as a place for vacation homes, and it is also connected with the writer Tokutomi Roka.","14210":"Miura City is located at the southern tip of the Miura Peninsula and has Misaki Fishing Port, known for its landings of tuna. It produces open-field vegetables such as Miura daikon radish and cabbage, and the scenery of Jogashima Island is also a highlight.","14211":"Hadano City is a town in a basin at the foot of the Tanzawa Mountains and has the \"Hadano Basin Springs,\" one of Japan's 100 Famous Waters. It once prospered as a producer of leaf tobacco, and it is a starting point for climbing to Yabitsu Pass and Mt. Oyama.","14212":"Atsugi City is the center of transportation and commerce in central Kanagawa and has the Atsugi Interchange of the Tomei Expressway. It is known for \"Atsugi Shirokoro Horumon\" (grilled pork offal), a popular local comfort food, and for the fireworks of the Ayu (sweetfish) Festival.","14213":"Yamato City is a residential city in central Kanagawa where 3 railway lines run: the Odakyu Line, the Sotetsu Line and the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line. Naval Air Facility Atsugi, used by the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, extends into the city. \"Sirius,\" a cultural center built around a library, is popular.","14214":"Isehara City is a town at the foot of Mt. Oyama (Mt. Afuri). In the Edo period, it was crowded with common people on the \"Oyama Mairi\" pilgrimage. The Oyama Mairi pilgrimage is recognized as a Japan Heritage, and the Oyama Cable Car and tofu dishes are its specialties.","14215":"Ebina City is a transportation hub in central Kanagawa. Ebina Service Area is one of the most popular expressway service areas in Japan. Redevelopment around the station has added shopping facilities and housing, and the ruins of Sagami Kokubun-ji Temple also remain.","14216":"Zama City is a residential city in central Kanagawa. At the summer sunflower festival, sunflowers bloom across whole fields. The U.S. Army's Camp Zama is located here, and farmland along the Sagami River also remains.","14217":"Minamiashigara City is surrounded by the outer rim mountains of Hakone and the Tanzawa Mountains and is known as the land of the Kintaro legend. It has Daiyuzan Saijo-ji Temple, and a Fujifilm factory is located here, using the plentiful water that earned the city a place among Japan's 100 Water Villages.","14218":"Ayase City is a residential and industrial city located near the center of Kanagawa Prefecture, and most of the runway of Naval Air Facility Atsugi lies within the city. It has many industrial parks and is also a town of manufacturing.","14301":"Hayama Town is a seaside town with the Hayama Imperial Villa of the Imperial Family, and it has been known as a resort since the Meiji era. The sunset and Mt. Fuji seen from Morito Beach are beautiful, and Abuzuri Beach is said to be the birthplace of yacht racing in Japan.","14321":"Samukawa Town is the home of Samukawa Shrine, the ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of Sagami Province. Worshippers come from all over Japan to pray to its god for protection from misfortune in all directions (happo-yoke). It is also an industrial town along the Sagami River.","14341":"Oiso Town is a town in the Shonan area where important figures in politics and business, such as Ito Hirobumi and Yoshida Shigeru, built villas in the Meiji era. Terugasaki Beach, said to be the first swimming beach in Japan, and the pine-lined avenue of the old Tokaido highway remain here.","14342":"Ninomiya Town is a town in western Shonan. The view of rapeseed blossoms and Mt. Fuji from Azumayama Park is a winter tradition. The climate is mild, and mandarin oranges are also grown.","14361":"Nakai Town is a town in the hills of western Kanagawa, where Nakai Chuo Park and satoyama (traditional rural landscapes) spread out. It is a peaceful town bordering Odawara City, Hadano City and Hiratsuka City.","14362":"Oi Town is a town in the eastern part of the Ashigara Plain. It has the satoyama (traditional rural landscapes) of the Sowa district and \"Shiki no Sato,\" which looks out on Mt. Fuji. It is a town where farming and housing are in harmony.","14363":"Matsuda Town is known for Nishihirabata Park, where early-blooming \"Matsuda-zakura\" (Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms) and rapeseed blossoms can be enjoyed at the same time. In the Yadoriki district, wintersweet blooms in abundance in winter.","14364":"Yamakita Town is a mountain town at the northwestern end of Kanagawa Prefecture with Lake Tanzawa, and about 90% of its area is mountain forest. Traces remain of a former steam locomotive depot on the Gotemba Line, and the town is a starting point for climbing in West Tanzawa.","14366":"Kaisei Town has the smallest area of any town in Kanagawa Prefecture and is known as a village of hydrangeas. The view of the town's rice paddies and hydrangeas is a feature of early summer.","14382":"Hakone Town is one of Japan's leading tourist areas, with Lake Ashi, Owakudani and many onsen (hot spring) resorts. It has the Hakone Checkpoint ruins, Hakone Shrine and the Hakone Open-Air Museum, and it is also known as the stage of the Hakone Ekiden relay race at New Year.","14383":"Manazuru Town is a town on the Manazuru Peninsula, which juts into Sagami Bay. Its attractions are the virgin forest called \"Ohayashi\" and the scenery of the Mitsuishi rocks. The town produces Komatsu stone and is known for town planning for its landscape based on its \"Standards of Beauty.\"","14384":"Yugawara Town is the town of Yugawara Onsen (hot springs), which appears in poems of the Man'yoshu (an ancient poetry collection). Many writers, such as Natsume Soseki and Shimazaki Toson, visited here. The plum grove of Makuyama Park is a famous sight in early spring.","14401":"Aikawa Town is a town in northern Kanagawa with Miyagase Dam and Lake Miyagase. It is known for Hattori Farm, the history of the thread-twisting industry in Hanbara, and its inland industrial park.","14402":"Kiyokawa Village is the only village in Kanagawa Prefecture, and most of its area is within Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park. It is popular for the tourist spots on the shore of Lake Miyagase and as a base for climbing in the Tanzawa Mountains.","15100":"Niigata City, the only designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) on Honshu's Sea of Japan coast, grew as a port at the mouth of the Shinano River. It was one of five ports opened at the end of the Edo period; Bandai Bridge and the Former Niigata Customs House recall this past. Its paddy rice harvest ranks 1st in Japan. The Northern Culture Museum preserves a wealthy farmer's mansion.","15202":"Nagaoka City is the central city of the Chuetsu region and was the castle town of the Nagaoka Domain in the Edo period. The Boshin War and the Nagaoka air raid destroyed its center, but the city rebuilt and uses a phoenix as its emblem. It is known for the Nagaoka Festival Fireworks, one of Japan's three great fireworks festivals. Its paddy rice ranks 5th in Japan.","15204":"Sanjo City calls itself a \"town of craftsmanship,\" starting with hand-forged Japanese nails in the Edo period. Metalworking industries such as knives and tools are concentrated here. Together with neighboring Tsubame City, it is known as Tsubame-Sanjo and is also called a \"town of merchants.\" Honjo-ji Temple and the Kitaimogawa terraced rice fields are here.","15205":"Kashiwazaki City faces the Sea of Japan near the middle of the prefecture's coastline. It spreads over a plain surrounded by the three Kariwa mountains: Mt. Yone, Mt. Kurohime and Mt. Hakkoku. Its coast is part of Sado-Yahiko-Yoneyama Quasi-National Park, and the city has the Donald Keene Center Kashiwazaki, honoring the scholar of Japanese literature.","15206":"Shibata City, in the northern Echigo Plain, prospered as the castle town of the Shibata Domain under the Mizoguchi family. Two turrets of Shibata Castle, the Sangai Yagura and Tatsumi Yagura, have been rebuilt, and the daimyo garden Shimizu-en and foot-soldier row houses remain. Its farmland facing the Iide Mountains grows fine Koshihikari rice, and it has Tsukioka Onsen (hot spring).","15208":"Ojiya City spreads over river terraces formed by the Shinano River at the southern end of the Echigo Plain. It is known for breeding nishikigoi (ornamental carp), and Ojiya-chijimi, a hemp textile, is a local specialty. At the Katakai Festival, a 4-shaku shell, said to be the world's largest firework, is launched. Mt. Yamamoto offers views of a large bend in the Shinano River.","15209":"Kamo City is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Kamo River flowing through it. It began as a town in front of Aomi Shrine and is called the \"Little Kyoto of Echigo.\" Mt. Kamo has wild colonies of the snow camellia, the prefectural tree, and the city is known for paulownia-wood chests. Mt. Awagatake rises to the east.","15210":"Tokamachi City spreads over the river terraces of the Shinano River and the Tokamachi Basin, in a designated heavy-snow area. It hosts the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. The city has Kiyotsu Gorge, one of Japan's three great gorges, Matsunoyama Onsen, one of Japan's three great medicinal hot springs, and the Hoshitoge terraced rice fields. Flame-style pottery designated a National Treasure was excavated here.","15211":"Mitsuke City is in the center of the prefecture and is the smallest city in the prefecture by area. The prefecture's center of gravity lies within the city. The Kariyata River, once known for flooding, flows through the city center. Mitsuke is known for knit products, and its gangi (covered sidewalks) and arcade shopping streets show the townscape of snow country.","15212":"Murakami City, in the north of the prefecture on the Sea of Japan, is the prefecture's largest city by area. As the castle town of the Murakami Domain, it keeps traces of merchant houses and samurai districts. Miomote River salmon and Murakami beef are specialties, and it is the northern limit of tea growing. Senami Onsen and the rocky Sasagawa Nagare coast are popular.","15213":"Tsubame City is near the center of the prefecture and is known worldwide as a major producer of metal Western tableware and housewares. The Tsubame Industrial Materials Museum shows the skills of its craftsmen. On Mt. Kugami stands Kokujo-ji Temple, which has the Gogo-an hermitage where the monk Ryokan lived. About half of the city is farmland, so it is also a rural city.","15216":"Itoigawa City is at the western end of the prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan, and the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line passes through it. It is one of the world's major sources of jade, and the whole city is a UNESCO Global Geopark. Sights include Oyashirazu, cliffs known as a dangerous spot on the old Hokurikudo road, and Fossa Magna Park.","15217":"Myoko City is in the southwest of the prefecture and borders Nagano Prefecture. Highlands spread at the foot of Mt. Myoko. Many visitors, including people from overseas, come to hot springs such as Akakura and Tsubame and to the ski areas of Myoko Kogen. Part of the city is in Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park. The Takada Plain spreads in the northeast.","15218":"Gosen City is on the east side of the Echigo Plain, with the Agano River and the Hayade River flowing through it. Peony growing is active, and the city is a nationally known producer of knit products. Its autumn-winter taro ranks 5th in Japan. The city also has Muramatsu, the former castle town of the Muramatsu Domain, and Sakihana Onsen (hot spring).","15222":"Joetsu City is the hub of the prefecture's southwest. It was the site of Echigo's provincial capital and of Kasugayama Castle, home of the warlord Uesugi Kenshin, and later the castle town of the Takada Domain. The cherry blossoms of Takada Castle Site Park, one of Japan's three great night cherry-blossom views, and gangi (covered sidewalk) streets are famous. Naoetsu has an aquarium. Paddy rice ranks 7th in Japan.","15223":"Agano City lies on the right bank of the Agano River and was formed by merging Yasuda Town, Suibara Town, Kyogase Village and Sasakami Village. Lake Hyoko is known as the \"Lake of Swans\" because swans arrive each winter. The Gozu Onsen hot springs lie at the foot of Mt. Gozu, and Echigo Plain paddy fields spread in the west.","15224":"Sado City covers all of Sado Island and was formed by the merger of the island's 10 former municipalities. The Sado Island Gold Mines are a World Heritage Site, and remains of the mines survive. The island is also known for Shukunegi, a townscape of shipbuilders' houses, the scenery of the Sotokaifu Coast, and as a home of the Japanese crested ibis (toki).","15225":"Uonuma City is in a basin surrounded by mountains and is one of the snowiest areas in Japan. It produces Uonuma Koshihikari rice. Its nature includes mountains such as Mt. Echigo-Komagatake and Lake Ginzan in Okutadami, and part of the city is in Oze National Park. The Meguro Residence shows the home of a wealthy farming family.","15226":"Minamiuonuma City spreads over the Uonuma Basin in a designated heavy-snow area and is known for Uonuma Koshihikari rice. The sacred Mt. Hakkai and Mt. Makihata rise here, and ski areas such as Ishiuchi Maruyama are concentrated. The city also has the Sakado Castle ruins and Unto-an Temple, connected with Uesugi Kagekatsu and Naoe Kanetsugu.","15227":"Tainai City is in the north of the prefecture and stretches long from east to west along the Tainai River. It was formed by the merger of Nakajo Town and Kurokawa Village. Spring water called \"Dokkon-sui\" flows at the edge of the alluvial fan, and highland resorts and ski areas are in the mountains of Tainai. The Jonoyama Kofun (burial mound) is also here.","15307":"Seiro Town is on the coast of the Echigo Plain, and the Niigata Sand Dunes cross the town. Its name is said to come from \"Mt. Seiro,\" where a virtuous monk secluded himself. The town has the industrial area of Niigata East Port and the Niigata Seiro Sports Center, a soccer training base. It is also a commuter town for Niigata City.","15342":"Yahiko Village prospered as the town in front of Yahiko Shrine, the most important shrine (ichinomiya) of Echigo Province. Mt. Yahiko offers a view over the Echigo Plain and the Sea of Japan, and the village has Yahiko Onsen and Yahiko Park, known for autumn leaves. Yahiko Keirin, a bicycle race run by the village, is the only village-run public race in Japan.","15361":"Tagami Town spans the Niitsu Hills and the Echigo Plain, and its built-up area stretches along the border between the hills and the plain. Bamboo groves spread here, and the town produces bamboo shoots. Mt. Gomado is known for hydrangeas. The Yutagami Onsen hot springs look out over the Echigo Plain.","15385":"Aga Town is a mountain town along the Agano River and the Tokonami River. Until the Edo period it was part of the Aizu Domain. Tsugawa was a river port that prospered from boat transport on the Agano River, and it is known for the Fox Wedding Procession and the scenery of Mt. Kirin. Deep mountains such as Mt. Mikagura and Mt. Iide surround the town.","15405":"Izumozaki Town faces the Sea of Japan and is the birthplace of the monk Ryokan, with the Ryokan Memorial Museum. In the Edo period it was shogunate land, a port of call for Kitamaebune trading ships, and the landing place for Sado's gold and silver. Gable-entrance (tsumairi) houses line its streets. It is also the birthplace of Japan's modern oil industry.","15461":"Yuzawa Town is at the southern tip of the prefecture. It is a tourist town linked to the Tokyo area by the Joetsu Shinkansen and the Kan-Etsu Expressway. It has Echigo Yuzawa Onsen, the setting of Kawabata Yasunari's novel \"Snow Country,\" and many ski areas such as Naeba, Iwappara and GALA Yuzawa. Climbing Mt. Naeba and Mt. Tanigawa is also popular.","15482":"Tsunan Town is at the southern end of the prefecture and borders Nagano Prefecture. Some of Japan's largest river terraces, formed by the Shinano River, spread here. The town is known for \"Ishiotoshi,\" a line of columnar joints, and for its many springs of famous water, and it is certified as the Naeba-sanroku Geopark. It also produces Uonuma Koshihikari rice.","15504":"Kariwa Village is almost surrounded by Kashiwazaki City and is the only municipality in Kariwa District. It chose to stay independent during the great Heisei mergers, and many residents commute to neighboring Kashiwazaki. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station extends from the village into Kashiwazaki City.","15581":"Sekikawa Village, in the north of the prefecture, borders Yamagata Prefecture. Shimoseki, a post town on the old Yonezawa Kaido road, keeps mansions of wealthy farmers and merchants, such as the Sato Family House, an Important Cultural Property. The hot springs around it are called Echigo-Sekikawa Onsen-kyo, and in autumn the Ara River valley turns red with autumn leaves.","15586":"Awashimaura Village is on Awashima Island in the Sea of Japan, one island forming one village. It has two settlements: Uchiura on the east coast and Kamaya on the west coast. The island rose during the Niigata earthquake. \"Wappa-ni,\" fish boiled with heated stones, is a local dish typical of a fishing village.","16201":"Toyama City is the prefectural capital. It is a large city stretching from Toyama Bay to Mt. Yakushi in the Northern Alps and covers about 30% of the prefecture's area. Since the Edo period it has been known as the base of the \"Toyama medicine peddlers,\" and it is building a compact city around its streetcars. Toyama Castle and the Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design are here.","16202":"Takaoka City is the hub of the western prefecture. It began as the castle town of Takaoka Castle, built by Maeda Toshinaga of the Maeda family of Kaga. It is known for traditional crafts in cast metal such as bronzeware. Zuiryu-ji Temple, a National Treasure, the Great Buddha of Takaoka, and the clay-walled storehouse buildings of Yamachosuji remain. From the Amaharashi Coast, the Tateyama Range can be seen across Toyama Bay.","16204":"Uozu City, in the east of the prefecture, faces Toyama Bay. It is known for mirages, firefly squid, and the Uozu Buried Forest, which lay under the seabed. The buried forest is a national Special Natural Monument and can be seen in a museum. Mountains linked to the Northern Alps rise behind the city, and it also has the Uozu Aquarium.","16205":"Himi City faces Toyama Bay at the base of the Noto Peninsula. It is a fishing town known for winter yellowtail (kanburi). On clear days, the Tateyama Range can be seen across the sea. It is known as the hometown of the manga artist Fujiko Fujio A, and it has the Yanaidanu-no-Oyama Kofun (burial mound), a national Historic Site.","16206":"Namerikawa City is near the center of the Niikawa Plain. It prospered as a post town on the Hokuriku Kaido road and as a base for Toyama's medicine trade. In spring, the swarms of firefly squid glowing blue are compared to a \"galaxy in the sea,\" and the sea surface where they gather is a national Special Natural Monument. The Hotaruika Museum is here.","16207":"Kurobe City faces the Sea of Japan along the lower Kurobe River, and the deep Kurobe Gorge continues upstream. The Kurobe Gorge Railway, a small open-car train, runs from Unazuki Onsen into the mountains. The springs on the alluvial fan are listed among Japan's 100 best waters. Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen is also here.","16208":"Tonami City is in the center of the Tonami Plain and is known for its sankyoson landscape, where farmhouses surrounded by windbreak trees are scattered across the fields. The Tonami Tulip Fair in spring is one of the prefecture's main events, and the city has the Tonami Tulip Gallery. The Shogawa Onsen hot springs lie along the clear Sho River.","16209":"Oyabe City, in the west of the prefecture, borders Ishikawa Prefecture at Kurikara Pass and was long a key point on the Hokurikudo road. It was the scene of the Battle of Kurikara Pass in the Genpei War. It is known as a \"fairy-tale town\" with schools and other buildings modeled on famous European architecture. It has the smallest population of any city in the prefecture.","16210":"Nanto City, in the southwest of the prefecture, includes Gokayama, with the World Heritage gassho-style (steep thatched-roof) villages of Ainokura and Suganuma. Traditional towns are scattered here, such as Inami, known for Inami wood carving, and Johana, with its float festival. Sankyoson scattered farmhouses spread over the southern Tonami Plain. Its six-row barley ranks 6th in Japan.","16211":"Imizu City faces Toyama Bay near the center of the prefecture and was formed by the merger of 5 municipalities, including Shinminato City. It is known for Shinminato Bridge over Toyama Shinko Port, Kaiwomaru Park with its sailing ship, and the harbor scenery along the Uchikawa River. It is also known for landings of white shrimp and red snow crab.","16321":"Funahashi Village is in the center of the Toyama Plain on the right bank of the Joganji River and is the smallest municipality in Japan by area. Its population has grown as a commuter town for Toyama City, and it is known as a young village with a high share of children. It has never merged with another municipality since the municipal system of the Meiji era began.","16322":"Kamiichi Town lies toward the mountains in the east of the prefecture and includes peaks of the Tateyama Range, led by Mt. Tsurugi. Mountain ascetics of the Tateyama faith set off from here for the back approach to the mountain. Nisseki-ji Temple on Mt. Oiwa, known for its cliff-carved Buddha, has a place for waterfall training. The town is also certified as a Forest Therapy Base.","16323":"Tateyama Town stretches from the center to the southeast of the prefecture and is the base of the prefecture's mountain tourism, with the Tateyama Range and the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. It has the highlands of Murodo and Midagahara, Shomyo Falls, the tallest waterfall in Japan, and Kurobe Dam. Ashikuraji is known as a village of the Tateyama faith.","16342":"Nyuzen Town faces the Sea of Japan in the center of the Kurobe River alluvial fan. The \"Sugisawa no Sawasugi\" cedar forest near the coast is a national Natural Monument, and the town's spring water is listed among Japan's 100 best waters. It produces the large Nyuzen Jumbo Watermelon, and it has an art museum that makes use of a power station.","16343":"Asahi Town is at the eastern end of the prefecture and borders Niigata Prefecture. A post town and a checkpoint on the Hokuriku Kaido road were once located here, and the town was busy with travelers. It is known for Hisui Coast, where rough jade is sometimes found, and as the birthplace of beach ball. Mountains leading to Mt. Asahi and Mt. Shirouma in the Northern Alps are also in the town.","17201":"Kanazawa City is the prefectural capital and the castle town of the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain, called \"Kaga Hyakumangoku\" (Kaga of a million koku of rice). Spared from wartime damage, it keeps historic streets such as the Higashi Chaya district and the Nagamachi samurai residences. It has Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens, Kanazawa Castle and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and crafts such as gold leaf live on.","17202":"Nanao City is the central city of the Noto region, in the middle of the Noto Peninsula, and includes Notojima Island in Nanao Bay. The ruins of Nanao Castle, a mountain castle of the Hatakeyama clan in the Warring States period, remain. Wakura Onsen by the sea is one of the leading hot spring resorts of Hokuriku. The Notojima Aquarium and the Seihakusai Festival, with its giant floats, are also well known.","17203":"Komatsu City faces the Sea of Japan in the south of the Kaga region. Industry thrives here as the company town of Komatsu, a construction machinery maker. It has the Ataka Barrier, the setting of the kabuki play \"Kanjincho,\" Nata-dera Temple, known for its unusual rocks, and the old Awazu Onsen hot springs. Komatsu Airport is also located here.","17204":"Wajima City is the center of Oku-Noto, the northern part of the Noto Peninsula, and is known for Wajima lacquerware and its morning market. Shiroyone Senmaida, terraced rice fields facing the Sea of Japan, is famous for its scenery. The city also has Soji-ji So-in Temple, once a head temple of the Soto Zen school. The city was heavily damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and is working on recovery.","17205":"Suzu City is at the tip of the Noto Peninsula and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. Its sights are sea views such as Mitsukejima Island and Cape Rokko, which has a lighthouse. Salt making by the agehama method and Suzu ware pottery are carried on here. The city was heavily damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and recovery is under way.","17206":"Kaga City, in the southwest of the prefecture, borders Fukui Prefecture and has the Yamanaka, Yamashiro and Katayamazu hot springs. It is known for the Kaga Hashitate townscape with mansions of Kitamaebune shipowners, for Kutani, which gave its name to Kutani ware, and for Katano Kamoike, a pond where ducks spend the winter. Yamanaka lacquerware is also a specialty.","17207":"Hakui City is at the western base of the Noto Peninsula and is known for Chirihama, a sandy beach you can drive on. It has Keta Shrine, the most important shrine (ichinomiya) of Noto Province, and Myojo-ji Temple with its five-story pagoda. Calling itself a \"UFO town,\" it has Cosmo Isle Hakui, a space science museum. Swans fly to Ochigata lagoon.","17209":"Kahoku City, in the middle of the prefecture, spreads between the Sea of Japan and Kahokugata Lagoon. In the Edo period it prospered as a post town on the road between Noto and Kaga. It is the birthplace of the philosopher Nishida Kitaro and has the Ishikawa Nishida Kitaro Museum of Philosophy. It is also a growing residential area near Kanazawa.","17210":"Hakusan City, in the south of the prefecture, has the largest area in the prefecture. The Tedori River flows from the sacred Mt. Haku (Hakusan) to the Sea of Japan, and the whole city is certified as the Hakusan Tedorigawa UNESCO Global Geopark. It has Shirayama Hime Shrine, head shrine of all Hakusan shrines in Japan, and Shiramine, which keeps the townscape of a mountain village.","17211":"Nomi City is in the center of the Kaga Plain and was formed by the merger of Neagari Town, Terai Town and Tatsunokuchi Town. It is known for producing Kutani ware, and it has the Akitsuneyama Kofun Cluster (burial mounds), Ishikawa Zoo and Tatsunokuchi Onsen. It is the hometown of baseball player Matsui Hideki and has a museum dedicated to him.","17212":"Nonoichi City borders Kanazawa City and Hakusan City. It is the smallest city in the prefecture by area and the only one without a coastline. It once ranked 1st in a \"livability\" ranking, and its population is growing. Old history also remains, such as the Jomon-period Okyozuka Site and the site of Suematsu Haiji, an ancient temple.","17324":"Kawakita Town is near the center of the Kaga Plain and stretches long from east to west on the right bank of the Tedori River. It is the second-smallest municipality in the prefecture by area, after Nonoichi City. Place names such as Tagojima keep traces of \"island settlements,\" built on higher ground to avoid the repeated floods of the Tedori River.","17361":"Tsubata Town, in the middle of the prefecture, borders Toyama Prefecture. Since ancient times it prospered as a post town where the Hokurikudo road and the road to Noto split. At Kurikara Pass, Kiso Yoshinaka is said to have defeated the Taira clan with the \"fire bull\" tactic. The town has Ishikawa Forest Park and is the most populous town in the prefecture.","17365":"Uchinada Town lies north of Kanazawa City, between the Sea of Japan and Kahokugata Lagoon, and most of the town is the Uchinada Sand Dunes. After World War II it was the scene of the Uchinada Struggle over a US military firing range. The sunset over the Sea of Japan can be seen from the coast, and the town has the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Uchinada Sunset Park.","17384":"Shika Town faces the Sea of Japan on the west side of the Noto Peninsula and was formed by the merger of the former Shika Town and Togi Town. It produces \"korogaki\" dried persimmons, and the wooden Former Fukura Lighthouse remains at Fukura Port. Noto Kongo, a coast carved by rough waves, is a highlight, and the Shika Nuclear Power Station is also located here.","17386":"Hodatsu-shimizu Town is at the base of the Noto Peninsula, where Mt. Hodatsu, the highest peak of the Noto region, rises. In the Warring States period, Maeda Toshiie and Sassa Narimasa fought over Suemori Castle. Mt. Hodatsu once had a gold mine, and the sandy beach of Chirihama continues along the coast.","17407":"Nakanoto Town is in the middle of the Noto Peninsula and was formed by the merger of Toriya Town, Kashima Town and Rokusei Town. It is known for textile production, and Mt. Sekido, once a sacred site of mountain worship, and the Amenomiya Kofun Cluster (burial mounds) remain. It also drew attention as the place where a fossilized rice ball from the Yayoi period was found.","17461":"Anamizu Town is in the middle of the Noto Peninsula and faces Nanao North Bay and Toyama Bay. Oyster farming is active in the calm bay, and in winter the \"Maimon Festival\" draws crowds. Temples founded in ancient times remain, as do the ruins of Anamizu Castle, connected with the Cho clan.","17463":"Noto Town is in the north of the Noto Peninsula and has Tsukumo Bay, with a jagged coastline on the Toyama Bay side. At the Jomon-period Mawaki Site, a large number of dolphin bones were found, and the site is a national Historic Site. Ogi Port is known as a base for squid fishing, and kiriko lantern festivals such as the Abare Festival are carried on.","18201":"Fukui City is the prefectural capital. It began with Kitanosho Castle, built by Shibata Katsuie, and grew as the castle town of the Fukui Domain. Because it recovered from air raids and the Fukui Earthquake, it uses the phoenix as its symbol. It has the Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins, the castle town site of the Asakura warlords. Its six-row barley ranks 3rd in Japan.","18202":"Tsuruga City is the central city of the Reinan region and an old port town on Tsuruga Bay. It prospered as the town in front of Kehi Jingu, the most important shrine (ichinomiya) of Echizen Province, and has the Kehi no Matsubara pine grove on white sand. It was once a gateway for international trains linking Europe and Asia, and is known as the \"Port of Humanity,\" where Jewish refugees landed.","18204":"Obama City, on Wakasa Bay, is the center of Wakasa. It prospered as a \"miketsukuni\" that sent seafood to the capital and as the starting point of the Saba Kaido (mackerel road). With many temples and shrines, including Myotsu-ji Temple, a National Treasure, it is called \"Nara by the sea,\" and it is said to send the water for the Omizutori ritual at Todai-ji. Wakasa lacquerware and the Obama Nishigumi townscape are also known.","18205":"Ono City is the central city of Okuetsu in the east and the largest city in the prefecture. Called the \"Little Kyoto of Echizen,\" it keeps the look of Echizen Ono Castle's castle town, and the castle is known as a \"castle in the sky\" floating above a sea of clouds. Spring water flows in the town, and the Shichiken morning market and Echizen soba are specialties. Its autumn-winter taro ranks 4th in Japan.","18206":"Katsuyama City is inland in the northeast of the prefecture. It has the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, famous for its dinosaur fossil displays, and calls itself a \"dinosaur town.\" Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, with grounds beautifully covered in moss, held great power in the Middle Ages. The city also has Ski Jam Katsuyama.","18207":"Sabae City, in the center of the Reihoku region, grew as the temple town of Josho-ji Temple and the jin'ya (administrative seat) town of the Sabae Domain. It is known as the \"town of glasses,\" producing most of Japan's eyeglass frames, and has the Megane Museum. Lacquerware making and Nishiyama Park, famous for azaleas, are also well known.","18208":"Awara City, at the northern tip of the prefecture, borders Ishikawa Prefecture. Awara Onsen, which began to flow in the Meiji era, is one of Hokuriku's leading hot spring towns. The city centers on Kanazu, a former post town on the Hokurikudo road, and the hot spring town. It has the site of Yoshizaki-go-bo Temple, connected with the priest Rennyo, and Lake Kitagata. Its six-row barley ranks 4th in Japan.","18209":"Echizen City is near the center of the prefecture. The provincial capital of Echizen was here in ancient times, and Murasaki Shikibu spent over a year here when her father took office. It is known for traditional crafts such as Echizen washi paper, Echizen forged knives and Echizen chests, and has \"Kura no Tsuji,\" a row of white-walled storehouses. It is also building a satoyama (village woodland) to welcome storks.","18210":"Sakai City is the second city of the prefecture after Fukui City. It has Tojinbo, a scenic cliff on the Sea of Japan. Maruoka Castle, with its old surviving keep, the Brief Messages from the Heart Museum, and the townscape of Mikuni Port, which prospered with Kitamaebune ships, are well known. Its six-row barley ranks 1st in Japan and its buckwheat 10th.","18322":"Eiheiji Town is an inland town along the Kuzuryu River, known as the temple town of Eihei-ji Temple, a head temple of the Soto Zen school founded by Dogen. Many trainee monks still live at Eihei-ji, and its halls stand among cedar trees in the mountains. Downstream, in the Matsuoka area, kofun (burial mounds) such as Tegurigajoyama Kofun are scattered.","18382":"Ikeda Town lies in a small basin at the top of the Asuwa River, on the Gifu Prefecture border, and about 90% of the town is forest. It is one of the snowiest areas in the prefecture and has kept a culture of Noh theater and Noh masks. It is rich in mountain nature, such as Ryuso Falls and Mt. Kanmuri, and practices environmentally friendly farming.","18404":"Minami-Echizen Town, in the middle of the prefecture at the southern end of Reihoku, was a key transport point linking Kinki and Hokuriku. The Imajo-juku post town, a nationally protected historic district, Kitamaebune shipowners' villages and tunnels of the old Hokuriku Line remain. In winter, Echizen narcissus bloom on the Echizen Coast.","18423":"Echizen Town faces the Sea of Japan at the western end of Reihoku and has Cape Echizen. It produces Echizen ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, and many potters gather in Echizen Togeimura (pottery village). It is known for landings of Echizen crab, a winter delicacy, and has Tsurugi Shrine, connected with the Oda clan.","18442":"Mihama Town faces the Sea of Japan at the eastern end of the Wakasa region, on a bay between the Tsuruga and Tsunekami peninsulas. Two of the Mikata Five Lakes, Lake Hiruga and Lake Kugushi, are in the town, and the views over lakes and sea are attractive. Mt. Omikage, the highest peak of Reinan, rises here, and the Mihama Power Station is located here.","18481":"Takahama Town is at the western end of the Hokuriku region and borders Kyoto Prefecture. Mt. Aoba, also called \"Wakasa Fuji,\" rises here. The Wakasa Wada and Shirahama beaches are crowded in summer, and the sea can be seen from the Hibiki terraced rice fields. The Takahama Power Station is located here.","18483":"Oi Town faces Obama Bay in the southwest of the prefecture and was formed by the merger of the former Ohi Town and Natasho Village. Natasho is connected with the Tsuchimikado family of Onmyodo (traditional cosmology), and the town has the Jakushu Itteki Bunko library founded by the writer Mizukami Tsutomu. The Ohi Power Station is located here.","18501":"Wakasa Town is in the center of the Wakasa region and has the Mikata Five Lakes, a Ramsar wetland. The varves (annual layers) at the bottom of Lake Suigetsu draw worldwide attention as a scale for dating, and can be seen at the Varve Museum. Kumagawa-juku, a post town on the Saba Kaido (mackerel road), is a nationally protected historic district.","19201":"Kofu City is the prefectural capital, and its center lies slightly north of the middle of the Kofu Basin, surrounded by mountains. It has been a castle town since Takeda Nobutora built the Tsutsujigasaki residence, and Takeda Shrine now stands on the site. In the north is Shosenkyo, a gorge of unusual rocks, and gem polishing is a thriving industry.","19202":"Fujiyoshida City is the central city of the Gunnai region, with its center on a plateau at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji. Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine stands at the start of the Yoshida climbing trail, and houses of oshi (guides for Fuji pilgrims) remain. Arakurayama Sengen Park offers a view of Mt. Fuji beyond a five-story pagoda, and Fuji-Q Highland is also here.","19204":"Tsuru City lies in a valley along the Katsura River, which flows from the foot of Mt. Fuji. It has long been known for Kaiki silk. The Yamanashi test line of the Chuo Shinkansen maglev runs through the city, and at the Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center visitors can watch test runs up close.","19205":"Yamanashi City is in the east of the Kofu Basin and is known for Koshu wine. It has Seihaku-ji Temple, whose Buddha hall is a National Treasure, and Sashide no Iso, a scenic spot praised in the Kokin Wakashu poetry collection. Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, overlooking the basin, is also popular for its night view.","19206":"Otsuki City, in the Gunnai region, lies in deep valleys formed by the Katsura River and its tributaries. It is a transport hub where the Chuo Main Line and the Fujikyu Line split. Sights include Saruhashi Bridge over a gorge, one of Japan's three strange bridges, and the ruins of Iwadono Castle, a mountain castle of the Warring States period.","19207":"Nirasaki City is at the northwest edge of the Kofu Basin. The Shichiri-iwa cliffs, stretching along the Kamanashi River, are said to be one origin of its name. It has the ruins of Shinpu Castle, built by Takeda Katsuyori, and Takeda-hachimangu, connected with the Kai Genji clan. The Nirasaki Omura Art Museum, founded by Omura Satoshi, is another highlight.","19208":"Minami-Alps City is at the western end of Yamanashi Prefecture and includes Mt. Kita, the 2nd-highest mountain in Japan. Orchards cover the alluvial fan of the Midai River, where visitors can pick cherries, peaches and plums. It was the 2nd city in Japan to use katakana in its name.","19209":"Hokuto City is the largest city in the prefecture, surrounded by Yatsugatake, the Southern Alps and Mt. Kaya. It has the highland resort of Kiyosato and Hakushu, known for its spring water. The Yamataka Jindai Zakura is counted among Japan's three great cherry trees. The Jomon-period Kinsei ruins and the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum are also highlights.","19210":"Kai City, west of Kofu City, has the 2nd-largest population in the prefecture and grew as a commuter town for Kofu. Its name comes from Kai Province, the old name of the area. The north is forested mountains and the south is flat land along the Kamanashi River, where the Shingen Dike, said to have been built by Takeda Shingen, remains.","19211":"Fuefuki City is a fruit-growing area in the east of the Kofu Basin. As a producer of peaches and grapes, it has declared itself \"Japan's No. 1 peach paradise,\" and in spring the whole area turns pink with peach blossoms. It has Isawa Onsen, one of the prefecture's leading hot spring towns, the site of Kai Kokubun-ji Temple and the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum. It also produces summer-autumn eggplants.","19212":"Uenohara City is at the eastern end of Yamanashi Prefecture, with its center on river terraces of the Sagami River (Katsura River). Traces of Notajiri-juku and Inume-juku, post towns on the Koshu Kaido road, remain. The surrounding mountains are the stage of the \"Hasetsune Cup\" trail running race.","19213":"Koshu City spreads over areas such as the Katsunuma alluvial fan in the east of the Kofu Basin and is one of Japan's leading producers of grapes and peaches. Wineries gather in Katsunuma, one of the centers of Japanese winemaking. Daizen-ji Temple, whose main hall is a National Treasure, and Erin-ji, the family temple of Takeda Shingen, are highlights.","19214":"Chuo City spreads over flat land in the south of the Kofu Basin, between the Fuefuki River and the Kamanashi River. Its name (\"Chuo\" means center) carries the meaning of the center of the Kofu Basin, of Yamanashi Prefecture and of Japan. Residential areas spread next to Kofu City, and the Toyotomi area in the south has Michi-no-Eki Toyotomi, a roadside station.","19346":"Ichikawamisato Town is at the southern end of the Kofu Basin, where the Fuefuki River and the Kamanashi River meet to form the Fuji River. It is known for washi paper and personal seals (hanko), and the Shinmei fireworks festival in summer is a specialty. The quiet Lake Shibire lies in the mountains.","19364":"Hayakawa Town lies along the Hayakawa River at the southwest tip of Yamanashi Prefecture, surrounded by the Southern Alps and the Minobu Mountains. Its population is below 1,000. It has Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, known as the world's oldest hotel, and Narada Onsen. Akasawa keeps the houses of a post town on the pilgrim road linking Mt. Minobu and Mt. Shichimen.","19365":"Minobu Town lies along the Fuji River and is known as the temple town of Kuon-ji Temple on Mt. Minobu, the head temple of the Nichiren school. The \"upside-down Fuji\" reflected in Lake Motosu was the model for a banknote design. Other highlights are the Yunooku Gold Mine Museum and the Yagisawa Ohatsuki Icho, a ginkgo whose nuts grow on its leaves.","19366":"Nanbu Town is a mountain town at the southern tip of Yamanashi Prefecture, with the Fuji River running through its center. It is known as the birthplace of the Nanbu clan of Mutsu Province, and in the Edo period it prospered from boat transport on the Fuji River. It produces Nanbu tea and bamboo shoots, and has the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Nanbu Tomizawa.","19368":"Fujikawa Town is in the southwest of the Kofu Basin and was formed by the merger of Masuho Town and Kajikazawa Town. Kajikazawa was a transport hub that prospered as a river port for boats on the Fuji River. Mt. Kushigata rises to the west, Oboshi Park is known for cherry blossoms, and the town also produces yuzu citrus.","19384":"Showa Town is a flat town in the center of the Kofu Basin, between the Kamanashi River and the Fuefuki River. Its population keeps growing as a commuter town for Kofu City, and it has the AEON Mall Kofu Showa. A highlight is the Sugiura Clinic heritage museum, which tells of a clinic that fought the local disease schistosomiasis japonica.","19422":"Doshi Village is a long, narrow mountain village in the southeast of Yamanashi Prefecture, with National Route 413, the \"Doshi Road,\" running along the Doshi River. The Yokohama Waterworks Bureau owns about 36% of the village's area as a water source forest, and exchanges with Yokohama City continue. There are many campgrounds, busy with visitors from the Tokyo area.","19423":"Nishikatsura Town is a small town between Fujiyoshida City and Tsuru City, with settlements along the Katsura River. It is the entrance for climbing Mitsutoge and is known for hiking and rock climbing. It is one of the production areas of Gunnai textiles and is working on tourism that uses its closeness to the Tokyo area.","19424":"Oshino Village lies in a basin surrounded by Mt. Fuji and the Misaka Mountains. Oshino Hakkai, ponds fed by Mt. Fuji's underground water, is part of the World Heritage Site. \"Oshino Fuji,\" seen beyond the clear ponds, is a popular photo spot, and the village has the Yamanashi Prefectural Fuji Spring-fed Village Aquarium.","19425":"Yamanakako Village surrounds Lake Yamanaka, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, and is one of the prefecture's leading tourist areas, with holiday homes and inns along the shore. Mt. Fuji can be seen to the southwest. The village has the flower fields of Hana no Miyako Flower Park, the Mishima Yukio Literary Museum and the Yamanaka harimomi (Tigertail spruce) pure forest, a national Natural Monument.","19429":"Narusawa Village is at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, and the whole village is in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Volcanic landforms such as the lava cave Narusawa Ice Cave and lava tree molds can be seen. Gokodai on Mt. Ashiwada is known for its view of Mt. Fuji, and the village has Fujiten Snow Resort.","19430":"Fujikawaguchiko Town contains 4 of the Fuji Five Lakes, all except Lake Yamanaka, and many tourists come from Japan and abroad. The Aokigahara forest and Fugaku Wind Cave are highlights, and 22 places in the town alone are selected among the \"100 Views with Mt. Fuji.\"","19442":"Kosuge Village is at the source of the Tama River in the northeast of Yamanashi Prefecture, bordering Tokyo, and most of its area is forest. Ties with Tokyo are strong; for example, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government owns and manages water source forests here. The village has the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Kosuge and hot spring facilities, and outdoor activities in the headwater nature are popular.","19443":"Tabayama Village is deep in the mountains and is part of Chichibu Tama Kai National Park and also within the Kobushi UNESCO Eco Park. The only public transport out of the village is a bus to Okutama Station, and daily life is oriented toward Tokyo. The gorge of the Tabagawa River and the mountain path to Sanjo-no-Yu are well known.","20201":"Nagano City is the prefectural capital. It grew from the temple town of Zenko-ji Temple into the largest city in the prefecture and hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. Its urban area spreads over the Nagano Basin, where the Chikuma River and the Sai River flow. Matsushiro, the castle town of the Sanada family, and the Togakushi Highlands with Togakushi Shrine are also in the city.","20202":"Matsumoto City is a former castle town centered on Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure, and is the central city of the Matsumoto Basin. The Former Kaichi School, a Meiji-era pseudo-Western building, remains as a National Treasure. The Northern Alps line the west, and Kamikochi and the Norikura Highlands are in the city. It calls itself a city of music, mountains and learning, and produces summer green onions.","20203":"Ueda City is the central city of the Toshin region and a castle town centered on Ueda Castle, built by the Sanada clan. Across the Chikuma River, the Shiodadaira area keeps the octagonal three-story pagoda of Anraku-ji Temple and Kitamuki Kannon, and is called the \"Kamakura of Shinshu.\" The Sanada area in the north is said to be the birthplace of the Sanada clan. It also produces summer-autumn lettuce.","20204":"Okaya City is an industrial city on the west shore of Lake Suwa that flourished with silk reeling from the Meiji era to the early Showa era. The Okaya Silk Museum tells this history, and the skills were passed on to the precision machinery industry. The Kamaguchi Sluice Gate, where the Tenryu River flows out of Lake Suwa, is here, and the city is also known for eel.","20205":"Iida City, on the Tenryu River in the south of the Ina Valley, is the central city of the Nanshin region. A former castle town of the Iida Domain, it is called the \"Little Kyoto of Shinshu\" for its townscape and many traditional performing arts. It is known for its apple-tree-lined street and as a puppet-theater city, and the scenic Tenryu-kyo gorge and Mt. Hijiri in the Southern Alps are in the city.","20206":"Suwa City spreads along the east shore of Lake Suwa and is a tourist city with the Kamisha Honmiya of Suwa Taisha shrine, Kami-Suwa Onsen and the Kirigamine Highlands. Its precision industries, such as watches and cameras, earned it the name \"Switzerland of the East,\" and Seiko Epson has its head office here. Sake breweries such as Masumi gather here, and Takashima Castle is also a highlight.","20207":"Suzaka City lies on the east side of the Nagano Basin, on the east bank of the Chikuma River. It flourished with silk reeling from the Meiji era to the early Showa era and is known as a \"town of storehouses,\" with merchant houses in clay-walled storehouse style. It produces Kyoho grapes and has Yonako Falls, one of Japan's 100 best waterfalls, and Garyu Park, famous for cherry blossoms.","20208":"Komoro City is a castle town on a plateau above the Chikuma River at the southern foot of Mt. Asama. The site of Komoro Castle, an \"anajiro\" (hole castle) built lower than its town, is loved as Kaikoen Park and was the setting of a poem by Shimazaki Toson. The city prospered as a post town on the Hokkoku Kaido road and also produces Chinese cabbage and lettuce.","20209":"Ina City lies in the north of the Ina Valley between the Southern Alps and the Central Alps, with the Tenryu River running through it. The cherry blossoms of Takato Castle Ruins Park are praised as \"the best cherry blossoms under heaven,\" and Shintokukan, the domain school of the Takato Domain, remains. It is a trailhead for Southern Alps peaks such as Mt. Senjo, and local dishes such as romen are known.","20210":"Komagane City is in the Ina Valley, with views of the Central and Southern Alps, and the Komagane Highlands, on the way to the Komagatake Ropeway, are its tourism base. It has Kozen-ji Temple, with its legend of the sacred dog Hayataro, and Hayataro Onsen, and sauce katsudon (pork cutlet on rice) is a specialty. A Yomeishu factory and a training center of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers are also here.","20211":"Nakano City is the central city of the Hokushin area, in the northeast of the Nagano Basin. Orchards cover its alluvial fans, and it is known for enokitake mushrooms. It is the hometown of Nakayama Shinpei, composer of \"Shabondama,\" and Takano Tatsuyuki, lyricist of \"Furusato,\" and each has a memorial museum.","20212":"Omachi City is at the foot of the Northern Alps and is the Nagano-side gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. In the north lie the three Nishina lakes: Lake Kizaki, Lake Nakatsuna and Lake Aoki. Nishina Shinmei Shrine, whose main hall is a National Treasure, is said to be the oldest building in Japan in the shinmei style. The land is rich in spring water and snowmelt.","20213":"Iiyama City, in the northeast of Nagano Prefecture, is the castle town of Iiyama Castle along the Chikuma River and one of the snowiest areas in Japan. Its many temples earned it the name \"Little Kyoto of snow country,\" and making Buddhist altars is a traditional industry. Highlights include the ski areas of the Madarao Highlands and Togari Onsen and Nanohana Park in spring.","20214":"Chino City is a highland city at the western foot of Yatsugatake and one of the prefecture's leading tourist areas, with the Tateshina Highlands, Lake Shirakaba and Kurumayama. The clay figurines \"Jomon Venus\" and \"Masked Goddess,\" both National Treasures, were excavated here and can be seen at the Togariishi Museum of Jomon Archaeology. Its city hall is at the highest elevation of any city hall in Japan.","20215":"Shiojiri City is a transport hub at the southern end of the Matsumoto Basin, and its name is said to come from the \"salt road.\" The townscapes of Narai-juku on the Nakasendo road and Kiso-Hirasawa, a lacquerware town, remain, and Kikyogahara produces wine grapes. Its spring lettuce output ranks 3rd in Japan.","20217":"Saku City lies in the Saku Basin with a view of Mt. Asama and is the central city of the Saku area. It developed as post towns on the Nakasendo road and a jin'ya (administrative seat) town, and Tatsuoka Castle (Goryokaku), a star-shaped Western-style fort, remains. The area around Sakudaira Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen has grown, and the city is known for Saku carp, Chinese cabbage and cabbage.","20218":"Chikuma City is on the middle Chikuma River. Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen has long been loved as the hot spring where pilgrims to Zenko-ji Temple relaxed afterwards. Mori Shogunzuka Kofun, a keyhole-shaped mound said to be the tomb of a chief of Shinano Province, is here, and the Obasute terraced rice fields are famous for the \"moon in each paddy.\" It is also known as an apricot village.","20219":"Tomi City lies along the Chikuma River at the southern foot of the Asama mountains and was formed by the merger of Tobu Town and Kitamimaki Village. Unno-juku, a post town on the Hokkoku Kaido road, keeps houses with udatsu (raised firewalls). The city has the Yunomaru Highlands and wine grape vineyards, and it is the birthplace of the famous sumo wrestler Raiden Tameemon.","20220":"Azumino City spreads over a compound alluvial fan formed by rivers such as the Azusa River and the Karasu River in the northwest of the Matsumoto Basin. Wasabi farming thrives, using the abundant water that springs at the edge of the fan. At the foot of the Northern Alps are Hotaka Shrine, Alps Azumino National Government Park and the Rokuzan Art Museum.","20303":"Koumi Town spreads along the Chikuma River between Kita-Yatsugatake and the Okuchichibu Mountains. At the foot of Yatsugatake are Lake Matsubara and Shirakoma Pond, where visitors can walk among highland lakes and forests. Highland vegetables are grown in the cool climate, and its summer Chinese cabbage ranks 3rd in Japan.","20304":"Kawakami Village is a cool highland village at the top of the Chikuma River, surrounded by Yatsugatake and Okuchichibu. Its village office is at the highest elevation of any municipal office in Japan. Using its cool summers, it is one of Japan's leading lettuce producers, and its summer-autumn lettuce output ranks 1st in Japan. It is also a trailhead for Mt. Kinpu and Mt. Kobushi.","20305":"Minamimaki Village consists of the Nobeyama Plateau at the eastern foot of Yatsugatake and the Uminokuchi area along the Chikuma River. Nobeyama has Nobeyama Station, known as the highest JR station, and radio telescopes of the National Astronomical Observatory. Its summer Chinese cabbage output ranks 1st in Japan, and cabbage and lettuce are also widely grown.","20306":"Minamiaiki Village is long and narrow from east to west, with settlements scattered along the Minamiaiki River. Forests and wild land cover about 80% of its area. Upstream is Minamiaiki Dam for pumped-storage power, and the Minamiaiki Onsen \"Takimi no Yu\" is a place to relax. Its summer Chinese cabbage ranks 5th in Japan.","20307":"Kitaaiki Village is a mountain village in Minamisaku District bordering Ueno Village in Gunma Prefecture, and about 90% of its area is forest. Settlements line the Aiki River, surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Ogura. It is also known for the Tochibara Rock Shelter Site, where Jomon-period human bones were found.","20309":"Sakuho Town is long and narrow from east to west and was formed by the merger of Saku Town and Yachiho Village. The Chikuma River and National Route 141 run through it from north to south. The Yachiho Highlands in the west have a ski area and Shirakoma Pond, surrounded by a mossy forest, and the town has a memorial museum of the Japanese-style painter Okumura Togyu.","20321":"Karuizawa Town, at the southeastern foot of Mt. Asama, is one of Japan's best-known summer resorts and holiday home areas. In the Edo period it had the Nakasendo post towns of Karuizawa-juku, Kutsukake-shuku and Oiwake-juku. It developed as a resort after the missionary Shaw built a summer house here in the Meiji era. Highlights include the Former Mikasa Hotel, the Stone Church and Shiraito Falls.","20323":"Miyota Town spreads at the southern foot of Mt. Asama and is surrounded by Karuizawa Town, Komoro City and Saku City. Its population is growing, and residential areas spread in the area called Nishi-Karuizawa. It has Odai-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo road, and the Asama Jomon Museum, and also produces summer-autumn lettuce.","20324":"Tateshina Town has an \"hourglass\" shape, with villages in the north and highlands in the south joined by a narrow waist. Its name comes from an old spelling of Mt. Tateshina. Lake Megami and the Shirakaba Highlands in the south form the Shirakaba Resort together with Lake Shirakaba, with many ski areas. In the north is Ashida-shuku, a post town on the Nakasendo road.","20349":"Aoki Village is near the center of Nagano Prefecture, west of Ueda City, and is the birthplace of Goto Keita, who built the Tokyu Group. The three-story pagoda of Daiho-ji Temple, a National Treasure, is called the \"look-back pagoda,\" and the simple Tazawa Onsen and Kutsukake Onsen hot springs flow here. It is also known as a village of \"gimin,\" peasants who led an uprising in the Edo period.","20350":"Nagawa Town had Wada-shuku and Nagakubo-shuku, post towns on the Nakasendo road, and was formed by the merger of Nagato Town and Wada Village. The area around Wada Pass has been known as a source of obsidian since the Jomon period, and the town has the Obsidian Experience Museum. It also has ski areas such as Blanche Takayama.","20361":"Shimosuwa Town is on the north shore of Lake Suwa. It prospered as the town in front of the Shimosha shrines of Suwa Taisha and as Shimosuwa-shuku, where the Nakasendo and Koshu Kaido roads split. It is known for the \"kiotoshi\" log slide of the Onbashira Festival, and its public baths of Shimosuwa Onsen and the highland Yashimagahara Marsh are highlights.","20362":"Fujimi Town is a highland town at the eastern end of the Suwa area, between Yatsugatake and Mt. Nyukasa. As its name (\"view of Fuji\") says, Mt. Fuji can be seen to the south. It has the Jomon-period Idojiri Site and the Idojiri Archaeological Museum, and the gondola of Fujimi Panorama Resort makes it easy to reach the marshes and flower fields of Mt. Nyukasa.","20363":"Hara Village spreads over highlands at around 1,000 m above sea level at the western foot of Yatsugatake. The Jomon-period Akyu Site was found here. It has a pension village and holiday homes, and the Yatsugatake Nature and Culture Park offers stargazing. Celery and flowers are widely grown in the cool climate.","20382":"Tatsuno Town is at the northern end of the Ina Valley. It developed as a transport hub linking the central parts of the prefecture and has Tatsuno Station, the terminus of the Iida Line. Matsuo Gorge is said to be one of the best firefly spots in eastern Japan, and the firefly festival in June draws people from many places.","20383":"Minowa Town spreads over river terraces of the Tenryu River in the northern Ina Valley and is the most populous town in the prefecture. The Nishi-Tenryu main canal divides its land: paddy fields on the lower side, and fields and orchards on the higher side. In autumn, the leaves around Lake Momiji, an artificial lake, are beautiful.","20384":"Iijima Town is in the middle of the Ina Valley and calls itself \"the town where you can see two Alps,\" the Central and Southern Alps. Clear streams such as the Yodagiri River flow here, rice and pears are widely grown, and horse meat products are a specialty. Jogaike Pond in Senninzuka Park is a place to relax.","20385":"Minamiminowa Village is on terraces of the Tenryu River in the Ina Valley and is the most populous village in the prefecture. It has the Shinshu University Faculty of Agriculture campus, and the Oshiba Highlands, surrounded by red pine forest, have a park, hot spring and campground. To the west, it has an exclave that includes Mt. Kyogatake in the Central Alps.","20386":"Nakagawa Village is in the middle of the Ina Valley and consists of the Minamimuki area east of the Tenryu River and the Katagiri area to the west. It is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" Mt. Jimbagata offers a full view of the Ina Valley and the two Alps, and landscapes of terraces and satoyama and of the Shitoku area remain. It also has the Bee Museum.","20388":"Miyada Village is at the eastern foot of Mt. Kisokoma in the Central Alps and includes mountain tourist spots such as the Senjojiki Cirque, which can be reached by the Komagatake Ropeway. It covers most of the special protection zone of Central Alps Quasi-National Park. The Gion Festival of Tsushima Shrine, where a portable shrine is smashed, is known as an unusual festival.","20402":"Matsukawa Town is near the center of the Ina Valley and stretches long from east to west across the Tenryu River. Pear and apple orchards cover its terraces, and many tourist farms offer fruit picking. Oshima-juku and Katagiri-juku, post towns on the Sanshu Kaido road, were once here, and the ruins of Oshima Castle overlook the Tenryu River.","20403":"Takamori Town spreads over terraces on the west bank of the Tenryu River in the southern Ina Valley, and its name comes from Mt. Hontakamori. It is known as the birthplace of Ichida-gaki dried persimmons and has the Takenouchi Family House, an Important Cultural Property, and Ruri-ji Temple, known for its weeping cherry trees. The Southern and Central Alps can be seen from the terraces.","20404":"Anan Town is on the right bank of the Tenryu River in the south of Nagano Prefecture. It is the only town in the prefecture whose \"town\" is read \"cho,\" and it is also unusual in that all its neighbors are villages. The Niino area keeps the Niino Snow Festival and Bon dances, and has the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Shinshu-Niino-Sengokudaira.","20407":"Achi Village is in the west of Shimoina District and is known for stargazing tourism, promoting \"Japan's best starry sky.\" Hirugami Onsen is the center of tourism, and Misaka Shrine stands at the foot of Misaka Pass, crossed by the ancient Tosando road. The Memorial Museum for Agricultural Emigrants to Manchuria tells the history of settlers who went to Manchuria.","20409":"Hiraya Village is a mountain village at the southwest tip of Nagano Prefecture, bordering Gifu Prefecture, and it has the smallest population of any municipality in the prefecture. Most of the village is in the Yahagi River basin and it has strong ties with the Nishi-Mikawa area of Aichi Prefecture. The village center is flat highland, with the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Shinshu-Hiraya.","20410":"Neba Village is at the far southwest tip of Nagano Prefecture, and the whole village lies in the Yahagi River basin. It has strong ties with Aichi Prefecture; for example, it protects the forest at the source of the Meiji Canal, which waters Nishi-Mikawa downstream. Mt. Chausu rises to the southeast, and the village produces Neba cedar from its forests.","20411":"Shimojo Village is near the center of Shimoina District, and its name comes from the Shimojo clan, which flourished in the Warring States period. It is known as a village that tackled the falling birthrate early, for example by building village-run housing for young people, and achieved results. Shimojo Kabuki, performed by villagers, is also handed down.","20412":"Urugi Village lies in a mountain basin at the southern end of Nagano Prefecture, bordering Aichi Prefecture. It was created in 1948 by separating from Yutaka Village, and its population is the smallest in the prefecture after Hiraya Village. Farming and forestry are carried on in the cool highland climate, and it is developing tourism around its campgrounds and hot spring.","20413":"Tenryu Village is a mountain village at the southern end of Nagano Prefecture, bordering Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures. Settlements are scattered in the valley of the Tenryu River, and as the warmest place in the prefecture, it calls itself \"the village that announces spring to Shinshu.\" Old shimotsuki kagura (sacred dances), such as the Sakabe Winter Festival, are still handed down.","20414":"Yasuoka Village is in the south of Shimoina District, and its unusual name comes from the Chinese poem phrase \"taizan kyufu.\" The Tenryu River and the Iida Line pass through the north, and settlements are scattered in deep valleys. On the Iida Line is Tamoto Station, known as a remote \"secret station\" on top of a cliff.","20415":"Takagi Village spreads over river terraces on the east bank of the Tenryu River in the Ina Valley, next to Iida City. It is the birthplace of Muku Hatoju, known for his animal stories, and has the Muku Hatoju Memorial Museum. Tourist farms for strawberry picking gather here, and orchards spread over the terraces.","20416":"Toyooka Village spreads along the east bank of the Tenryu River in the southern Ina Valley. Using its climate, warm and low in snow for the prefecture, and its river terraces, it grows fruit, vegetables and rice, and it is also known for matsutake mushrooms. Local farm products are sold at Michi-no-Eki Minamishinshu Toyooka Marche.","20417":"Oshika Village is a remote mountain village at the foot of the Southern Alps, where Oshika Kabuki, dating from the Edo period, is still performed by villagers. The Median Tectonic Line passes through the village, and visitors can learn about this great fault at the Median Tectonic Line Museum. It also has Kashio Onsen, where salt water springs in the mountains, and Koshibu Onsen.","20422":"Agematsu Town is in the middle of the Kiso Valley, with the Kiso River running through its center, and Mt. Kisokoma, the highest peak of the Central Alps, rises at its eastern end. It has Nezame-no-toko, a scenic spot of granite carved by the Kiso River, and the Akasawa Natural Recreational Forest, one of Japan's three great beautiful forests, said to be the birthplace of forest bathing.","20423":"Nagiso Town is at the southern end of the Kiso Valley. Tsumago-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo road, is known as a pioneer in preserving old townscapes. About 94% of the town is forest, and woodcraft such as Nagiso rokuro (lathe-turned) ware is handed down. Momosuke Bridge over the Kiso River and the Yomikaki Power Station are also highlights.","20425":"Kiso Village is at the top of the Kiso River, surrounded by mountains of the 2,000 m class, and its name means \"the origin of Kiso.\" Yabuhara-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo road, was known for making \"Oroku-gushi\" combs. The headwater area has Misogawa Dam and a ski area.","20429":"Otaki Village is at the southern foot of Mt. Ontake, and Otaki Ontake Shrine stands at the old trailhead of the Ontake faith. It once prospered from forestry of fine Kiso cypress, and the Kiso Forest Railway ran here to carry timber. The village has Ontake Ski Resort and Nigorikawa Onsen.","20430":"Okuwa Village is in the south of the Kiso Valley, with settlements gathered on narrow flat land along the Kiso River, and forest covers 96% of its area. It had Suhara-juku and Nojiri-juku, post towns on the Nakasendo road, and Josho-ji Temple in Suhara is an old temple with an old main hall. The clear blue water of the Atera Gorge is also well known.","20432":"Kiso Town is in the center of the Kiso Valley, with views of Mt. Kisokoma to the east and Mt. Ontake to the west. Fukushima-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo road, has the site of the Fukushima Checkpoint, and Miyanokoshi-juku, connected with Kiso Yoshinaka, is also in the town. On the high Kaida Highlands, Kiso horse ranches and buckwheat fields spread.","20446":"Omi Village is a highland village in the northern part of the Chikuma Mountains. In the Edo period it had Omi-juku, a post town on the Hokkoku Wakiokan road. The Hijiri Highlands, named after Mt. Hijiri, where a high priest from Echigo trained, have Lake Suzuran, a ski area and the Hijiri Aviation Museum for leisure in every season.","20448":"Ikusaka Village is a mountain village with the Sai River flowing north, and farming and food processing are its main industries. Grape growing is especially active. From the rocky ridge of Kyogakura along the Sai River, visitors can view the winding river and the mountains, and local products are sold at Michi-no-Eki Ikusaka-no-sato.","20450":"Yamagata Village is on a plateau in the southwest of the Matsumoto Basin, with Mt. Hachimori rising to the west. Vegetables such as Chinese yam are widely grown, and the Japan Alps Salad Road through the farmland and Kiyomizu-dera Temple are well known. It is a village near Matsumoto with a large shopping center.","20451":"Asahi Village is on the alluvial fan of the Kusari River in the southwest of the Matsumoto Basin, and its name means \"the village where the morning sun shines first.\" Vegetables are widely grown in cool highland fields, and its spring lettuce ranks 8th in Japan. The village also has the Asahi Art Museum and a ski area.","20452":"Chikuhoku Village lies along the Hokkoku Nishi Kaido (Zenko-ji Kaido) road, where Aoyagi-juku and an intermediate rest stop were located. In Aoyagi, a cutting through the rock made in the Warring States period remains and was drawn in old illustrated guidebooks. Mt. Kamuriki (Mt. Obasute) rises here, and the village has Michi-no-Eki Sakakita.","20481":"Ikeda Town is in the north of Azumino and once prospered as a post town on the Chikuni Kaido road. The Northern Alps can be seen across the west, and the town has the North Alps Viewing Museum of Art. The seven-colored giant maple of the Omine Highlands is famous for autumn leaves. The climate is inland, with little rain and large temperature differences.","20482":"Matsukawa Village is at the eastern foot of the Northern Alps in northern Azumino, and the average life expectancy of its men once ranked 1st in Japan. It has the Chihiro Art Museum Azumino and Azumino Chihiro Park, connected with the picture-book artist Iwasaki Chihiro, and many people have moved here from big cities.","20485":"Hakuba Village is a mountain resort at the foot of the Northern Alps, and its name comes from Mt. Shirouma (Hakuba). Happo-one Ski Resort was a venue of the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and the village is busy with skiers in winter and climbers in summer. The Aoni settlement, with its old farmhouses, is also a highlight.","20486":"Otari Village is at the northwest tip of Nagano Prefecture, with the Hime River flowing through its center, and it includes parts of two national parks. It is a designated heavy-snow area, and in winter the ski areas of Tsugaike Kogen and Hakuba Cortina are busy. Otari Onsen springs in the mountains, and the village is a trailhead for Mt. Amakazari.","20521":"Sakaki Town lies along the Chikuma River, and the ruins of Katsurao Castle, base of Murakami Yoshikiyo in the Warring States period, remain. It is a \"town of craftsmanship\" with thriving manufacturing such as precision machinery, and its Iron Exhibition Hall shows the skills of Japanese swordsmiths. It was also Sakaki-juku, a post town on the Hokkoku Kaido road.","20541":"Obuse Town is the smallest town in the prefecture by area and is known for its ties to Katsushika Hokusai. It has the Hokusai Museum and Gansho-in Temple, whose main hall ceiling has Hokusai's phoenix painting. Chestnuts and chestnut sweets are specialties, and town planning that uses its history has made it one of the leading tourist spots of northern Shinano.","20543":"Takayama Village is in the northeast of Nagano Prefecture, and the whole village is in a UNESCO Eco Park. Yamada Onsen and Shichimi Onsen are scattered along the Matsukawa Gorge, and Kaminari Falls is known as a waterfall you can walk behind. The village has the Issa-kan, connected with the poet Kobayashi Issa, and wine grapes are widely grown.","20561":"Yamanouchi Town is a tourist town in the northeast of Nagano Prefecture, with the Shiga Highlands and the Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen hot springs. At Jigokudani Monkey Park, Japanese macaques can be seen bathing in hot springs, and many visitors come from abroad. Apple, grape and peach orchards cover the mountain slopes.","20562":"Kijimadaira Village spreads at the foot of Mt. Kosha, and about 80% of its area is forest. Rice growing thrives on the flat land near the Chikuma River. Highlights include the Kaya-no-Daira Highlands, with virgin beech forest, Kijimadaira Ski Resort and the open-air bath of Maguse Onsen in the mountains.","20563":"Nozawaonsen Village is a village of hot springs and skiing east of the Chikuma River. The townscape of Nozawa Onsen, with public baths called \"soto-yu\" scattered around, and Nozawa Onsen Snow Resort are well known. It is said to be the birthplace of nozawana (a pickled leaf vegetable), and its winter Dosojin Festival is famous as a bold fire festival.","20583":"Shinano Town borders Niigata Prefecture and is known for Lake Nojiri, the Kurohime Highlands and as the hometown of the poet Kobayashi Issa. Fossils of Naumann's elephant were found in Lake Nojiri, and the town has the Lake Nojiri Naumanni Museum. It is a heavy-snow area and produces corn and buckwheat.","20588":"Ogawa Village lies about halfway between Nagano City and Hakuba Village, with settlements scattered in the mountains between 500 m and 1,000 m above sea level. Its views of the Northern Alps are beautiful, and it is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" It is also known as a home of oyaki, a local filled dumpling.","20590":"Iizuna Town is at the foot of Mt. Iizuna in the north of Nagano Prefecture and was formed by the merger of Mure Village and Samizu Village. It is known as a major producer of Shinshu apples, and orchards spread across it. Iizuna Resort ski area is on the shore of Lake Reisenji, offering leisure in every season.","20602":"Sakae Village is at the northeast tip of Nagano Prefecture, bordering Niigata and Gunma prefectures, and is one of the snowiest areas in Japan. At Mori-Miyanohara Station on the Iiyama Line, a post shows the record snow depth of 7.85 m. At the foot of Mt. Naeba lies the remote Akiyamago area, where hot springs such as Kiriake Onsen flow.","21201":"Gifu City is the prefectural capital and a castle town where Saito Dosan and Oda Nobunaga had their bases, with Gifu Castle on top of Mt. Kinka. The clear Nagara River flows through the city, and cormorant fishing (ukai), with a history of more than 1,300 years, lights up summer nights. Traditional crafts such as Gifu lanterns and Japanese umbrellas are also carried on.","21202":"Ogaki City, in the northwest of the Nobi Plain, is the central city of the Seino region, a \"water town\" rich in rivers such as the Ibi River and in spring water. It is known as the place where Matsuo Basho ended \"The Narrow Road to the Deep North.\" Visitors can enjoy Ogaki Castle, tub boats on the Suimon River and the sweet mizu-manju. Traces of Akasaka-juku on the Nakasendo road remain.","21203":"Takayama City is the central city of the Hida region and has the largest area of any municipality in Japan. Takayama Jin'ya, a surviving office of the Edo shogunate, and the Sanmachi district of old merchant houses are called the \"Little Kyoto of Hida.\" The spring and autumn Takayama Festivals are well known, and the city also produces spinach and summer-autumn tomatoes.","21204":"Tajimi City is a hub city of the Tono region and a pottery town that has prospered as a trading center for Mino ware. Pottery-related sites are scattered around, such as the old temple Eiho-ji, whose Kannon Hall and Founder's Hall are National Treasures, and the Ichinokura Sakazuki Art Museum. It is also a commuter town for Nagoya City.","21205":"Seki City is a cutlery town where swordsmiths have gathered since long ago, and it is called one of the \"world's three great cutlery centers\" along with Solingen in Germany and Sheffield in Britain. The sculptor-monk Enku spent his last years here, and the city has the Enku Museum. Along the Itadori River is a famous spot called \"Monet's Pond.\"","21206":"Nakatsugawa City is in the Tono region, bordering Nagano Prefecture, with a chain of post towns on the Nakasendo road. Magome-juku, with its stone-paved slopes, is the birthplace of Shimazaki Toson. The Toson Memorial Museum and the ruins of Naegi Castle, built using huge rocks, are highlights, and the city is known as the home of kuri-kinton (a chestnut sweet).","21207":"Mino City produces Mino washi paper, with a tradition of 1,300 years, and visitors can try papermaking at the Mino Washi Museum. Its streets of merchant houses with \"udatsu\" firewalls are a nationally protected historic district, and many people visit them and the clear Nagara River.","21208":"Mizunami City is a historic town that produces Mino ware, where Okute-juku and Hosokute-juku, post towns on the Nakasendo road, remain. It is known for its many fossil finds and has the Mizunami Fossil Museum. Visitors can also enjoy gorge scenery such as Oni-iwa Park, with its unusual rocks, and Ryugin Falls.","21209":"Hashima City is in the south of the Nobi Plain between the Kiso River and the Nagara River. Gifu-Hashima Station on the Tokaido Shinkansen makes it the gateway to Gifu Prefecture. Townhouses remain in Takehana Town, and the wisteria at Takehana Betsuin temple is beautiful. The city also developed as a textile town.","21210":"Ena City was formed in 2004 by the merger of the former Ena City and 5 towns and villages of Ena District. It is rich in history and scenery, with the ruins of Iwamura Castle, one of Japan's three great mountain castles, the Iwamura-cho Hondori street below it, Enakyo, a scenic gorge on the Kiso River, and the stone-walled Sakaori terraced rice fields.","21211":"Minokamo City, in the Chuno region, spreads where the Kiso River and the Hida River meet, and it prospered as Ota-juku, a post town on the Nakasendo road. The Ota-juku Nakasendo Museum shows the history of the post town, and the city also has Shogen-ji, a famous Rinzai Zen temple. It is known as the hometown of Tsubouchi Shoyo.","21212":"Toki City is a central producer of Mino ware, known as \"the town with Japan's largest ceramic output,\" and is also the birthplace of Oribe ware. Pottery sites such as the Motoyashiki Pottery Kiln Site remain, and visitors can choose tableware at Michi-no-Eki Shino-Oribe. Many people also visit Toki Premium Outlets.","21213":"Kakamigahara City is in the north of the Nobi Plain, bordering Aichi Prefecture across the Kiso River. It developed with the aircraft industry along with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Gifu Air Base. It has the Gifu-Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum and Aquatotto Gifu, a freshwater aquarium, and the cherry trees along the Shinsakai River embankment are famous.","21214":"Kani City spreads along the south bank of the Kiso River. It has historic sites such as the ruins of Akechi Castle, said by one theory to be Akechi Mitsuhide's birthplace, and Nagatsuka Kofun. It is the birthplace of Shino ware and has the Arakawa Toyozo Museum, and the Flower Festival Commemorative Park, known for roses, is popular. It is also a commuter town for Nagoya City.","21215":"Yamagata City is a mountain city bordering Gifu City to the north, and making faucet valves is its known local industry. It has Kannami-ji Temple, loved as a hydrangea temple, and Semikyo Onsen along a mountain stream. A legend also says Akechi Mitsuhide was born here.","21216":"Mizuho City lies between Gifu City and Ogaki City and was formed in 2003 by the merger of Hozumi Town and Sunami Town. Residential areas spread around Hozumi Station on the Tokaido Line, and its population is growing as a commuter town. It is the birthplace of the Fuyu persimmon, and traces of Mieji-juku on the Nakasendo road remain.","21217":"Hida City is at the northern tip of Gifu Prefecture and was formed in 2004 by the merger of Furukawa Town, Kamioka Town, Kawai Village and Miyagawa Village. It has the townscape of Hida Furukawa, known for white-walled storehouses and the carp of the Seto River, and Super-Kamiokande, a neutrino detector built underground in the Kamioka Mine.","21218":"Motosu City was formed in 2004 by the merger of Motosu Town, Shinsei Town, Itonuki Town and Neo Village in Motosu District. The Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree in the Neo Valley is counted among Japan's three great cherry trees, and the Neodani Fault, which appeared at the surface in the Nobi Earthquake, is a national Special Natural Monument. The city also produces Fuyu persimmons.","21219":"Gujo City spreads along the upper Nagara River. Its center, Gujo Hachiman, keeps the look of a castle town and is called the \"Little Kyoto of Oku-Mino.\" Highlights include the Gujo Odori dance, held all night in summer, Gujo Hachiman Castle on a mountain and streets lined with waterways. It is a place of the Hakusan faith, and the ski areas of Takasu are busy.","21220":"Gero City is in the south of the Hida region and is known for Gero Onsen, one of Japan's three famous hot springs, along with Arima and Kusatsu. The hot spring town spreads along the Hida River, and the Gero Onsen Gassho-mura has gassho-style farmhouses moved here. Nigorigo Onsen is at the foot of Mt. Ontake.","21221":"Kaizu City is at the southwest tip of Gifu Prefecture, surrounded by the three Kiso rivers. Almost all of the former Kaizu Town and Hirata Town areas are wajuu (levee-ringed communities) at or below sea level. The approach to Chiyoho Inari Shrine, nicknamed \"Ochobo-san,\" is busy with kushikatsu (fried skewer) shops, and the city has Nanno Onsen. It produces winter-spring tomatoes.","21302":"Ginan Town borders Gifu City to the south. Ginan Interchange, where National Routes 21, 22 and 156 meet, is said to have the heaviest traffic in the prefecture and is the gateway to Aichi Prefecture. With shops lining the national routes and easy commuting, it has become the most populous town or village in the prefecture.","21303":"Kasamatsu Town borders Gifu City to the south and lies on the north bank of the Kiso River. In the Edo period, the jin'ya (office) of the Mino district governor was here, and it also prospered as a river port. Kasamatsu Racecourse, a local horse-racing track, is known for producing Oguri Cap, and the town's history can be learned at the Kasamatsu Museum History and Future.","21341":"Yoro Town is in the Seino region. Its name comes from a legend that Empress Gensho praised the rejuvenating water here and named an era \"Yoro.\" Yoro Park spreads around Yoro Falls, which has a legend of filial piety, and also includes \"Site of Reversible Destiny - Yoro,\" a hands-on artwork.","21361":"Tarui Town is in Fuwa District. The provincial capital of Mino and its most important shrine (ichinomiya), Nangu Taisha, were located here, and it prospered as the center of Mino from ancient times. Tarui-juku on the Nakasendo road was also where the Minoji road branched off. The ruins of Bodaisan Castle and the Takenaka clan's jin'ya, connected with Takenaka Hanbei, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's strategist, remain.","21362":"Sekigahara Town is at the western end of the Seino region, bordering Shiga Prefecture. It is known as the site of the decisive Battle of Sekigahara and of the ancient Jinshin War. Visitors can tour the battlefield, dotted with camp sites, starting from the Gifu Sekigahara Battlefield Memorial Museum. Sekigahara-juku and Imasu-juku, post towns on the Nakasendo road, were also located here.","21381":"Godo Town, read \"Godo,\" is in Anpachi District at the northwest edge of the Nobi Plain. It is known for flowers such as roses and alstroemeria and for komatsuna greens. An old three-story pagoda remains at Hiyoshi Shrine, and the town grew as a shrine town in the middle of the plain.","21382":"Wanouchi Town is in Anpachi District between the Nagara River and the Ibi River, and its name comes from \"wajuu,\" villages and fields surrounded by levees. Flat paddy fields spread here, and the ruins of Fukutsuka Castle, the scene of a skirmish before the Battle of Sekigahara, remain. The town keeps alive the wajuu way of life, long spent fighting water.","21383":"Anpachi Town is in the northwest of the Nobi Plain. It is one of the prefecture's main rice-growing areas with fertile fields, and also an industrial town with offices of large companies. In winter the \"Ibuki-oroshi\" wind blows down from Mt. Ibuki. The Solar Ark, a solar power facility, can be seen from Shinkansen windows.","21401":"Ibigawa Town is at the northwestern end of the Seino region, bordering Fukui and Shiga prefectures. On the upper Ibi River is Tokuyama Dam, the largest in Japan by storage, and many pilgrims visit Kegon-ji Temple on Mt. Tanigumi, the last temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon pilgrimage. Yokokura-ji Temple, beautiful in autumn leaves, is also known.","21403":"Ono Town is in Ibi District at the northwestern end of the Nobi Plain. It is known as a \"town of roses\" where growing rose seedlings is active, and it also produces Fuyu persimmons. The No Kofun Cluster from the Kofun period remains, and Michi-no-Eki Pallettepia-ono serves as the town's gateway.","21404":"Ikeda Town, in Ibi District, has Mt. Ikeda (924 m) behind it to the west and is surrounded by the Ibi River and the Kasu River. Kamagatani at the foot of the mountain is famous for cherry blossoms, and Ikeda Onsen next to the roadside station is popular. Tea fields of Mino Ibi tea spread on the slopes.","21421":"Kitagata Town, in Motosu District, has the smallest area and the highest population density of all municipalities in Gifu Prefecture. It borders Gifu City to the west, and residential areas spread as a commuter town. The old temple Enkyo-ji has Important Cultural Properties such as its tower gate and Nio guardian statues, which tell the town's history.","21501":"Sakahogi Town is in Kamo District on the north bank of the Kiso River, between Minokamo City and Kakamigahara City, and its name comes from the old Sakahogi Shrine. On a mountain are the ruins of Sarubami Castle, the scene of Oda Nobunaga's campaign against Mino, and visitors can enjoy the scenery of the \"Japan Rhine,\" a gorge on the Kiso River.","21502":"Tomika Town is a small town in Kamo District, northwest of Minokamo City. It is said to be the \"Hanyu-ri\" recorded in an ancient family register kept at the Shosoin in Nara. Michi-no-Eki Hanyuri-no-sato Tomika carries the name, and the Tomika Town Local Museum introduces local history.","21503":"Kawabe Town is in Kamo District along the Hida River, near the center of the Mino region. The town developed the reservoir of Kawabe Dam as \"Boat Kingdom Kawabe,\" with lakeside paths and open spaces, and rowing practice and races are held there. There is also a sake brewery along the river.","21504":"Hichiso Town is a mountain town in Kamo District, named after the peaks in its north, revered as \"Hichiso-yama.\" Some of Japan's oldest rocks were found at Hisuikyo, a gorge of the Hida River, and are shown at the Hichiso Precambrian Museum at Michi-no-Eki Rock Garden Hichiso.","21505":"Yaotsu Town is in Kamo District on the middle Kiso River. It is known as the hometown of the diplomat Sugihara Chiune, who saved many Jews with his \"visas for life,\" and the Chiune Sugihara Memorial Hall is in The Hill of Humanity Park. Maruyama Dam on the Kiso River and the building of the former Yaotsu Power Station are also highlights.","21506":"Shirakawa Town is a mountain town in Kamo District that produces Tono cypress, Shirakawa tea and bakuhanseki (a mineral stone). Settlements are scattered along the Hida River and the Shirakawa River, and local tea and cypress products are sold at Michi-no-Eki Mino-Shirakawa and Cuore Fureai no Sato.","21507":"Higashishirakawa Village is a mountain village in Kamo District and the only municipality in Japan with no temple at all. This is because its temples were destroyed in the anti-Buddhist movement of the late Edo and early Meiji periods and never rebuilt. With stories of tsuchinoko (a legendary snake) sightings, it has the \"Tsuchinoko-kan,\" and it also produces tea.","21521":"Mitake Town, in Kani District, had Mitake-juku and Fushimi-juku, post towns on the Nakasendo road. Ganko-ji Temple in Mitake-juku is also called \"Kani Yakushi,\" and many of its Buddhist statues are Important Cultural Properties. It is the only \"Environmental Model City\" in Gifu Prefecture and is building an environmentally friendly town.","21604":"Shirakawa Village is a mountain village in Ono District in the northwest of Gifu Prefecture, bordering Toyama and Ishikawa prefectures. Shirakawa-go, a village of gassho-style (steep thatched-roof) houses born from the heavy-snow climate, is a World Heritage Site together with Gokayama. Lake Miboro is on the upper Sho River, and the Hakusan mountains form the backdrop.","22100":"Shizuoka City is the prefectural capital, a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) stretching from Suruga Bay north to the Southern Alps. It has Sunpu Castle, where Tokugawa Ieyasu spent his last years, Kunozan Tosho-gu, the shrine dedicated to Ieyasu, Miho no Matsubara with its view of Mt. Fuji, and the Yayoi-period Toro site. It is also known for green tea and plastic models.","22130":"Hamamatsu City, in the Enshu region, is the most populous city in the prefecture, and its area ranks 2nd in Japan after Takayama City. It developed through manufacturing such as musical instruments and motorcycles and has the Hamamatsu Museum of Musical Instruments. Lake Hamana, the Nakatajima Sand Dunes and Hamamatsu Castle, connected with Tokugawa Ieyasu, are highlights, and eel and gyoza dumplings are specialties.","22203":"Numazu City is a port town on Suruga Bay at the base of the Izu Peninsula and long prospered as Numazu-juku on the Tokaido road. Numazu Port is busy with shops of dried fish and seafood, and the city has the Numazu Imperial Villa Memorial Park, a former imperial villa open to the public. Izu Mito Sea Paradise in Uchiura is popular, and Mt. Fuji can be seen from many places in the city.","22205":"Atami City is at the eastern end of Shizuoka Prefecture, bordering Kanagawa Prefecture, and the streets of Atami Onsen spread over slopes facing Sagami Bay. Highlights include the MOA Museum of Art, which holds National Treasures, Izusan Shrine and Hatsushima Island offshore. Its fireworks over the sea are also well known, and it is loved as a resort close to the Tokyo area.","22206":"Mishima City, at the northern end of the Izu Peninsula, was the site of Izu's ancient provincial capital and prospered as the town of Mishima Taisha shrine and as Mishima-shuku on the Tokaido road. Spring water from Mt. Fuji flows through town, and Rakuju-en and the waterside paths are places to relax. On Hakone's western foot are the Mishima Skywalk suspension bridge and the Warring States-period Yamanaka Castle ruins.","22207":"Fujinomiya City spreads at the southern foot of Mt. Fuji and prospered as the town in front of Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha, the head shrine of all Sengen shrines in Japan. The shrine, Shiraito Falls and the Hitoana Fuji-ko Iseki are parts of the World Cultural Heritage \"Fujisan.\" The city is also known for Fujinomiya yakisoba (fried noodles) and dairy farming in the Asagiri Highlands.","22208":"Ito City is a hot spring town on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula at the eastern end of Shizuoka Prefecture, with the abundant Ito Onsen. Sights of the Izu Highlands gather here, such as grass-covered Mt. Omuro, Lake Ippeki and Izu Shaboten Zoo. It is also known as the place where William Adams (Miura Anjin) built Western-style sailing ships.","22209":"Shimada City spreads on both banks of the Oi River. In the Edo period, the bridgeless Oi River was crossed with the help of porters, and Shimada-juku and Kanaya-juku prospered as river-crossing post towns. The wooden footbridge Horai Bridge and the steam locomotives of the Oigawa Railway are famous, and some of Japan's largest tea fields spread over the Makinohara Plateau.","22210":"Fuji City spreads from the southern foot of Mt. Fuji to Suruga Bay and is the only municipality whose area runs from the coastline to just below the summit of Mt. Fuji. It has produced washi paper since the Edo period and is still an industrial city with an active paper industry. Yoshiwara-juku on the Tokaido road was here, and the majestic Mt. Fuji can be seen from Tagonoura.","22211":"Iwata City is a \"sports town\" in Enshu, home to Jubilo Iwata of the J.League and the Shizuoka BlueRevs rugby team. In ancient times the provincial capital and provincial temple of Totomi were here, and the site of Totomi Kokubun-ji Temple and the Mitsuke School, an early Meiji Western-style school building, remain. Industries such as transport equipment are also active.","22212":"Yaizu City is a port town on the Shida Plain facing Suruga Bay. Yaizu Fishing Port is known as a base for deep-sea bonito and tuna fishing, and its landing value in 2020 ranked 1st in Japan. Processed seafood such as black hanpen (fish cake) and namaribushi (boiled bonito) are specialties, and the city has a memorial museum of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn), who had close ties with it.","22213":"Kakegawa City, in Enshu, prospered as the castle town of Kakegawa Castle, ruled by Yamauchi Kazutoyo, and as Kakegawa-juku on the Tokaido road. A keep rebuilt in wood rises here. Tea growing is active, and the city is known for Kakegawa tea and Higashiyama tea. The ruins of Takatenjin Castle, famous for battles in the Warring States period, are also here.","22214":"Fujieda City is on the Shida Plain between the Abe River and the Oi River and prospered as the castle town of the Tanaka Domain and as Fujieda-juku and Okabe-juku on the Tokaido road. It is known as a \"soccer town,\" where soccer has been popular since the days of the old middle schools, and Rengeji-ike Park, famous for wisteria, is a place for residents to relax.","22215":"Gotemba City is a high highland city at the southeastern foot of Mt. Fuji, with a cool, foggy climate even in summer. It developed as a base for climbing Mt. Fuji and visiting Hakone, and shoppers from Japan and abroad come to Gotemba Premium Outlets. Chichibunomiya Memorial Park and Komakado Kazaana Cave, a lava cave, are also highlights.","22216":"Fukuroi City, in Enshu, has Fukuroi-juku, the 27th of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido counting from either Edo or Kyoto, and calls itself \"the very middle.\" It has the old temples known as the three Enshu temples, Yusan-ji, Kasui-sai and Son'ei-ji on Mt. Hatta, and the stadium of Ogasayama Sports Park is also well known.","22219":"Shimoda City is a port town in the south of the Izu Peninsula. It was opened, together with Hakodate, under the Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity and was a stage of the history of Perry's arrival. Ryosen-ji Temple, where the treaty's detailed rules were signed, and Gyokusen-ji Temple, where the US Consulate General was placed, remain. Beaches such as Shirahama and Cape Tsumeki, with its narcissus, are also beautiful.","22220":"Susono City spreads at the southeastern foot of Mt. Fuji and is a commuter town for Numazu City and Mishima City. It is also an advanced-technology research city where Toyota is building Woven City, a test-bed city. Leisure spots at the foot of Mt. Fuji are scattered here, such as Fuji Safari Park, the Grinpa amusement park and Goryu Falls.","22221":"Kosai City is the westernmost city in Shizuoka Prefecture, spreading from the west shore of Lake Hamana to the Aichi Prefecture border. It has the Arai Barrier, whose Edo-period checkpoint building survives, and the sites of Arai-juku and Shirasuka-juku. It is the birthplace of Toyoda Sakichi, inventor of the automatic loom, and has a memorial hall. It also produces winter cabbage.","22222":"Izu City is in the center of the Izu Peninsula and was formed in 2004 by the merger of Shuzenji Town, Toi Town, Amagiyugashima Town and Nakaizu Town. It has many places connected with \"The Izu Dancer,\" such as Shuzenji Onsen, Yugashima Onsen, the Amagi Tunnel and Joren Falls, and Toi on the west coast has the remains of a gold mine.","22223":"Omaezaki City has Cape Omae, which juts into the Enshu Sea, with the white Omaesaki Lighthouse standing on top. Its main industries are electric power, fisheries and tourism. The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station is here, and Omaezaki Port, for bonito fishing, and the Hamaoka Sand Dunes, with wind ripples, are also known.","22224":"Kikugawa City is in the Toen area and is known for \"fukamushi Kikugawa tea\" (deep-steamed tea), grown in the warm climate. Industry that grew out of making tea-processing machines is also active, and auto parts and precision machine tool companies gather here. It has the ruins of Yokochi Castle from the Warring States period and the old temple Oshokyo-in.","22225":"Izunokuni City is in the north of the Izu Peninsula and was formed in 2005 by the merger of Izunagaoka Town, Ohito Town and Nirayama Town. It has many historic sites, such as the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces, a World Heritage Site, the Nirayama Daikansho, and Ganjoju-in Temple, which holds Buddhist statues by Unkei, as well as Hirugakojima, where Minamoto no Yoritomo was exiled. Izunagaoka Onsen is also popular.","22226":"Makinohara City is in central Shizuoka Prefecture on Suruga Bay, a tea-producing area with vast tea fields on the Makinohara Plateau. In the Edo period it was the castle town of Sagara Castle, ruled by Tanuma Okitsugu, and part of Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport is in the city. People can be seen surfing along the coast.","22301":"Higashiizu Town, in Kamo District on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula, has a chain of seaside hot springs such as Atagawa Onsen, Inatori Onsen and Hokkawa Onsen. Atagawa Tropical & Alligator Garden, which uses hot spring heat, and Izu Animal Kingdom are popular, and Inatori's hanging doll decorations and the silver grass of the Hosono Highland are also known.","22302":"Kawazu Town is in the south of the Izu Peninsula and is known as the birthplace of the early-blooming Kawazu cherry. When the trees bloom in February, the rows along the Kawazu River draw many people. It has the Kawazu Seven Falls along a gorge, a loop bridge that gains height by circling, hot springs such as Mine Onsen, and iZoo, a reptile zoo.","22304":"Minamiizu Town is at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula. Cape Iro, jutting into the Pacific Ocean, has a lighthouse and Iro Shrine, built on the rocks. It has Hirizo Beach, known for its clear water, the white sand of Yumigahama Beach and Shimogamo Onsen, and in early spring cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers bloom together along the river.","22305":"Matsuzaki Town is a seaside town in the southwest of the Izu Peninsula and a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" Highlights include streets of namako-kabe (lattice-tiled) walls, the Ishibu terraced rice fields, the Iwashina School, an Important Cultural Property, and the Izu Chohachi Art Museum, with works by the master plasterer Irie Chohachi. It produces about 70% of Japan's pickled cherry leaves, used for sakura-mochi.","22306":"Nishiizu Town is on the west coast of the Izu Peninsula, where small islands dot a jagged coastline. Dogashima, called the \"Matsushima of Izu,\" and the cliffs of Cape Kogane are national Places of Scenic Beauty. Visitors can tour Tensodo, a sea cave with a hole in its ceiling, by sightseeing boat, and on clear days the sun can be seen setting into Suruga Bay.","22325":"Kannami Town, in Tagata District, borders Kanagawa Prefecture and forms the central urban area of eastern Shizuoka together with Numazu City and Mishima City. Dairy farming is active in the Tanna Basin, with Dairy Farming Kingdom Oratche and Michi-no-Eki Izu Gateway Kannami. At the Kannami Buddha Statues Museum, visitors can see Buddhist statues from the Heian period.","22341":"Shimizu Town is in Sunto District, where the Kakita River flows with spring water from Mt. Fuji; the river is a national Natural Monument. From the observation deck in Kakitagawa Park, visitors can watch water springing up and stirring the sand. The town also has Sun-to Moon Kakitagawa, a large shopping complex, and is a commuter town for Numazu and Mishima.","22342":"Nagaizumi Town, in Sunto District between Mishima City and Numazu City, has many factories. In recent years housing development has grown rapidly, attracting people, mainly families raising children. On Surugadaira, a plateau in the northwest, is the Clematis no Oka complex, which includes the Yasushi Inoue Literary Museum.","22344":"Oyama Town, in Sunto District in the east of Shizuoka Prefecture, borders Kanagawa and Yamanashi prefectures and spreads at the eastern foot of Mt. Fuji. It has Fuji Speedway, and Higashiguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine stands at the start of the Subashiri trail up Mt. Fuji. It is also a town at the foot of Mt. Ashigara, where the legend of Kintaro remains.","22424":"Yoshida Town, in Haibara District, spreads on the right bank at the mouth of the Oi River and faces Suruga Bay. Factories gathered through active efforts to attract companies, and it has been known as a financially rich town. Eel farming was once active, and the cycad of Noman-ji Temple is a national Natural Monument.","22429":"Kawanehon Town, in Haibara District on the upper Oi River, is more than 90% forest. Popular sights include the Yume-no-Tsuribashi suspension bridge over the lake at Sumata-kyo, Sumatakyo Onsen, called the \"bath for making beauties,\" and the Oigawa Railway Ikawa Line, Japan's only Abt-system (rack) railway. It also produces fragrant Kawane tea.","22461":"Mori Town is in Shuchi District in Enshu, and it is the only town in the prefecture whose \"town\" is read \"machi.\" Okuni Shrine, the most important shrine (ichinomiya) of Totomi Province, stands here, and the townscape is called the \"Little Kyoto of Enshu.\" It is the home of Mori no Ishimatsu, known as a follower of Shimizu no Jirocho, and sweet corn and tea are specialties.","23100":"Nagoya City is the prefectural capital and a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) at the center of the Chukyo area. Highlights include Nagoya Castle, home of the Owari Tokugawa family, Atsuta Jingu, which enshrines the sacred Kusanagi sword, and the Tokugawa Art Museum, with daimyo treasures. It is the hub of the manufacturing-rich Chukyo Industrial Zone, and its own food culture includes hitsumabushi (grilled eel on rice).","23201":"Toyohashi City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) and the economic and transport center of Higashi-Mikawa. In the Edo period it prospered as the castle town of the Yoshida Domain and as Yoshida-juku on the Tokaido road. Streetcars run through the city, and a honjin (inn for lords) remains at Futagawa-juku. It produces winter cabbage and winter-spring tomatoes and is also known as a city with active farming.","23202":"Okazaki City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Nishi-Mikawa. It prospered as the castle town of Okazaki Castle, where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born, and as Okazaki-shuku on the Tokaido road. It is known as the birthplace of Hatcho miso and has Daiju-ji Temple, the family temple of the Matsudaira and Tokugawa families. Fireworks and stone products are also traditional local industries.","23203":"Ichinomiya City grew from the town in front of Masumida Shrine, the most important shrine (ichinomiya) of Owari Province, and is the center of \"Bishu,\" one of the world's three great wool-producing areas. It is known as the birthplace of the café \"morning service\" breakfast, and the Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival every July is counted among Japan's three great Tanabata festivals.","23204":"Seto City produces Seto ware, which gave Japanese ceramics the general name \"setomono,\" and has long grown together with pottery. Among the potteries in town remain the Kamagaki-no-Komichi, a lane with walls of stacked kiln tools, and in September the \"Setomono Festival\" holds a large pottery market. The Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum is also here.","23205":"Handa City is in the middle of the Chita Peninsula and has prospered since the Edo period through brewing of vinegar and sake and through shipping. Highlights include rows of black-boarded storehouses along the canal and the Handa Red Brick Building. It is the hometown of Niimi Nankichi, author of \"Gon, the Little Fox,\" and float festivals are lively.","23206":"Kasugai City is a commuter town next to Nagoya City to the northeast, and large housing estates such as Kozoji New Town spread in the east. It is said to be the birthplace of the Heian-period calligrapher Ono no Michikaze and calls itself a \"city of calligraphy.\" Seed-grown cacti are a specialty, with 80% of the national share.","23207":"Toyokawa City, in Higashi-Mikawa, grew from the temple town of Toyokawa Inari. It has Toga Shrine, the most important shrine (ichinomiya) of Mikawa Province, and the site of Mikawa Kokubun-ji Temple. On the Tokaido road, a row of pines remains at Goyu-shuku and an Edo-period inn building at Akasaka-juku. It also produces winter-spring tomatoes.","23208":"Tsushima City, west of Nagoya City, prospered as the town in front of Tsushima Shrine, the center of the Tenno faith across Japan. In the Warring States period, the wealth of Tsushima port was the economic base of the Oda clan. At the Owari Tsushima Tenno Festival in Tennogawa Park, makiwara boats decorated with lanterns cross the water.","23209":"Hekinan City is at the southern end of Nishi-Mikawa, facing Kinuura Bay, and once prospered as a sea-transport hub centered on Ohama. Its coastal area is the core of the Kinuura coastal industrial zone, with the Hekinan Thermal Power Station. It is known for winter carrots, and the Hekinan Seaside Aquarium and Aoi Park are popular.","23210":"Kariya City is at the western end of Nishi-Mikawa, bordering Owari across the Sakai River. It is a car-industry city where major Toyota Group companies such as Toyota Industries, Denso and Aisin have their head offices. In the Edo period it was the castle town of Kariya Castle, and the castle site is now Kijo Park.","23211":"Toyota City is the company town of Toyota Motor in Nishi-Mikawa. Its name comes from the company, and it was once called Koromo City. Its manufactured goods shipments rank 1st in Japan. It has the largest area in the prefecture and a rich mountain history, including Asuke, home of Korankei, famous for autumn leaves, and the birthplace of the Matsudaira clan.","23212":"Anjo City, in Nishi-Mikawa, was opened up for farming after the Meiji Canal was built and was called \"Japan's Denmark\" for its advanced agriculture. Today the auto-related machinery industry thrives, and the summer Anjo Tanabata Festival and the flower theme park Denpark are popular. The ruins of Anjo Castle, connected with the Matsudaira clan, are also here.","23213":"Nishio City, in Nishi-Mikawa on the lower Yahagi River, is known for Nishio matcha tea and Isshiki eel. The area around the Nishio Castle ruins has many temples and shrines and is called the \"Little Kyoto of Mikawa.\" The city has the Iwase Bunko Library, which holds classical books, and Sakushima Island in Mikawa Bay is popular.","23214":"Gamagori City is a tourist city on Mikawa Bay, with the hot spring towns of Nishiura, Katahara, Miya and Gamagori, and LAGUNA TEN BOSCH, home of the Lagunasia theme park. Highlights include Takeshima Island, reached by a bridge, and the Takeshima Aquarium, popular for its deep-sea creatures. Gamagori mikan, greenhouse-grown mandarins, are also well known.","23215":"Inuyama City is a castle town on the Kiso River in northern Owari, where Inuyama Castle, a National Treasure, keeps a keep built before the Edo period. There are many sights, such as Jo-an, a National Treasure teahouse, Museum Meiji-mura, with relocated Meiji buildings, and Little World, with houses from around the world. Cormorant fishing is also held on the Kiso River.","23216":"Tokoname City is in the middle of the west coast of the Chita Peninsula, and Tokoname ware is counted among Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. Walking the \"Pottery Footpath,\" with its clay-pipe slope, climbing kiln and brick chimneys, is enjoyable. Chubu Centrair International Airport is on the sea in Ise Bay. The city is also known for making maneki-neko (beckoning cats).","23217":"Konan City is on the south bank of the Kiso River in northern Owari and is a commuter town for Nagoya City. Mandara-ji Temple is famous for wisteria and draws many visitors in spring. It has Kyusho-ji Temple, connected with Kitsuno, a consort of Oda Nobunaga, and Flower Park Konan spreads along the Kiso River.","23219":"Komaki City, north of Nagoya City, is a transport hub where several expressways meet. It is an industrial city with manufactured goods shipments of over 1 trillion yen, where factories and logistics centers gather. Mt. Komaki, where Oda Nobunaga first built a castle and which was a stage of the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, is the symbol of the city.","23220":"Inazawa City is in the center of the Nobi Plain, and the provincial capital of Owari was here in ancient times. It has Owari Okunitama Shrine (Konomiya), known for its Naked Festival, and the site of Owari Kokubun-ji Temple. It is known across Japan for garden trees and seedlings, and the Sobue area is Japan's top producer of ginkgo nuts.","23221":"Shinshiro City is in the north of Higashi-Mikawa at the gateway to Oku-Mikawa and was formed in 2005 by the merger of Shinshiro City, Horai Town and Tsukude Village. It was the site of the Battle of Nagashino between the Oda-Tokugawa allied army and the Takeda army, with the Nagashino Castle ruins and the Shitaragahara battlefield. Nature is also rich, with Mt. Horaiji and the Atera Seven Falls.","23222":"Tokai City is at the base of the Chita Peninsula, south of Nagoya City, and is a \"steel town\" with steelworks. A long-established shrimp cracker maker has its main store here, and it is also where Kagome was founded. Its output of fuki (butterbur) ranks 1st in Japan, and the Great Buddha of Shurakuen and the memorial hall of Hosoi Heishu are highlights.","23223":"Obu City, southeast of Nagoya City, is an industrial city with an active car industry. In the south is \"Wellness Valley,\" where health, medical and welfare institutions gather, and Aichi Health Village Park spreads there. Suburban farming using the Aichi Canal is carried on in the hills, and grapes are also grown.","23224":"Chita City is in the northwest of the Chita Peninsula, facing Ise Bay, and its coast is an industrial zone with thermal power stations and oil refineries. The Okada area keeps an old townscape that prospered from Chita cotton, and the area around Sori Pond is known for plum blossoms. It is also a commuter town for Nagoya City.","23225":"Chiryu City, in Nishi-Mikawa, prospered as the town in front of Chiryu Shrine, the second shrine of Mikawa Province and one of the three great shrines of the Tokaido, and as Chiryu-juku on the Tokaido road. It has Yatsuhashi, where Ariwara no Narihira wrote a poem about irises in \"The Tales of Ise,\" and the iris garden of Muryoju-ji Temple is well known.","23226":"Owariasahi City is a residential city between Nagoya City and Seto City along the Seto Kaido road. Aichiken Forest Park, which covers about 15% of the city's area, has a botanical garden and sports facilities. The city promotes itself as a \"healthy city,\" and from Skyward Asahi, the observation tower in Shiroyama Park, visitors can see the whole city.","23227":"Takahama City is in the Mikawa region, facing Kinuura Bay, and is the main producer of Sanshu roof tiles, one of \"Japan's three great roof tiles.\" It has the Kawara Museum/Library of Takahama City, the only art museum in Japan devoted to roof tiles, and a walking route in town leads past works of onigawara (ornamental ridge tiles).","23228":"Iwakura City, in the northwest of the Owari region, is the smallest city in the prefecture by area. In the Warring States period, Iwakura Castle of the Oda Isenokami family, which ruled the upper four districts of Owari, was here. The cherry trees along the Gojo River are famous, and \"nonbori-arai,\" the traditional rinsing of carp streamers in the river, is a sign of spring.","23229":"Toyoake City, southeast of Nagoya City, has the \"Okehazama Battlefield Legend Site,\" said to be the scene of the Battle of Okehazama. In the Middle Ages, Kutsukake-juku on the Kamakura Kaido road was here, and today it is a transport hub crossed by National Route 1 and the Isewangan Expressway. Chukyo Racecourse and Fujita Health University Hospital are also here.","23230":"Nisshin City is at the eastern end of the Owari region, bordering Nagoya City to the east, and is a rural academic city with many universities and research institutions. It urbanized rapidly with the opening of the subway Tsurumai Line and others, and its population growth rate once ranked 1st among Japan's cities. The ruins of Iwasaki Castle, known from the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute, are here.","23231":"Tahara City covers most of the Atsumi Peninsula, and farming that uses the warm climate is active. Its winter cabbage output ranks 1st in Japan, and it is also known for light-grown chrysanthemums and melons. Cape Irago at the tip looks out over Ise Bay, and the city has the ruins of Tahara Castle and Kazan Shrine, connected with Watanabe Kazan.","23232":"Aisai City is at the western end of Aichi Prefecture, bordering Gifu and Mie prefectures across the Kiso River. It was formed in 2005 by the merger of Saya Town, Tatsuta Village, Hachikai Village and Saori Town. Lotus root and strawberries are grown on its fertile land, and visitors can enjoy lotus flowers at Michi-no-Eki Fureai-no-sato Hasu Park.","23233":"Kiyosu City borders Nagoya City to the northwest. In the Warring States period, it was the center of Owari as the castle town of Kiyosu Castle, Oda Nobunaga's base. It was the stage of the Kiyosu Alliance and the Kiyosu Conference, and the Aichi Asahi Site Museum introduces the Asahi Site, one of Japan's largest moated settlements.","23234":"Kitanagoya City was formed in 2006 by the merger of Shikatsu Town and Nishiharu Town and is a commuter town about 10 minutes from Nagoya Station on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line. The Showa Era Lifestyle Museum collects everyday tools of the Showa era and is also used for reminiscence therapy for older people. The main hall of the old temple Koden-ji is an Important Cultural Property.","23235":"Yatomi City, in the west of Aichi Prefecture, is known as one of Japan's leading goldfish producers, and it is said that every goldfish variety in Japan can be found here. It also produces white Java sparrows. The south is part of the Port of Nagoya, and at the Yatomi Bird Sanctuary visitors can watch wild birds that gather on the tidal flats and waterside.","23236":"Miyoshi City, in the Nishi-Mikawa region, was created in 2010 when Miyoshi Town became a city. Its name is written in hiragana to avoid confusion with Miyoshi City in Tokushima Prefecture. It is an industrial and residential city with Toyota factories, and Miyoshi Pond and Miyoshi Park are places to relax.","23237":"Ama City was formed in 2010 by the merger of Shippo Town, Miwa Town and Jimokuji Town. The Shippo area produces \"Owari Shippo,\" a traditional cloisonne craft, and has the Shippo Art Village. Jimokuji Kannon, one of the four Kannon temples of Owari, and Kayazu Shrine, which enshrines the god of pickles, are also known.","23238":"Nagakute City borders Nagoya City to the east and has the battlefield of the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute. Ghibli Park opened in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park, the site of the 2005 Aichi Expo. Linimo, Japan's first practical magnetic levitation railway, runs here, and the city has many universities.","23302":"Togo Town, in Aichi District between Nagoya City and Toyota City, saw housing development as a commuter area for both cities. Rowing races are held on Aichi Pond, about 8 km around, and the town has the famous Nagoya Golf Club Wago Course. Large shopping facilities are also located here.","23342":"Toyoyama Town, in Nishikasugai District, borders Nagoya City to the north and is the smallest municipality in Aichi Prefecture by area. Much of the town is taken up by the prefectural Nagoya Airfield, there is also an aircraft manufacturing base, and the Aichi Museum of Flight presents the history and technology of aircraft.","23361":"Oguchi Town is in Niwa District in the northwest of the Owari region. Its name was once written with a different character for \"O\" and later changed to the current spelling. Cherry trees along the Gojo River color the town in spring, and it is also a manufacturing town with many factories, including machine tool makers.","23362":"Fuso Town, in Niwa District, is about 20 km north of Nagoya City and has developed as a commuter town. Its name is said to come from its many mulberry fields. It specializes in the long, thin Moriguchi radish, known as the ingredient of Moriguchi pickles, and Fuso Ryokuchi Park spreads along the Kiso River.","23424":"Oharu Town, in Ama District, is a commuter town bordering Nagoya City to the west. No railway runs through the town, but buses make it easy to reach Nagoya Station and Sakae, and housing has developed. It is the 2nd-smallest municipality in the prefecture by area, but its population exceeds 30,000. Myogen-in Temple, an old temple once known for eye treatment, is also here.","23425":"Kanie Town, in Ama District, has many rivers such as the Kanie River and the Nikko River, and almost all of the town is at or below sea level. Owari Onsen, which springs in the town, is the only hot spring in the prefecture listed among \"Japan's 100 Famous Hot Springs.\" The Sunari Festival, held on the river, is part of a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.","23427":"Tobishima Village, in Ama District, faces the northernmost part of Ise Bay and was born from land reclaimed for new rice fields. Rice, vegetables and flowers are widely grown, while the south is part of the Port of Nagoya with a coastal industrial zone, and the village is known for its strong finances. The Meiko Triton bridges cross the sea.","23441":"Agui Town, in Chita District, is near the center of the Chita Peninsula and, together with Obu City, is one of the peninsula's municipalities without a coast. It has Toun-in, the family temple of the Hisamatsu clan, into which Odai no Kata, mother of Tokugawa Ieyasu, remarried. Quiet residential areas continue among fields and hills.","23442":"Higashiura Town, in Chita District at the base of the Chita Peninsula, is the most populous town in Aichi Prefecture. It is said to be the birthplace of Odai no Kata, mother of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and has Odai Park and Kenkon-in Temple, the family temple of the Mizuno clan. It is a commuter town for Nagoya City, where housing development began around 1970.","23445":"Minamichita Town, in Chita District at the tip of the Chita Peninsula, includes islands in Mikawa Bay such as Himakajima and Shinojima. Fishing is active from bases such as Morozaki Port, and seafood such as Himakajima's octopus and pufferfish are specialties. Uchida Sashichi's House, from a family that prospered in coastal shipping, also remains.","23446":"Mihama Town, in Chita District in the south of the Chita Peninsula, faces both Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay. It is known for Noma Daibo, said to be where Minamoto no Yoshitomo died and where his grave is, and Nomazaki Lighthouse, with views of the sunset over Ise Bay. Seaside leisure spots such as Minami Chita Beach Land are also enjoyable.","23447":"Taketoyo Town, in Chita District, is in the middle of the Chita Peninsula and faces Kinuura Bay. It has Taketoyo Port, part of Kinuura Port, and an industrial zone spreads along the coast. The Turntable Pocket Park keeps a trace of the Meiji-era railway, and brewing of tamari soy sauce and miso is also active.","23501":"Kota Town, in Nukata District, is the only town or village in the Nishi-Mikawa region. It has many industrial parks, starting with the Chubu Industrial Park, and manufacturing, mainly auto-related, is active. Its specialty fudegaki persimmon is shaped like the tip of a writing brush and can be bought at Michi-no-Eki Fudegaki-no-sato Kota.","23561":"Shitara Town is the central town of Kitashitara District, in the mountains of northern Higashi-Mikawa known as Oku-Mikawa, and forest covers about 90% of its area. Old folk performing arts are handed down, such as Damine Dengaku of Damine Kannon, and visitors can learn about mountain life at Michi-no-Eki Shitara and the Shitara Town Okumikawa Local Material Museum.","23562":"Toei Town is in Oku-Mikawa near the border with Shizuoka Prefecture, and \"Hanamatsuri,\" a shimotsuki kagura (sacred dance) festival, is handed down in each district. The all-night festival, in which demons dance and hot water is sprinkled, is a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and the Hanamatsuri Kaikan introduces its world.","23563":"Toyone Village, in Kitashitara District, borders Nagano and Shizuoka prefectures and has the smallest population of any municipality in Aichi Prefecture. The highlands of Mt. Chausu, the highest peak in Aichi Prefecture, have a ski area, a famous moss phlox spot and a highland art museum, and the village is loved as a cool summer retreat.","24201":"Tsu City is the prefectural capital, a coastal city on Ise Bay near the center of the Ise Plain. In the Edo period it prospered as the castle town of the Tsu Domain, ruled by the Todo family. In Isshinden stands Senju-ji, head temple of the Takada branch of Shin Buddhism, where the Miei-do and Nyorai-do halls, both National Treasures, stand side by side. It is the largest city in the prefecture by area.","24202":"Yokkaichi City, in the north of Mie Prefecture, is the most populous city in the prefecture and an industrial city with a petrochemical complex at Yokkaichi Port. During the period of rapid economic growth it suffered the pollution disease \"Yokkaichi asthma\" and has worked to improve its environment. It is also known for the history of Yokkaichi-juku on the Tokaido road and for producing Banko ware.","24203":"Ise City is the \"city of the gods,\" which grew as the town in front of the Inner and Outer Shrines of Ise Jingu; in the Edo period, people came from all over Japan on the \"Ise pilgrimage.\" It is known for the Shikinen Sengu, the rebuilding of the shrines once every 20 years, and Oharai-machi street keeps the bustle of the approach. Futaminoura, known for the Meoto Iwa (wedded rocks), is also here.","24204":"Matsusaka City is in the middle of the Ise Plain and is known for Matsusaka beef. In the Edo period it prospered as land of the Kishu Domain and was a merchant town that produced many wealthy merchants, starting with the Mitsui family. The former home of the scholar Motoori Norinaga, the stone walls of the Matsusaka Castle ruins and the Castle Guard Residences show the look of a castle town.","24205":"Kuwana City is at the northern tip of Mie Prefecture, at the mouths of the three Kiso rivers, and prospered as a post town of the \"Shichiri no Watashi\" ferry on the Tokaido road. Clam dishes are a specialty, and it is rich in tourist spots such as Nagashima Spa Land, Tado Taisha and Rokkaen. The summer Ishidori Festival is a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.","24207":"Suzuka City is in north-central Mie Prefecture. It has Suzuka Circuit, which hosts the F1 Japanese Grand Prix and other races, and is called the \"holy land of motorsports.\" It is an industrial city with factories of Honda and others, and it is also known for traditional Suzuka ink and Ise katagami (paper stencils), and the old Tsubaki Grand Shrine.","24208":"Nabari City is in the south of the Iga Basin and developed as a commuter town, linked to the Osaka area by the Kintetsu Osaka Line. Large housing estates named after flowers, starting with \"Kikyogaoka,\" have been built. It is rich in gorge scenery, such as the Akame 48 Waterfalls, a chain of large and small falls, and Koochidani Gorge.","24209":"Owase City, in the south of Mie Prefecture on the Kumano Sea, is known as one of Japan's rainiest areas and produces Owase cypress grown by the rain. Fishing thrives in the jagged Owase Bay, and pass trails of the Kumano Kodo Iseji route run through the city; visitors can learn their history at the Mie Prefecture Kumano Kodo Center.","24210":"Kameyama City, in north-central Mie Prefecture, prospered in the Edo period as the castle town of the Kameyama Domain and as Kameyama-juku, Seki-juku and Sakashita-juku on the Tokaido road. Seki-juku, which keeps its Edo-period townscape, is a nationally protected historic district. The city has a large share of candle production and has also grown as a railway town.","24211":"Toba City is in the northeast of the Shima Peninsula and includes outlying islands such as Toshijima, Sugashima and Kami-shima, the setting of Mishima Yukio's \"The Sound of Waves.\" Mikimoto Pearl Island, where Mikimoto Kokichi succeeded in cultivating pearls, and the Toba Aquarium are popular, and the tradition of ama (women divers) fishing is carried on.","24212":"Kumano City faces the Kumano Sea, and the Kumano Kodo Iseji route, part of the World Heritage \"Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range,\" passes through it. Highlights include Hananoiwaya Shrine, said to be Japan's oldest shrine, the sea cliffs of Onigajo and Shishi Iwa (lion rock), and the coast of Shichirimi Beach. The Kumano Fireworks Festival in summer is also famous.","24214":"Inabe City is in the Hokusei area of Mie Prefecture and was formed in 2003 by the merger of Hokusei Town, Inabe Town, Daian Town and Fujiwara Town. It is a rural city surrounded by mountains of the Suzuka Range, such as Mt. Fujiwara, and the plum grove of its agricultural park colors the spring. The Freight Railway Museum along the Sangi Railway is also well known.","24215":"Shima City is in the south of the Shima Peninsula. Small islands float in Ago Bay, known for pearl farming, and the jagged coastline is beautiful. In 2016 the Ise-Shima Summit was held on Kashiko Island. It also has Cape Daio with its lighthouse, Izawa-no-miya, an associated shrine of Ise Jingu, and Parque Espana-Shima Spain Village.","24216":"Iga City, in the northwest of Mie Prefecture, is known as the home of the Iga ninja and the birthplace of Matsuo Basho. In Ueno, once the castle town of the Todo family, Iga Ueno Castle rises on high stone walls, and the city has the Ninja Museum of Igaryu and the Haiseiden. Iga ware, Iga braided cords (kumihimo) and Iga beef are also specialties.","24303":"Kisosaki Town, in Kuwana District, is at the northeast tip of Mie Prefecture at the mouths of the three Kiso rivers. It borders Aichi Prefecture to the east and faces Ise Bay to the south. Its flat land was created through much reclamation for new rice fields, and tomatoes are a specialty. Mail is delivered by a post office in neighboring Yatomi City, Aichi, and its telephone area code is the same as Yatomi's.","24324":"Toin Town is in Inabe District and has been the district's only town since the other 4 towns in the district became Inabe City in 2003. Residential areas spread as a commuter area for Nagoya and Yokkaichi, and there is also a large shopping complex. At Inabe Shrine, the Ageuma ritual is held, in which horses gallop up a slope.","24341":"Komono Town, in Mie District, spreads at the eastern foot of the Suzuka Range. Many tourists and climbers visit Yunoyama Onsen and Mt. Gozaisho, which can be climbed by ropeway. The Shidekobushi magnolia and wetland plant community of Tabika is a national Natural Monument, and the town also has the Paramita Museum.","24343":"Asahi Town, in Mie District, is the smallest municipality in Mie Prefecture by area. It lies between Yokkaichi City and Kuwana City, and residential areas convenient for commuting toward Nagoya spread here. A reliquary found at the site of the ancient Nao Haiji temple is an Important Cultural Property, and the Asahi Town Museum of History tells the town's history.","24344":"Kawagoe Town, in Mie District, is the second-smallest municipality in the prefecture by area after Asahi Town, but 100% of its land is habitable. JERA's Kawagoe Thermal Power Station faces Ise Bay, and visitors can learn how electricity works at the Kawagoe Denryokukan \"Tera 46.\" The Mie-Kawagoe Interchange of the Isewangan Expressway is also here.","24441":"Taki Town is in Taki District in central Mie Prefecture. It has Ouka High School, known for \"Mago no Mise,\" a restaurant run by high school students, and the town is building itself around food. It has the large resort complex VISON and Gokatsura Pond Furusato Village, and is also known for its specialty Ise-imo (yam).","24442":"Meiwa Town, in Taki District, lies along the Ise Kaido road. In ancient times the Saiku was here, the residence of the Saio, a princess who served at Ise Jingu on behalf of the emperor; visitors can learn about her life at the historic Ruins of Saiku and the Saiku Historical Museum. The town has friendship ties with Meiwa Town in Gunma Prefecture.","24443":"Odai Town is in Taki District, and the whole town is registered in the UNESCO Eco Park \"Odaigahara, Mt. Omine and Osugidani.\" Osugidani, on the upper Miya River, is one of Japan's leading gorges, with a chain of waterfalls such as Nanatsugama Falls and Dokura Falls that can be visited on foot by trail.","24461":"Tamaki Town, in Watarai District, borders Ise City and was once a busy stopping place for pilgrims to Ise Jingu. At the ruins of Tamaru Castle, said to have been built by Kitabatake Chikafusa and others, the keep base, stone walls and moats remain, and the town also has a memorial hall of Murayama Ryohei, founder of the Asahi Shimbun.","24470":"Watarai Town is a mountain town in Watarai District, bordering Ise City to the west, with settlements scattered along the clear Miya River and its tributary, the Ichinose River. Ise tea is widely grown on the slopes, and with the old Kugutsuhime Shrine, it is a town of rivers and tea fields.","24471":"Taiki Town, in Watarai District, was formed in 2005 by the merger of Omiya Town, Ouchiyama Village and Kisei Town. Takihara-no-miya, an associated shrine of Ise Jingu, stands in a cedar forest, and the Tsuzurato and Nisaka passes of the Kumano Kodo are here. Dairy farming in Ouchiyama and the fishing port of Nishiki on the Kumano Sea are also known.","24472":"Minamiise Town, in Watarai District, has a jagged coast with inlets such as Gokasho Bay and Nie Bay, and fisheries such as pearl and sea bream farming thrive. It has the Aisu no Yakata, connected with the Aisu clan, who were based at Gokasho Castle in the Warring States period, and the Contemporary Art Museum Ise, overlooking the sea.","24543":"Kihoku Town, in Kitamuro District, was formed in 2005 by the merger of Kii-Nagashima Town and Miyama Town. Stone-paved paths of the Kumano Kodo Iseji route, such as the Magose and Tsuzurato passes, run through the town and are part of the World Heritage Site. At Michi-no-Eki Kii-Nagashima Manbo, visitors can taste sunfish dishes.","24561":"Mihama Town, in Minamimuro District, has Shichirimi Beach, a pebble coast that stretches along the Kumano Sea. Citrus growing thrives in the warm climate, and it is known as \"the town where mandarins are harvested all year round.\" The Hama Kaido route of the Kumano Kodo passes through, and the town has Michi-no-Eki Park Shichirimihama.","24562":"Kiho Town, in Minamimuro District, is at the southern tip of Mie Prefecture and was formed in 2006 by the merger of Kiho Town and Udono Village. It borders Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture across the Kumano River, and Mifunejima, the island used in the festival of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, floats in the river. The town also has Michi-no-Eki Kihocho Umigame Park (Sea Turtle Park).","25201":"Otsu City is the prefectural capital, an old capital on the southwest shore of Lake Biwa. Its history begins with Emperor Tenji's Omi Otsu Palace, and many old temples and shrines remain, such as Enryaku-ji Temple, a World Cultural Heritage Site, Onjo-ji (known as Mii-dera Temple) and Ishiyama-dera. Seta no Karahashi bridge, Ogoto Onsen and Omi Jingu, the \"holy place\" of karuta cards, are also highlights.","25202":"Hikone City is the central city of eastern Shiga Prefecture and prospered as the castle town of the Ii family. Hikone Castle overlooking Lake Biwa, the daimyo garden Genkyu-en and the ruins of Sawayama Castle, home of Ishida Mitsunari, remain as stages of history. Houses of a Nakasendo post town also remain, and the city is loved for the Birdman Contest on the Matsubara shore and Hikonyan, its mascot.","25203":"Nagahama City is the center of the Kohoku region, a town laid out by Hashiba Hideyoshi as the castle town of Nagahama Castle. Besides the Kurokabe (black wall) streets, which prospered as the temple town of Daitsu-ji, it has many sights, such as Hogon-ji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine on Chikubu Island, the ruins of the Azai clan's Odani Castle and Kunitomo, once a gun-making center. Its six-row barley output ranks 2nd in Japan.","25204":"Omihachiman City grew from a castle town founded by Toyotomi Hidetsugu and prospered as the birthplace of the Omi merchants. The townscape along the Hachiman moat is a nationally protected historic district, and Western-style buildings by Vories remain. The ruins of Oda Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle, Okishima, the largest inhabited island in Lake Biwa, and the waterways of Lake Nishinoko are also highlights.","25206":"Kusatsu City prospered as the post town where the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads split, and the Kusatsu-Juku Honjin still remains. With easy access to Kyoto and Osaka, its population has grown to second in the prefecture after Otsu City. On the lakeshore are the Lake Biwa Museum and the aquatic plant park \"Mizu no Mori,\" where visitors can learn about the lake's nature and people's lives.","25207":"Moriyama City spreads over a delta formed by the Yasu River on the east shore of Lake Biwa. It was a post town on the Nakasendo road, as in the saying \"leave Kyoto, stay at Moriyama,\" and old houses remain along the old road. It has the Ise Site, a Yayoi-period settlement, and the Sagawa Art Museum by the lake, and Lake Biwa Bridge links it to Katata on the opposite shore.","25208":"Ritto City is at a transport hub linking the Keihanshin and Chukyo areas and grew after Ritto Interchange on the Meishin Expressway opened. It is known nationwide for the Japan Racing Association's Ritto Training Center. The south is the granite Konze Mountains, where visitors can see the strange rocks of the Konan Alps and the old temple Konsho-ji.","25209":"Koka City is at the southeastern end of Shiga Prefecture and is known as the home of the Koka ninja. Emperor Shomu built the Shigaraki Palace here, and Minakuchi-juku and Tsuchiyama-juku on the Tokaido road were located here. It produces Shigaraki ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, and Tsuchiyama and Asamiya teas, and the Miho Museum is in the mountains.","25210":"Yasu City spreads on the south shore of Lake Biwa at the foot of Mt. Mikami, called \"Omi Fuji.\" The main hall of Mikami Shrine, which treats Mt. Mikami as its sacred mountain, is a National Treasure, and 24 bronze bells (dotaku) were excavated from nearby Mt. Oiwa. It was a transport hub crossed by the Nakasendo road and the Chosenjin Kaido road, and Maiami Beach on the lakeshore offers camping.","25211":"Konan City is in the south of Shiga Prefecture, with the Yasu River flowing through its center, and despite its name (\"south of the lake\") it does not face Lake Biwa. Ishibe-juku on the Tokaido road prospered here, and Zensui-ji, Joraku-ji and Choju-ji Temples, whose main halls or three-story pagoda are National Treasures, are called the \"Konan Sanzan.\" It is also an \"industrial town\" with many industrial parks.","25212":"Takashima City, the prefecture's largest city by area, spreads from Lake Biwa's northwest shore to the Fukui border. Highlights include Shirahige Shrine, whose torii gate stands in the lake, Kaizu Osaki, famous for cherry blossoms, and the kabata of Harie, where spring water is used in daily life. It is the birthplace of the \"Lake Biwa Rowing Song,\" and in winter the Mt. Hakodate ski area is busy.","25213":"Higashiomi City stretches from east to west from the Suzuka Range to Lake Biwa, with the Echi River flowing through its center. It has old temples such as Eigen-ji Temple, known for autumn leaves, and Hyakusai-ji Temple, said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku, and Gokasho-kondo-cho keeps streets of Omi merchant mansions. The Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival is also known.","25214":"Maihara City is a transport hub where the Nakasendo and Hokurikudo roads split, and it has Maibara Station, the only Tokaido Shinkansen station in the prefecture. Mt. Ibuki, one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, is a treasure house of alpine plants, and in the Jizo River flowing through Samegai-juku, baikamo water plants and the harriyo fish can be seen. The Amano River basin is famous for Genji fireflies.","25383":"Hino Town began as the castle town of the Gamo clan and is known as the home of the Hino merchants, who peddled goods across Japan. The Omi Hino Merchant Museum tells of their lives, and Umamioka Watamuki Shrine stands at the foot of Mt. Watamuki. The hon-shakunage rhododendron community of Kamagake Valley is a national Natural Monument.","25384":"Ryuo Town is in the middle of the Koto Plain between Mt. Kagami and Mt. Yukino. It has Daihatsu's Shiga plant and is a working town whose daytime population grows much larger than at night, and it is also one of the producers of Omi beef. Near Ryuo Interchange on the Meishin Expressway is Mitsui Outlet Park Shiga Ryuo.","25425":"Aisho Town, in the Koto area, was formed by the merger of Hatasho Town and Echigawa Town. Echigawa-juku on the Nakasendo road was here, and Kongorin-ji Temple, one of the Koto Sanzan temples, is known for autumn leaves. It produces Omi Jofu, a hemp textile, and the \"Yamabiko spring water\" is listed among the Heisei-era 100 best waters.","25441":"Toyosato Town is the smallest town in Shiga Prefecture by area and spreads over flat land on the alluvial fan of the Inukami River. It is the birthplace of Ito Chubei, who founded Itochu and Marubeni, and his family home is open as the Chubei Itoh Memorial Museum. It is also known for the old building of Toyosato Elementary School, designed by Vories, and as one of the birthplaces of Goshu Ondo folk dance songs.","25442":"Kora Town is a rice-growing area on the alluvial fan of the Inukami River and the 2nd-smallest town in the prefecture by area. It has Saimyo-ji Temple, one of the Koto Sanzan temples, whose main hall and three-story pagoda are National Treasures. Sasaki Doyo had his base here in the Nanboku-cho period, and it is the birthplace of Kora Munehiro, master carpenter of the Edo shogunate.","25443":"Taga Town grew as the shrine town of Taga Taisha, which enshrines the gods Izanagi and Izanami. The shrine is fondly called \"Otaga-san,\" and the pilgrim road has long been busy. The east reaches Mt. Ryozen in the Suzuka Range, and the limestone cave Kawachi no Kaza-ana and the Taga Town Museum, which displays elephant fossils, are also highlights.","26100":"Kyoto City is the \"thousand-year capital,\" where the imperial capital stood for about 1,080 years, from the move to Heian-kyo in 794 until the capital moved to Tokyo in the early Meiji era. Famous temples, shrines and historic sites such as Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku (Rokuon-ji), Ginkaku (Jisho-ji), Fushimi Inari-taisha and Nijo Castle remain, along with Kyoto townhouses (kyomachiya), and the city remains a center of traditional Japanese culture.","26201":"Fukuchiyama City is the central city of a basin in northern Kyoto Prefecture through which the Yura River flows. Akechi Mitsuhide founded its castle and castle town, and because he worked to control the Yura River's floods, he is still honored at Goryo Shrine. The city is known for Fukuchiyama Castle, whose keep has been rebuilt, and the inland Osadano Industrial Park.","26202":"Maizuru City faces Maizuru Bay, shaped like the character for \"person,\" at the back of Wakasa Bay. It has two faces: West Maizuru, a castle town, and East Maizuru, which developed as a naval port. A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force base is here, and the red brick warehouses and the Maizuru Repatriation Memorial Museum tell its history. It also claims to be the birthplace of nikujaga (meat and potato stew).","26203":"Ayabe City is in the north of Kyoto Prefecture, with the Yura River flowing through its center, and its name is said to come from ancient twill weaving. It prospered with silk as the birthplace of Gunze, and the Gunze Memorial Hall and Gunze Museum Garden tell its story. It has the sacred site of the Oomoto religion, and old temples are scattered here, such as Komyo-ji Temple with its National Treasure Nio gate.","26204":"Uji City is in the southeast of the Kyoto Basin, at the mouth of a valley where the river flowing out of Lake Biwa takes the name Uji River. It is known for the World Heritage sites Byodo-in Temple and Ujigami Shrine and as the setting of the \"Uji Chapters\" of \"The Tale of Genji,\" and it produces high-quality Uji tea. Manpuku-ji Temple, head temple of the Obaku Zen school, is also here.","26205":"Miyazu City is in the southeast of the Tango Peninsula, facing Miyazu Bay, and Amanohashidate, one of Japan's three most scenic views, links the north and south parts of the city. Old temples and shrines line up here, such as Nariai-ji Temple overlooking Amanohashidate, Kono Shrine, the most important shrine of Tango, and Chion-ji Temple. The castle-town streets and the Catholic Miyazu Church also remain.","26206":"Kameoka City lies in the Kameoka Basin, west of Kyoto City, where the Katsura River (Hozu River) flows. It began as the castle town of Tanba Kameyama Castle, built by Akechi Mitsuhide, and prospered as the center of Tanba Province. It is the starting point of the Hozugawa river boat ride, has Izumo-daijingu and the site of Tanba Kokubun-ji Temple, and is wrapped in thick fog from late autumn to early spring.","26207":"Joyo City spreads along the east bank of the Kizu River, about halfway between Kyoto City and Nara City. It produces about 60% of Japan's gold and silver thread, and Kyoto Sanga F.C. has its training base here. Many historic sites from ancient times remain, such as Shibagahara Kofun, the Kuse temple ruins and Mito Shrine, whose main hall is an Important Cultural Property.","26208":"Muko City is at the southwest edge of the Kyoto Basin and is the smallest city by area in western Japan. It is an ancient capital site where the remains of the Daigokuden (great hall) of Nagaoka-kyo were found. Bamboo groves spread on the Nishinooka Hills, and kofun such as Motoinari Kofun remain. The old town name \"Mukomachi\" is still used for a station and facilities.","26209":"Nagaokakyo City is in the southwest of Kyoto Prefecture, and part of its area overlaps the southern part of Nagaoka-kyo, the ancient capital. It is famous for Kyoto bamboo shoots, and the Kirishima azaleas at Hachijogaike Pond of Nagaoka Tenmangu and the autumn leaves of Komyo-ji Temple are popular. It has the ruins of Shoryuji Castle, connected with Hosokawa Gracia, and the Gracia Festival is held in autumn.","26210":"Yawata City is near where the Kizu, Uji and Katsura rivers meet and grew as the town in front of Iwashimizu Hachimangu. Bamboo from Mt. Otoko is known for being used by Edison for the filament of his light bulb, and there is a monument to this. The Shokado Garden is also a highlight, and the city is a commuter town for the Osaka area.","26211":"Kyotanabe City is in the south of Kyoto Prefecture near the borders with Osaka and Nara prefectures, between the Kizu River and the Ikoma Mountains. It has Shuon-an (Ikkyu-ji Temple), where the Zen master Ikkyu spent his last years, and Kannon-ji Temple, which holds a National Treasure standing statue of the Eleven-faced Kannon. It produces gyokuro tea and is a commuter town for Kyoto and Osaka.","26212":"Kyotango City covers most of the Tango Peninsula and has Cape Kyogamisaki, the northernmost point of the Kinki region. It is known for \"Taiza crab,\" a high-grade snow crab, and varied coastlines continue, such as Kotohiki Beach with its singing sand and Kumihama Bay. It produces Tango chirimen (silk crepe) and is also known as a town of long life.","26213":"Nantan City crosses the center of Kyoto Prefecture from east to west and is the largest municipality in the prefecture after Kyoto City. The watershed between the Yura and Katsura rivers is here. In Miyama Town spread the \"Kayabuki no Sato,\" a village of thatched-roof houses, and the near-primeval forest of Kyoto University's Ashiu Forest Research Station. Rurikei in Sonobe is a popular gorge.","26214":"Kizugawa City is the southernmost city in Kyoto Prefecture, where Kuni-kyo, a capital of the Nara period, was located. Many old temples remain, such as Joruri-ji Temple, known for its National Treasure three-story pagoda and nine Amida statues, and Kaijusen-ji Temple, whose five-story pagoda is a National Treasure. Part of Kansai Science City, it is a residential city with close ties to Nara City.","26303":"Oyamazaki Town is the smallest municipality in Kyoto Prefecture by area, on the border with Osaka Prefecture. Mt. Tenno rises here, the stage of the Battle of Yamazaki, where Hashiba Hideyoshi defeated Akechi Mitsuhide, and Tai-an, a National Treasure teahouse said to be by Sen no Rikyu, remains. Rikyu Hachimangu, said to be the birthplace of oil making, and the Asahi Group Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art are also here.","26322":"Kumiyama Town spreads over a low plain formed by the Kizu River, and its name takes one character each from Kuse District and the former Mimaki and Sayama villages. Factories and logistics centers gather here, and its daytime population is much larger than at night. It is a financially rich town that has not received local allocation tax grants for many years.","26343":"Ide Town has the Tama River, a tributary of the Kizu River, flowing east to west, and in spring the cherry trees and yamabuki (Japanese kerria) on its banks are beautiful. Tachibana no Moroe, called the \"Minister of the Left of Ide\" in the Nara period, had a villa and Ide-dera temple here, and the yamabuki of the Tama River have been praised in poems since the Heian period. Most of the town is forest.","26344":"Ujitawara Town is a tea-growing area in the mountains east of Uji City, bordering Shiga Prefecture. It is known as the birthplace of Japanese green tea because Nagatani Soen created the method for making steamed sencha in the Edo period. It has Shouju-in Temple, popular for its heart-shaped window, Sarumaru Shrine, dedicated to the poet Sarumaru Dayu, and the old temple Zenjo-ji.","26364":"Kasagi Town is in the southeast of Kyoto Prefecture, with the Kizu River flowing through its center, and it has the smallest population of any municipality in Kyoto Prefecture. Mt. Kasagi, with Kasagi-dera Temple, known for Buddhas carved on huge rocks, is where Emperor Go-Daigo held out during the Genko War. It was also a key point of river transport that carried timber for building Todai-ji.","26365":"Wazuka Town is the largest tea-growing area in Kyoto Prefecture, and its landscape of tea fields covering the mountain slopes is part of the Japan Heritage \"A Walk Through 800 Years of Japanese Tea History.\" It is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" A road linking Kuni-kyo and Shigaraki Palace passed through here, and there is a tomb said to be that of Prince Asaka.","26366":"Seika Town lies between the Keihanna Hills and the Kizu River. As the center of Kansai Science City, it has the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library, research institutes and Keihanna Commemorative Park. Its name comes from a phrase in the Imperial Rescript on Education. Ebi-imo taro, Manganji peppers and strawberries are specialties.","26367":"Minamiyamashiro Village is the only village in Kyoto Prefecture. It occupies the eastern and southern edges of the prefecture and borders three prefectures: Mie, Shiga and Nara. The Kizu River and the Nabari River meet here, and Lake Tsukigase is formed by Takayama Dam. Its mountain tea fields are part of a Japan Heritage, and the roadside station \"Ocha no Kyoto Minamiyamashiro-mura\" is popular.","26407":"Kyotanba Town lies between the Fukuchiyama and Kameoka basins, surrounded by the Tanba Highlands, and prospered as a post town on the San'indo road. It works on food brands such as Daikoku hon-shimeji mushrooms, Tanba jidori chicken and Tanba beef, and it also produces Tanba chestnuts. The Shizushi Limestone Cave and Koto Falls are also highlights.","26463":"Ine Town is at the northeast tip of the Tango Peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan. Ine-ura, where funaya (boathouses with boat storage on the ground floor) line Ine Bay, is a nationally protected historic district, and Aoshima Island floats in the bay. The legend of Urashima Taro is handed down at Urashima Shrine, and the legend of Xu Fu at Niizaki.","26465":"Yosano Town is in the Kaya Valley, formed by the Noda River at the base of the Tango Peninsula, and the river flows into the Aso Inland Sea inside Amanohashidate. It produces Tango chirimen (silk crepe), and old streets of the Chirimen Kaido remain in Kaya. Many kofun also remain, such as Ebisuyama Kofun, a large keyhole-shaped mound.","27100":"Osaka City is the most populous city in western Japan, the prefectural capital of Osaka and a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture). Its history began with the ancient Naniwa Palace, and it is also called the \"City of Water\" for its rivers and canals. Besides the history of Osaka Castle, Shitenno-ji Temple and Sumiyoshi Taisha, visitors can enjoy lively Tsutenkaku and Dotonbori, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan and Universal Studios Japan.","27140":"Sakai City is a designated city (a major city with powers similar to a prefecture) whose name comes from \"sakai,\" meaning the border between Settsu and Izumi provinces. The Mozu Tombs, including Daisen Kofun, Japan's largest keyhole-shaped mound, are a World Cultural Heritage Site. In the Middle Ages it prospered as a self-governing, moated city, and it is still an industrial city at the core of the Hanshin Industrial Zone.","27202":"Kishiwada City is the central city of Senshu and prospered as the castle town of the Okabe clan of the Kishiwada Domain. It is known nationwide for the bold Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, and Kishiwada Castle is the symbol of the city. The city stretches long from Osaka Bay to the foot of the Izumi Mountains, and onions, mandarins and peaches are widely grown in the hills.","27203":"Toyonaka City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Hokusetsu that developed as a residential city along with development along the Hankyu Takarazuka Line. In the northeast spreads Senri New Town, Japan's first new town, and in the northwest is Osaka International Airport. Hattori Ryokuchi Park has the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses, with relocated old houses.","27204":"Ikeda City spreads at the foot of Mt. Satsuki and is known as the place where Hankyu first sold housing lots. Ando Momofuku invented Chicken Ramen here, and the city has the Cup Noodles Museum. The Itsuo Art Museum, connected with Kobayashi Ichizo, the Satsukiyama Zoo and the head office of Daihatsu are also here.","27205":"Suita City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Hokusetsu. The site of the Japan World Exposition became Expo '70 Commemorative Park, where the Tower of the Sun and the National Museum of Ethnology stand. The city has also grown as a \"beer town\" with a brewery and as a \"railway town\" where the Suita marshalling yard was. It also includes part of Senri New Town.","27206":"Izumiotsu City takes its name from the outer port of the provincial capital of Izumi. Blanket making grew out of a textile industry rooted in Edo-period Izumi cotton and sanada braided cord, and it is still a \"blanket town\" producing over 90% of Japan's domestic blankets. Its coastal area is part of the Sakai-Senboku coastal industrial zone.","27207":"Takatsuki City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) exactly halfway between Kyoto and Osaka, and its emblem combines the emblems of both cities. It has many kofun, such as Imashirozuka Kofun, said to be the true tomb of Emperor Keitai, and the history of Akutagawayama Castle and the castle town of Takatsuki Castle remains. Farming villages spread in the northern mountains, and the city calls itself \"tokainaka\" (city-countryside).","27208":"Kaizuka City, in Sennan, grew around the temple town of Gansen-ji. It has long produced boxwood combs and is said to be Japan's oldest comb-producing area. It became famous through the Nichibo Kaizuka women's volleyball team, called the \"Oriental Witches,\" and it has Mizuma-dera Temple, the Kannon Hall of Koon-ji Temple, a National Treasure, and Mt. Izumi Katsuragi.","27209":"Moriguchi City is in Kitakawachi, bordering Osaka City to the northeast and facing the Yodo River. In the Edo period it had Moriguchi-juku, a post town on the Kyo Kaido road, and it was known for Moriguchi radish. Panasonic's head office building stands here, and the western half of the Flower Expo Commemorative Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi is also in the city.","27210":"Hirakata City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Kitakawachi along the Yodo River, and in the Edo period it had Hirakata-juku, a post town on the Kyo Kaido road. It has \"Hirakata Park,\" Japan's oldest existing amusement park, and is also known for its ties to the Tanabata legend. Traces of ancient immigrant clans remain, such as Kudarao Shrine.","27211":"Ibaraki City is in Hokusetsu between Osaka and Kyoto and is connected with the Christian daimyo Takayama Ukon. In the northern mountains, people secretly kept their faith even after Christianity was banned, and the city has Ota Chausuyama Kofun, the largest keyhole-shaped mound in northern Osaka Prefecture. Kawabata Yasunari spent his boyhood here, and the city has a literary museum.","27212":"Yao City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Nakakawachi, with the Ikoma Mountains, such as Mt. Takayasu, to the east and the Yamato River flowing to the south. Kawachi Ondo dance music is popular, and the Bon dance of Joko-ji Temple is well known. It has many ancient sites, such as Shionjiyama Kofun and Taiseishogun-ji Temple, connected with Prince Shotoku, and it is also a manufacturing town with many small factories.","27213":"Izumisano City, in Sennan, includes the bridge side of Kansai International Airport offshore. In the Middle Ages, the Hine estate of the Kujo family was here, and the Ogi area keeps a rural landscape that recalls the estate. It has the National Treasure Tahoto pagoda of Jigen-in Temple and Shipporyu-ji Temple at Inakiyama, and its winter cabbage ranks 7th in Japan.","27214":"Tondabayashi City, in Minamikawachi, began in the Warring States period as a temple town around the Koshoji Betsuin temple. Its townscape is a nationally protected historic district, and the Former Sugiyama Family House and others remain. The Ishikawa River flows through the city, and there are green sights such as Nishikori Park and Ryusen-ji Temple.","27215":"Neyagawa City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Kitakawachi on the left bank of the Yodo River and developed as a suburban residential city of Osaka City. Its name is said to come from the \"neya\" (huts) of herders at the foot of ancient Mt. Ikoma. Ishinohoden Kofun remains in the eastern hills, and Naritasan Osaka Betsuin temple is known for prayers for traffic safety.","27216":"Kawachinagano City spreads in the mountains of Minamikawachi, and the south is called \"Okukawachi.\" With many cultural properties, such as Kanshin-ji Temple, connected with the Kusunoki clan, and Kongo-ji Temple, which holds a National Treasure folding screen of the sun, moon and four seasons, it calls itself a \"town of cultural properties.\" The Koya Kaido road passes through, and the nature of the Takihata 48 Waterfalls and Mt. Iwawaki is close at hand.","27217":"Matsubara City borders Osaka City and Sakai City and is called the \"navel of Osaka\" because it is near the center of the prefecture. It has been a transport hub since ancient times, crossed by the Naniwa Odo, Takenouchi Kaido and Nagao Kaido roads, and it is still a \"city of roads\" where 5 expressways meet at Matsubara Junction. Nunose Shrine and Shibagaki Shrine stand here.","27218":"Daito City, in Kitakawachi, takes its name from the phrase \"light comes from the east.\" On Mt. Iimori are the ruins of Iimoriyama Castle, home of Miyoshi Nagayoshi, and at its foot there was once the large Fukano Pond. It prospered as a key point on the Higashi-Koya Kaido road linking Osaka and Nara, and today the area around Suminodo Station is its center.","27219":"Izumi City, in the Senboku area, is said to be where the provincial capital of Izumi was located. Next to the Ikegami-Sone Site, a large moated settlement of the Yayoi period, is the Osaka Prefectural Museum of Yayoi Culture, and Sefuku-ji Temple on Mt. Makio is a temple of the Saigoku 33 pilgrimage. The north is residential and the south is mountain villages, and the city promotes itself as \"tokainaka\" (city-countryside).","27220":"Minoh City, in Hokusetsu, is known for Minoh Falls and its specialty, deep-fried maple leaves. Along the path to the falls is Ryuan-ji Temple, connected with En no Gyoja, and Katsuo-ji Temple in the mountains is loved as the temple of \"victory daruma.\" Residential areas spread in the south, and the Saito development is under way in the east.","27221":"Kashiwara City, in Nakakawachi, is mostly mountains, and the Yamato River, flowing through its center, meets the Ishikawa River near the city hall. Grape growing has long been active, and there is also a winery. The Takaida Yokoana tombs, a type of cave tomb found nowhere else in the prefecture, remain, and Kamenose is known for its landslide prevention works.","27222":"Habikino City, in Minamikawachi, has the World Heritage Furuichi Kofun Cluster, including Konda Gobyoyama Kofun, said to be the tomb of Emperor Ojin. Its name is said to come from the legend of Yamato Takeru, who flew away as a white bird. Grapes and figs are widely grown, and Tsuboi Hachimangu, connected with the Kawachi Genji clan, is also here.","27223":"Kadoma City, in Kitakawachi, is the company town where Panasonic has its head office. It was once a farming village in a water landscape, and lotus root and arrowhead (kuwai), traditional vegetables, are still grown. The Keihan Main Line and the Osaka Monorail run through the city, and near the station is the large LaLaport Kadoma shopping complex.","27224":"Settsu City, in Hokusetsu on the right bank of the Yodo River, is a residential and industrial city close to central Osaka. It has the Tokaido Shinkansen's Torikai Depot and Hankyu's Shojaku Works, as well as Shinkansen Park, which displays Shinkansen cars. The Ai River flows through the center of the city, and the Osaka Monorail runs north to south.","27225":"Takaishi City is an industrial city in Senboku facing Osaka Bay, and about 40% of its area is reclaimed coastal land. While it is part of the Sakai-Senboku coastal industrial zone, the Nankai Main Line and JR Hanwa Line run north to south, and it is also a residential area for people commuting to central Osaka City. Tonoki Shrine and Takaishi Shrine stand here.","27226":"Fujiidera City, in Minamikawachi, is the 5th-smallest city in Japan by area. The World Heritage Furuichi Kofun Cluster is concentrated here, including Oka Misanzai Kofun, said to be the tomb of Emperor Chuai, and the city prospered as the temple town of Fujii-dera Temple, No. 5 of the Saigoku 33 pilgrimage. Domyoji Tenmangu, connected with Sugawara no Michizane, is also here.","27227":"Higashiosaka City is a core city (a mid-sized city with expanded powers) of Nakakawachi and has the 3rd-largest population in the prefecture. It is known as a \"rugby town\" with Hanazono Rugby Stadium and as a \"manufacturing town\" with highly skilled small factories. At the foot of Mt. Ikoma are Hiraoka Shrine and Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine, fondly called \"Ishikiri-san,\" and the Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum stands in the city.","27228":"Sennan City, in Sennan, faces Osaka Bay, and beyond the Izumi Mountains lies Wakayama Prefecture. The southern part of Kansai International Airport offshore is in the city, and it is working to boost industry using the airport. The ancient temple site of Kaie-ji and old temples such as Rinsho-ji and Choukei-ji are scattered here, and the Rinku shopping facilities are busy.","27229":"Shijonawate City, in Kitakawachi, is two-thirds covered by the Ikoma Mountains, and the Tawara area in the east is the only part of the prefecture on the east side of the Ikoma Mountains. Shijonawate Shrine, which enshrines Kusunoki Masatsura, who died in the Battle of Shijonawate in the Nanboku-cho period, is well known. The mountain side is in Kongo-Ikoma-Kisen Quasi-National Park and offers hiking.","27230":"Katano City, in Kitakawachi, is half forest, with the Amano River flowing through its center. It is known for the Tanabata legend connected with the Amano River and Hatamono Shrine, and nature is close at hand, such as Iwafune Shrine, which worships a huge rock, and the Kurondo-en park. It is also an unusual city whose citizens' charter is the single character \"wa\" (harmony).","27231":"Osakasayama City, in Minamikawachi, has Sayama Pond in its center, said to be Japan's oldest irrigation pond. Its history can be learned at the Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum, and the pond's shores are loved as a walking path. In the Showa era the city grew greatly as a residential city with the development of Sayama New Town.","27232":"Hannan City, in the Sennan area, developed around Ozaki Station on the Nankai Main Line and was the most recent municipality in the prefecture to become a city. Sennan Satoumi Park spreads along Osaka Bay, and Honganji Ozaki Betsuin Temple and Hata Shrine tell of its long history. Yamanakadani in the mountains is famous for cherry blossoms and also has a hot spring.","27301":"Shimamoto Town, in Hokusetsu on the border with Kyoto Prefecture, lies in the Yamazaki gap between Mt. Tenno and Mt. Otoko. It has Minase Jingu, built on the site of the detached palace of the retired Emperor Go-Toba, and the Sakurai-no-eki site, where Kusunoki Masashige parted from his son. Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery is here, and the town is also known for its famous spring water.","27321":"Toyono Town is in the Hokusetsu Mountains in the northwest of the prefecture, bordering Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures. The eastern area is high and cooler than central Osaka, and snow sometimes piles up in winter. It has Myokenguchi Station on the Nose Electric Railway, the gateway to Mt. Myoken, and old shrines such as Yoshikawa-hachiman Shrine remain.","27322":"Nose Town is a mountain town at the northern tip of Osaka Prefecture, surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Miyama and Mt. Kenbi, with fields and forests. The great zelkova of Noma, a Natural Monument, is a huge tree. As a producer of Nose chestnuts, it has the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Nose \"Kuri no Sato,\" and the tradition of joruri puppet narrative is carried on.","27341":"Tadaoka Town faces Osaka Bay and is the only town in Senboku District and the smallest town in Japan by area. The whole town is urban, and the coastal area and the banks of the Otsu River are used for industry. The Masaki Art Museum holds the National Treasure \"Santai Hakushi Shikan\" poem scroll and is known for its collection of Zen monks' calligraphy and tea utensils.","27361":"Kumatori Town, in the Sennan area, is the most populous town or village in the prefecture. The houses and study halls of the Naka and Furui families, who served as \"seven village headmen\" of the Kishiwada Domain in the Edo period, remain and are Important Cultural Properties. Kyoto University's nuclear research facility is here, and it is also a college town with several universities.","27362":"Tajiri Town is a small town in Sennan facing Osaka Bay, and part of Kansai International Airport offshore is in the town. The building of the airport island greatly increased its area. The Sunday morning market at Tajiri Fishing Port and the Tajiri Historic House, the former villa of Taniguchi Fusazo, who made his fortune in spinning, are well known.","27366":"Misaki Town is at the southern tip of Osaka Prefecture and borders Wakayama Prefecture across the Izumi Mountains. Awaji Island can be seen across the water, and it was long a key point on the Nankaido road to Kii, Awaji and Shikoku. It has the Chomatsu Coast, the only natural beach left in the prefecture, and Tannowa Nisanzai Kofun.","27381":"Taishi Town, in Minamikawachi at the western foot of Mt. Nijo, is crossed by the Takenouchi Kaido, said to be Japan's oldest official road. Its name comes from Eifuku-ji Temple, which has the mausoleum of Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi), and because imperial tombs such as Yamada Takatsuka Kofun, said to be Empress Suiko's, gather here, it is also called the \"Valley of Royal Tombs.\"","27382":"Kanan Town, in Minamikawachi, spreads at the western foot of the Kongo Mountains and Mt. Katsuragi. It has Hirokawa-dera Temple, where the monk-poet Saigyo spent his last years, and many people visit in cherry blossom season. The Chikatsu Asuka Museum, which shows kofun culture, was designed by Ando Tadao, and Michi-no-Eki Kanan sells local farm products.","27383":"Chihayaakasaka Village is the only village in Osaka Prefecture and is known as the birthplace of Kusunoki Masashige, a warrior of the Nanboku-cho period. The ruins of Chihaya Castle, where Masashige held out, and of Kami-Akasaka and Shimo-Akasaka castles remain, and it is a trailhead for Mt. Kongo, where En no Gyoja is said to have trained. The Shimo-Akasaka terraced rice fields are among Japan's 100 best terraced rice fields.","28100":"Kobe City is the prefectural capital, a port city stretching long from east to west between Mt. Rokko and Osaka Bay. The Former Foreign Settlement, the Kitano foreign residences and Nankinmachi (Chinatown) keep the exotic atmosphere of the port's opening, and the city is known for sake from the Nada Gogo breweries, Western-style sweets and bread. Kita Ward has the ancient Arima Onsen hot spring.","28201":"Himeji City is the central city of the Harima region, and Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site, rises in the middle of the castle town. A strong culture of history and festivals remains, including Engyo-ji Temple on Mt. Shosha and the Nada Fighting Festival, known for its clashing portable shrines. The Ieshima Islands lie offshore.","28202":"Amagasaki City is in the Hanshin area, bordering Osaka City, and its telephone area code is \"06,\" the same as Osaka. It grew from the castle town of the Amagasaki Domain into an industrial city of the Hanshin Industrial Zone and is now a mix of housing and factories. It has the rebuilt keep of Amagasaki Castle and the Yayoi-period Tano Site.","28203":"Akashi City faces the Akashi Strait and is the \"Meridian City,\" crossed by the 135° east longitude line that sets Japan Standard Time. The large clock of the Akashi Municipal Planetarium keeps standard time. It prospered as the castle town of Akashi Castle, and Akashi octopus and Akashi sea bream caught in the strait, and tamagoyaki (Akashiyaki egg dumplings) are specialties.","28204":"Nishinomiya City is a residential city between Osaka and Kobe, with Hanshin Koshien Stadium and Nishinomiya Shrine, known for the \"Fukuotoko\" race at the Toka Ebisu festival. \"Miyamizu\" water, ideal for brewing sake, springs here, and breweries of the Nada Gogo line the coast. Quiet residential areas spread along the Hankyu lines.","28205":"Sumoto City is in the middle of Awaji Island and is the island's administrative center. From the ruins of Sumoto Castle on Mt. Mikuma, visitors can look out over the castle town and Osaka Bay. Sumoto Onsen and Ohama Beach line the coast, and there is Narugashima, a sandbar called \"Awaji Hashidate.\" The Goshiki area is the birthplace of Takataya Kahei.","28206":"Ashiya City is a residential city on south-facing slopes between the Rokko Mountains and Osaka Bay, with some of Japan's finest residential areas, such as Rokurokuso-cho. It was a center of Hanshinkan Modernism, and the Yodoko Guest House (former Yamamura House), designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Tanizaki Junichiro Memorial Museum remain.","28207":"Itami City is a commuter town for Osaka and Kobe that holds most of the runways of Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport). In the Edo period it prospered as a sake-producing area, and streets of sake breweries remain. In winter many migratory birds such as swans and ducks fly to Koyaike Pond, and the insect museum is also popular.","28208":"Aioi City faces the deep, jagged Aioi Bay and has prospered as a shipbuilding town since a dock was built at the end of the Meiji era. In the Showa 30s it once ranked first in the world in launched tonnage. The spring Peron boat race is a specialty, and the city has Manyo-no-Misaki cape overlooking the bay and Michi-no-Eki Aioi-Peironjo.","28209":"Toyooka City is the central city of the Tajima area in northern Hyogo Prefecture and has the largest area in the prefecture. It was the last habitat of wild Oriental white storks in Japan and works to protect them and return them to the wild. It is also known for Kinosaki Onsen with its tour of public baths, the castle town of Izushi, the \"Little Kyoto of Tajima,\" Genbudo caves and bag making.","28210":"Kakogawa City is a hub city of Higashi-Harima at the mouth of the Kako River, a class A river. It has long prospered as a grain-growing area and a post town on the highway. Kakurin-ji Temple, called the \"Horyu-ji of Harima,\" keeps its main hall and Taishi-do, both National Treasures. With many shogi players connected to it, the city calls itself a \"city of shogi players.\"","28212":"Ako City is on the Seto Inland Sea, bordering Okayama Prefecture, and was the castle town of the Ako Domain, connected with the Ako Incident and the Chushingura story. The Ako Gishi Festival is held on December 14. Salt fields have long prospered here, and \"Ako salt\" is known nationwide. The townscape of Sakoshi, a port of call for Kitamaebune ships, also remains.","28213":"Nishiwaki City is at the northern end of the Harima Plain and calls itself the \"navel of Japan,\" where 135° east longitude and 35° north latitude cross. It prospered as the home of \"Banshu-ori,\" a yarn-dyed textile that began with techniques brought from Nishijin in Kyoto in the Edo period. It is also known as the hometown of the artist Yokoo Tadanori.","28214":"Takarazuka City is a residential city in the northern Hanshin area and a \"city of musical theater,\" with the Takarazuka Grand Theater, home of the Takarazuka Revue. The manga artist Tezuka Osamu spent his boyhood here, and the city has the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum. Visitors can also see Nakayama-dera Temple, known for prayers for safe childbirth, and Takarazuka Onsen along the Muko River.","28215":"Miki City, northwest of Kobe City, grew from the castle town around Miki Castle. It was the scene of the Siege of Miki in the Warring States period, and making hardware such as saws and chisels, which has continued since the Edo period, is its main industry. The Yokawa area in the north is known for Yamada Nishiki, a sake rice.","28216":"Takasago City is in Harima, west of the mouth of the Kako River. It has Takasago Shrine, connected with the Noh song \"Takasago,\" and Oshiko Shrine, which worships \"Ishi no Hoden,\" a huge stone structure. It has long been known for quarrying Tatsuyama stone, and the coast is an industrial zone. In autumn, Banshu autumn festivals liven up many areas.","28217":"Kawanishi City is a residential city in the northern Hanshin area, bordering Osaka Prefecture. It is the birthplace of the Seiwa Genji clan, where Minamoto no Mitsunaka founded Tada-in, and the Genji Festival is held at Tada Shrine. The remains of the Tada silver and copper mines, which prospered in the Edo period, and the birthplace of \"Hirano water,\" which later became Mitsuya Cider, are also in the city.","28218":"Ono City is the central city of Kita-Harima, in the middle of the Harima Plain, with the Kako River flowing through it. It is known for producing abacuses, and hardware such as Banshu sickles is also made. Jodo-ji Temple, founded by Chogen, has the Jodo-do, a National Treasure hall famous for its Amida triad by Kaikei, which glows with the setting sun behind it.","28219":"Sanda City is on the north side of the Rokko Mountains and is the central city of Hokusetsu, where farmland and large new towns coexist. It has the cone-shaped Arima Fuji and Lake Senjoji, and the Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo is located here. It was once the castle town of the Kuki family of the Sanda Domain.","28220":"Kasai City is a farming city in the center of the Harima Plain, and Ichijo-ji Temple, an old Tendai temple, has a three-story pagoda from the Heian period that is a National Treasure. There are many sites telling old history, such as the Tamaoka Kofun Cluster and the Five Hundred Rakan of Hojo, a row of simple stone Buddhas, and the Hyogo Prefectural Flower Center is also here.","28221":"Tamba-Sasayama City is a castle town in the Sasayama Basin, where samurai residences and merchant houses remain around the ruins of Sasayama Castle. Black soybeans and yams, grown in the \"Tanba fog\" of autumn and winter, are specialties, and botan-nabe (wild boar hot pot) is also famous. It is known for the village of Tamba ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, and the Dekansho Festival.","28222":"Yabu City is a mountain city in the Tajima region with Mt. Hyono, the highest peak in the prefecture, and Mt. Hachibuse. At Nagusa Shrine deep in the mountains stands a three-story pagoda said to have been moved from Izumo Taisha, and a tall waterfall falls in the Tendaki Ravine. The city is a National Strategic Special Zone for farming reform in hilly and mountainous areas.","28223":"Tamba City is an inland city with the sources of the Kako River and the Yura River, and its \"Mizuwakare\" is known as the lowest point of the central watershed on Honshu. It has the ruins of Kuroi Castle, held by Akai Naomasa in the Warring States period, and Kaibara Hachiman Shrine, and fossils of the dinosaur \"Tambaryu\" were found here.","28224":"Minami-Awaji City is at the southern tip of Awaji Island and is the \"gateway to Awaji Island,\" linked to Shikoku by the Onaruto Bridge. Farming and fishing thrive, and its winter lettuce output ranks 1st in Japan and its onions 2nd. It is also known for the whirlpools of the Naruto Strait, Nushima Island and the tradition of Awaji ningyo joruri puppet theater.","28225":"Asago City is a transport hub at the southern end of the Tajima region and has the ruins of Takeda Castle, called the \"Machu Picchu of Japan\" for the way it floats above a sea of clouds. The Ikuno Mine, where full-scale mining began in the Warring States period and which prospered as direct shogunate land in the Edo period, and the Mikobata Cast Iron Bridge, telling mining history, remain.","28226":"Awaji City occupies the north of Awaji Island and is linked to Kobe by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It has Izanagi Jingu, connected with the myth of the creation of the islands, and in the former Hokudan Town the Nojima Fault, which caused the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, is preserved. Awaji Yumebutai, famous for flowers, and the prefectural Awaji Island Park are also here.","28227":"Shiso City is the 2nd-largest city in Hyogo Prefecture and, mostly covered by forest, calls itself the \"Shiso Forest Kingdom.\" It has Mt. Hyono, the highest peak in the prefecture, and the sources of the Ibo River and the Chikusa River, and the Chikusa River is listed among Japan's 100 best waters. Iwa Shrine, the most important shrine of Harima Province, and Harafudou Falls are also highlights.","28228":"Kato City is an inland city in Kita-Harima that produces Yamada Nishiki, a sake rice used to make sake. It has even passed an ordinance promoting toasts with sake. It has the old temples Kiyomizu-dera and Choko-ji and Saho Shrine, one of the leading old shrines of Kita-Harima, and visitors can enjoy Lake Tojo and Harima Central Park.","28229":"Tatsuno City is the castle town of the Tatsuno Domain along the Ibo River, where white-walled storehouses and samurai residences remain, and it is called the \"Little Kyoto of Harima.\" It is known for \"Ibo no Ito\" hand-stretched somen noodles and light-colored soy sauce, and it is the hometown of Miki Rofu, who wrote the lyrics of the children's song \"Akatombo\" (Red Dragonfly).","28301":"Inagawa Town is long and narrow from north to south, bordering Osaka Prefecture, with large new towns in the south and satoyama (village woodland) in the north. It has the Tada silver and copper mines, a national Historic Site with a legend of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's buried treasure, and the Inagawa Astronomical Observatory Astropia sits on top of Mt. Ono, the highest mountain in the Hanshin area.","28365":"Taka Town is a mountain town at the northern end of Kita-Harima that claims to be the birthplace of the sake rice \"Yamada Nishiki,\" the handmade washi paper \"Sugiharagami\" and \"Respect for the Aged Day.\" It is surrounded by Sengamine and Mt. Kasagata, and visitors can try papermaking at Michi-no-Eki Sugiharagami-no-Sato. In early summer, Lavender Park Taka turns purple.","28381":"Inami Town is on the Inamino Plateau between the Kako River and the Akashi River, where land with little rain and water was opened up with irrigation ponds. Many ponds are scattered here, such as Tenma Oike, said to be the oldest in the prefecture, and Kako Oike, the largest in the prefecture, and the Ogogawa Canal, Japan's first siphon-type waterway, was also built here.","28382":"Harima Town is the smallest municipality in Hyogo Prefecture by area, a town of homes and factories facing the Harima Sea. It remained as Ae Village until the mid-Showa era, and when it became a town, Hyogo Prefecture became a prefecture with no villages. It has the Onaka Ruins, a large settlement from the Yayoi to Kofun periods, and the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archaeology.","28442":"Ichikawa Town is a mountain town near the center of Hyogo Prefecture along the Ichikawa River, from which it takes its name. As the birthplace of Japanese-made golf iron heads, it carries on forging skills. At the foot of Mt. Kasagata, called \"Harima Fuji,\" is Kasagata Onsen Seseragi no Yu.","28443":"Fukusaki Town is an inland town north of Himeji City and a transport hub where the Chugoku Expressway and the Bantan Renraku Road cross. It is the hometown of the folklorist Yanagita Kunio, whose birthplace and memorial museum remain, and it is known for town-building with yokai (monster) benches and kappa (water imps) that rise from a pond. Mt. Nanakusa has the Nanakusa Falls.","28446":"Kamikawa Town is a \"secluded retreat of Harima,\" south of the watershed between Harima and Tajima, and forest covers most of the town. The Tonomine Highlands, covered in silver grass, and the newly developed Mineyama Kogen Resort are popular. The \"Silver Carriage Road,\" which carried silver from the Ikuno Mine to Shikama Port, passes through the town.","28464":"Taishi Town lies on the plain of the lower Ibo River and is said to be the site of \"Ikaruga-no-sho,\" paddy fields in Harima given to Prince Shotoku by Empress Suiko. Ikaruga-dera Temple, connected with the prince, has a three-story pagoda and is fondly called \"Otaishi-san.\" The town is also named as one possible birthplace of Miyamoto Musashi.","28481":"Kamigori Town is a mountain town at the western end of Hyogo Prefecture, bordering Okayama Prefecture, with the Chikusa River, one of Japan's 100 best waters, flowing through its center. It has the ruins of Shirahata Castle, where Akamatsu Enshin held out to help Ashikaga Takauji in the Nanboku-cho period. Harima Science Garden City spreads in the northeast, with a University of Hyogo campus.","28501":"Sayo Town is a mountain town where the Izumo Kaido and Inaba Kaido roads cross, and on late-autumn mornings the \"Sayo morning fog\" fills the valleys. In Hirafuku, a post town, storehouses remain along the river, and the ruins of Rikan Castle rise on a mountain above. It is also known for its summer sunflower fields and the Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory Park.","28585":"Kami Town faces the Sea of Japan and is the largest town in Hyogo Prefecture, and the whole town is in the San'in Kaigan Geopark. It is blessed with scenery such as the Amarube Viaduct of the San'in Main Line, the strange rocks of the Kasumi Coast and Saruo Falls, and it is also known for crab from Kasumi Fishing Port and Tajima beef. It is a heavy-snow area in winter.","28586":"Shin'onsen Town is at the northwest tip of Hyogo Prefecture, bordering Tottori Prefecture, and has Yumura Onsen, the setting of the TV drama \"Yumechiyo Nikki.\" Its coast is designated \"Tajima Mihonoura,\" a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, and crab fishing thrives at the fishing port of Hamasaka. The Tajima Ranch Park tells the history of Tajima cattle.","29201":"Nara City is the ancient capital where Heijo-kyo was located in the Nara period. Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, Kasuga-taisha, Toshodai-ji Temple and the Heijo Palace Site are among the parts of the World Heritage \"Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.\" The \"Deer of Nara,\" a Natural Monument, live in Nara Park, and Yamato tea is widely grown on the Yamato Highlands in the east.","29202":"Yamatotakada City is in the central west of the Nara Basin and has the highest population density in the prefecture. In the Edo period it prospered as a market town through cotton growing, and in modern times spinning mills made it a center of the textile industry. In the northwest is Tsukiyama Kofun, the southern end of the Umami Kofun Cluster.","29203":"Yamatokoriyama City is the castle town of Koriyama Castle, developed by Toyotomi Hidenaga, and was ruled by the Yanagisawa family in the Edo period. It is known for goldfish, with farming ponds scattered around, and the \"National Goldfish Scooping Championship\" is held here. The hydrangeas of Yata-dera Temple and Hieda, which keeps the shape of a moated village, are also highlights.","29204":"Tenri City is a religious city whose center has the headquarters of the Tenrikyo religion, from which the city takes its name. Isonokami Jingu and Oyamato Shrine, said to be among Japan's oldest shrines, stand here, as does the old temple Chogaku-ji. Along the Yamanobe Road many kofun remain, such as Kurozuka Kofun, where triangular-rimmed bronze mirrors were found.","29205":"Kashihara City takes its name from the legend that Emperor Jimmu took the throne southeast of Mt. Unebi, and Kashihara Jingu stands here. The city is surrounded by the Yamato Sanzan, the three mountains Unebi, Amanokagu and Miminashi, and has the site of Fujiwara-kyo, the capital Empress Jito moved to. The Imaicho townscape of Edo-period merchant houses is also worth seeing.","29206":"Sakurai City, in the southeast of the Nara Basin, tells of the beginnings of the Yamato kingship, with Omiwa Shrine, which worships Mt. Miwa as its sacred body, and the Makimuku ruins. It has many old temples and shrines, such as Hase-dera Temple in Hatsuse, known as a temple of flowers, Tanzan Shrine on Tonomine and Abe Monju-in, and it also produces Miwa somen noodles.","29207":"Gojo City is the central city of the Nanwa area, with the Yoshino River flowing west through its center, and it prospered as a transport hub linking Yamato and Kii. In the Edo period a daikan (magistrate's) office was here, and the Gojo Shinmachi street of merchant houses remains. Eisan-ji Temple, with its octagonal hall and National Treasure temple bell, is also a highlight.","29208":"Gose City is at the southwest edge of the Nara Basin at the foot of Mt. Kongo and Mt. Yamato Katsuragi, and it was the home base of the ancient Katsuragi and Kose clans. It has many old shrines, such as Katsuragi Hitokotonushi Shrine, known for a god who grants just one wish, and Takakamo Shrine, and the huge Muro Miya-yama Kofun also remains.","29209":"Ikoma City borders Osaka Prefecture across the Ikoma Mountains and grew as the temple town of Hozan-ji Temple (Ikoma Shoten). It is a commuter town linked to Osaka City by Kintetsu, and the Ikoma Sanjo Amusement Park is on the summit, reached by cable car. In the north is Takayama, known as a village of chasen (tea whisk) making.","29210":"Kashiba City is a residential city on an alluvial fan at the eastern foot of Mt. Nijo, bordering Osaka Prefecture. Its population grew greatly with developments such as Mamigaoka New Town. It has the Nijosan Museum, which introduces sanukite and other stones taken from Mt. Nijo, and Donzurubo, a Natural Monument of strange rocks.","29211":"Katsuragi City is at the eastern foot of the mountains running from Mt. Nijo to Mt. Katsuragi and was formed by the merger of Shinjo Town and Taima Town. Taima-dera Temple, known for the legend of Chujo-hime, keeps its East and West pagodas and temple bell, all National Treasures. As a place connected with Taima no Kehaya, the founder of sumo, it also has a sumo museum.","29212":"Uda City is a highland city at the southern end of the Yamato Highlands, surrounded by mountains on all sides. Muro-ji Temple, called the \"Women's Koya,\" has a five-story pagoda that is a National Treasure. The Matsuyama area of Ouda keeps a castle-town townscape, and the Morino Medicinal Herb Garden, one of Japan's oldest private herb gardens, is also a highlight.","29322":"Yamazoe Village is on the Yamato Highlands at the northeast tip of Nara Prefecture, bordering Mie Prefecture, and forest covers most of the village. Mt. Kono, a prefectural Place of Scenic Beauty, is famous for azaleas, and on its slopes is \"Nabekura-kei,\" a belt of black rocks. Yamato tea and rice are the main industries, and the Nabari River flows through the northeast.","29342":"Heguri Town lies on a small plain along the Tatsuta River between the Ikoma Mountains and the Yata Hills and was the home base of the ancient Heguri clan. It has Chogosonshi-ji Temple on Mt. Shigi, known for the \"Legends of Mt. Shigi\" picture scrolls, and the ruins of Shigisan Castle, held by Matsunaga Hisahide. Flower growing, such as small chrysanthemums and roses, is also active.","29343":"Sango Town is at the southeastern foot of Mt. Shigi on the north bank of the Yamato River, and Tatsuta Shrine, which worships the god of wind, stands here. The autumn leaves of the Tatsuta River have been praised in poems since long ago, and \"Tatsuta Old Road and Kamenose\" is certified as a Japan Heritage. Making setta and zori sandals, which has continued since the Edo period, is a local industry.","29344":"Ikaruga Town is where Prince Shotoku built the Ikaruga Palace, and it has Horyu-ji Temple, the first site in Japan registered as a World Heritage Site. Horyu-ji holds many National Treasures such as the Tamamushi Zushi (a miniature shrine cabinet), and Hokki-ji, Horin-ji and Chugu-ji temples are also scattered here. Fujinoki Kofun, where gilt-bronze horse gear was found, is another highlight.","29345":"Ando Town is in the center of the Nara Basin between the Tomio River and the Yamato River and is one of the smallest towns in Japan. It is the birthplace of Tomimoto Kenkichi, a great master of modern ceramics. Factories and warehouses are scattered among the fields, and the history and folklore museum tells of its specialty, making toshin (lamp wicks for andon lanterns).","29361":"Kawanishi Town is a flat town where the Tera, Asuka and Soga rivers join the Yamato River. It has Shimanoyama Kofun, a moated keyhole-shaped mound 195 meters long. Menzuka, with a legend that Kan'ami received a Noh mask here, is said to be the birthplace of the Kanze school of Noh, and making shell buttons is a local industry.","29362":"Miyake Town is in the center of the Nara Basin and is the smallest town in the prefecture by area. The Taishi Road, which Prince Shotoku is said to have traveled from the Ikaruga Palace to Asuka, passes through, and Hakusan Shrine keeps the stone the prince is said to have sat on. Some districts are active in making leather goods such as baseball gloves.","29363":"Tawaramoto Town is a flat town in the center of the Nara Basin with the Karako-Kagi site, a representative site of the Yayoi period. A reconstructed tower, based on a tower drawn on pottery found there, stands in the historic park, along with a roadside station. There are many old shrines, such as Kagamitsukuri Nimasu Amateru Mitama Shrine, and in the Edo period it was the jin'ya (administrative seat) town of the Hirano family.","29385":"Soni Village is a mountain village in eastern Uda District and a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\" Highlights are the Soni Highlands, covered in silver grass in autumn, and rock walls such as Byobu-iwa, Mt. Yoroi and Mt. Kabuto. In ancient times the Nuribe, a group that produced lacquer, was placed here, and efforts are under way to revive lacquer production.","29386":"Mitsue Village is at the eastern end of Nara Prefecture on the border with Mie Prefecture, and the Ise Hon-Kaido road passes through it. The source of the Nabari River is here, and Mt. Mitsue is known for rime ice in winter. Mitsue Shrine stands here; the village name is said to come from a legend that Yamatohime no Mikoto left her staff (\"tsue\") here. There is also a roadside station.","29401":"Takatori Town is south of Asuka at the foot of Mt. Takatori, and on the mountain remain the stone walls of Takatori Castle, counted among Japan's three great mountain castles. In the Edo period it prospered as the castle town of the Uemura clan, and old streets continue along the Tosa Kaido road. It is also a \"town of medicine,\" where the pharmaceutical trade, such as household medicine kits, has long been active.","29402":"Asuka Village is where the capital of the Asuka period was located, and it is the only municipality whose entire area is covered by the Ancient Capitals Preservation Act. Ancient sites are scattered among the fields, such as the Takamatsuzuka Tomb and Kitora Tomb, where colored murals were found, Asuka-dera Temple, said to be Japan's oldest full-scale temple, and Ishibutai Kofun.","29424":"Kanmaki Town is in the west of the Nara Basin, in the middle of the Umami Hills. Its name is said to come from hills suitable for grazing. It developed as a commuter town for Osaka with the development of Nishiyamato New Town. It has Bakuya Kofun, with a huge horizontal stone chamber, and the ruins of Kataoka Castle from the Warring States period.","29425":"Oji Town is on the lowest land in the prefecture, just before the Yamato River flows into Osaka Prefecture. Oji Station, where the JR Kansai Main Line and Wakayama Line and the Kintetsu Ikoma Line and Tawaramoto Line meet, is the transport hub of the northwest of the prefecture, and the town developed as a commuter town for Osaka. It has Daruma-ji Temple, connected with Prince Shotoku.","29426":"Koryo Town is in the west of the Nara Basin, southeast of the Umami Hills, and is the most populous town in the prefecture. The Umami Kofun Cluster spreads here, including Suyama Kofun, a Special Historic Site, and Sanuki Shrine, connected with \"The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,\" and the three-story pagoda of Kudara-dera remain. It is also known for making socks.","29427":"Kawai Town is in the west of the Nara Basin, where many rivers join the Yamato River, and Hirose Shrine, which worships the god of water, stands here. Umami Kyuryo Park has kofun and flower fields, and a mirror with house designs was excavated from Samita Takarazuka Kofun. Housing of Nishiyamato New Town also spreads here.","29441":"Yoshino Town has Mt. Yoshino, famous for cherry blossoms, and Kimpusen-ji Temple and Yoshimizu Shrine are part of the World Heritage \"Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.\" In ancient times a detached palace was at Miyataki. Kamiichi on the Yoshino River is a trading center for Yoshino cedar and cypress, and disposable chopstick making is also active.","29442":"Oyodo Town is on the right bank of the Yoshino River and is the central town of Yoshino District, linked to Osaka by Kintetsu. Shimoichiguchi Station is the gateway to Oku-Yoshino, and public facilities of the south of the prefecture, such as the Minami Nara General Medical Center, are gathered here. It is known for Seson-ji Temple, on the site of the ancient Hiso-dera, and for pear growing on the Oada Highlands.","29443":"Shimoichi Town has streets along the Akino River, south of the Yoshino River, and prospered as the entrance to Yoshino, where markets have been held since the Heian period. It was a commercial town where the \"Shimoichi-fuda,\" said to be Japan's first commercial bill, was born, and it is the setting of the \"Sushi Shop\" scene of the kabuki play \"Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura.\" Chopstick making and plum and persimmon growing are also active.","29444":"Kurotaki Village is in the mountains of the northern Omine Range, south of Mt. Yoshino, and almost all of it is forest that produces Yoshino cedar. It uses the catchphrase \"the navel of Nara,\" and settlements are scattered along the Kurotaki River. Konnyaku making is active, and the village has the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Yoshinoji Kurotaki.","29446":"Tenkawa Village lies deep in the Omine Range, the \"roof of Kinki,\" and Ominesan-ji Temple, the main training place of Shugendo (mountain asceticism), is part of the World Heritage Site. Inns line Dorogawa Onsen, which prospered as a lodging place for ascetics, and there are limestone caves such as Menfudo. Tenkawa Daibenzaiten-sha, worshiped as a god of the performing arts, also stands here.","29447":"Nosegawa Village is surrounded by mountains in the western Kii Mountains and is one of the municipalities with the smallest populations in Japan, even excluding remote islands. Because seas of clouds often form, it calls itself the \"Land in the Sky,\" and it is a cool retreat in summer. It is near Mt. Koya, and on a mountaintop stands Tateri Ko Shrine, long a center of faith.","29449":"Totsukawa Village is at the southern tip of Nara Prefecture and is larger than Lake Biwa, making it the largest village in Japan within the area under Japan's administration. Highlights include the Tanize Suspension Bridge, known as a bridge for daily life, Totsukawa Onsen with its free-flowing hot spring water and Tamaki Shrine, said to be the inner shrine of the Kumano Sanzan.","29450":"Shimokitayama Village belongs to the Kitayama area, which was originally part of Kii Province. The World Heritage Omine Okugakemichi trail runs through it, and most of the village is in Yoshino-Kumano National Park. Ikehara Reservoir, which dams the Kitayama River, is a famous spot for bass fishing, and Fudo-nanae Falls is also beautiful. Shimokita haruna, a Yamato vegetable, is a specialty.","29451":"Kamikitayama Village is a mountain village with views of the Omine Range to the west and Odaigahara to the east, and it has the lowest population density in the prefecture. Forest covers most of the village, and it is a trailhead for Mt. Hakkyo, the highest peak in Kinki, and Odaigahara. It is connected with the Later Southern Court, and there are hot springs such as Kodokoro Onsen.","29452":"Kawakami Village is in the headwaters of the Yoshino River (Kinokawa River) and is the center of Yoshino forestry, which grows Yoshino cedar. It has Otaki Dam and Osako Dam, and visitors can learn about headwater nature at the Forest and Riverhead Museum Genryukan. It is connected with Prince Jiten'o of the Later Southern Court, the \"Chohaishiki\" ceremony is held every year, and Shionoha Onsen is also known.","29453":"Higashiyoshino Village lies west of Mt. Takami and developed along the Ise Kaido road. It is where the Tenchugumi rebels met their end at the close of the Edo period, and it is also known as the place where the last Japanese wolf was caught, at Washikaguchi. Niukawakami Shrine, which worships the god of water, stands here, and somen noodles, ayu (sweetfish) and amago trout are specialties.","30201":"Wakayama City is the prefectural capital at the mouth of the Kinokawa River and prospered as the castle town of the Kishu Tokugawa family. Centered on Wakayama Castle on Mt. Torafusu, it has Wakaura, a scenic spot praised in the Man'yoshu poetry collection, Kimii-dera Temple and the Iwase Senzuka Kofun Group, a Special Historic Site. Seaside sights are also varied, such as Awashima Shrine in Kada and Wakayama Marina City.","30202":"Kainan City, in the north of the prefecture on the Kii Channel, is known for Kishu lacquerware, made mainly in the Kuroe area. On the Fujishiro slope of the Kumano Kodo is a place connected with Prince Arima. Choho-ji Temple, the family temple of the Kishu Tokugawa family, with a National Treasure Tahoto pagoda and great gate, and the Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Natural History are also highlights.","30203":"Hashimoto City, at the northeast tip of the prefecture, borders Osaka and Nara prefectures and spreads along the Kinokawa River. It prospered as a post town where the Mt. Koya pilgrim road met the Yamato Kaido road; its name (\"bridge base\") is said to come from a bridge the monk Mokujiki Ogo built over the river. Suda Hachiman Shrine kept a National Treasure mirror with human figures. It is also a commuter town for Osaka.","30204":"Arida City faces the Kii Channel at the mouth of the Arida River. It is the home of \"Arida mikan,\" said to have begun when seedlings were brought from Higo in the Tensho era, and it is also the birthplace of the mosquito coil. The Kumano Kodo passes through the east of the city, and Jinoshima and Okinoshima islands lie offshore.","30205":"Gobo City, at the mouth of the Hidaka River, is the central city of the Kichu and Hidaka areas, and its name comes from its growth as the temple town of Hongan-ji Hidaka Betsu-in (Hidaka Gobo). Flower growing, such as sweet peas and baby's breath, thrives in the warm climate, and the small Kishu Railway runs through the city.","30206":"Tanabe City is the \"Kuchi-Kumano,\" the entrance to Kumano, where the Nakahechi and Ohechi routes of the Kumano Kodo split, and it has the largest area of any municipality in Kinki. It has the World Heritage Kumano Hongu Taisha and Yunomine Onsen, Tokei Shrine, connected with Benkei, and Kashima Island in Tanabe Bay, protected by Minakata Kumagusu; the history of sea and mountains overlaps here.","30207":"Shingu City, at the mouth of the Kumano River, is the central city of the Kumano region and prospered as the town in front of Kumano Hayatama Taisha, one of the Kumano Sanzan. It was also a trading center for timber carried by boat on the Kumano River. Highlights include Kamikura Shrine, which worships the huge Gotobiki-iwa rock, Ukijima no Mori (floating island forest), Jofuku Park and the Sato Haruo Memorial Museum.","30208":"Kinokawa City is a fruit-growing area between the Izumi Mountains and the Kii Mountains, with the Kinokawa River flowing east to west, and growing peaches, strawberries and hassaku citrus is so active that it is called a \"fruit kingdom.\" It has Kokawa-dera Temple, No. 3 of the Saigoku pilgrimage, the site of Kii Kokubun-ji Temple and Seishu no Sato, honoring Hanaoka Seishu, who performed the world's first surgery under general anesthesia.","30209":"Iwade City is in the north of the prefecture on the north bank of the Kinokawa River, bordering Osaka Prefecture. Housing development grew after Kansai International Airport opened, and its population increased greatly. Negoro-ji Temple, head temple of the Shingi Shingon school, has a great pagoda that is a National Treasure and is also loved for its autumn leaves.","30304":"Kimino Town is a mountain town along the Kishigawa River, and its name carries the meaning \"your town\" (\"kimi no machi\"). It produces Misato persimmons such as Fuyu, Japanese pepper (sansho) and yuzu, and making household goods such as scrubbing brushes and brooms from hemp palm is carried on. Its starry sky is beautiful, and the Misato Observatory and the silver grass of the Oishi Highlands are popular.","30341":"Katsuragi Town is a fruit-growing town along the Kinokawa River whose output of Hiratanenashi persimmons ranks 1st in Japan, and the kushigaki (skewered dried persimmons) of the Shigo area are also known. It has the World Heritage Niutsuhime Shrine and the Koyasan Choishi-michi, and as the entrance to the pilgrim road to Mt. Koya, people have long come and gone here.","30343":"Kudoyama Town is at the foot of Mt. Koya, and its name is said to come from Jison-in Temple, which Kukai is said to have visited 9 times a month to see his mother. Sanada Masayuki and his son Nobushige lived here after the Battle of Sekigahara, and the town has sites connected with the Sanada and the Kudoyama Sanada Museum. Growing persimmons such as Fuyu is also active.","30344":"Koya Town centers on Mt. Koya, the sacred place of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, founded on a mountaintop in the Kii Mountains. Kongobu-ji, the head temple, the Konpon Daito pagoda and Okuno-in Temple, with the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, form the core of the World Heritage \"Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range,\" and visitors can stay at shukubo (temple lodgings) and join the morning service.","30361":"Yuasa Town is a port town at the back of an inlet and is known for the tradition that soy sauce was born here. It also prospered as a station on the Kumano Kaido road, and the Yuasa townscape, with soy sauce breweries and townhouses with lattice doors, is a nationally protected historic district. The Jin-Buro Museum, an old public bath open to visitors, and Jinsen-ji Temple in the townscape are also highlights.","30362":"Hirogawa Town lies where the Hirokawa River enters the Kii Channel. It is the setting of \"Inamura no Hi\": during the Ansei Nankai Earthquake tsunami, Hamaguchi Goryo set rice sheaves on fire to guide villagers to safety. The Hiromura Seawall, built with Goryo's own money, and Inamura-no-Hi no Yakata teach this disaster-prevention history. The buildings of Hiro Hachiman Shrine are also worth seeing.","30366":"Aridagawa Town spreads through the center of the prefecture along the Arida River and is known for growing Arida mikan and Japanese pepper (sansho). Upstream is Aragijima, where terraced rice fields sit inside a large bend of the Arida River; its beautiful landscape, counted among Japan's 100 best terraced rice fields, is popular. Mountain scenery such as Futakawa Dam also spreads here.","30381":"Mihama Town is a small town at the western end of Hidaka District, facing the Kii Channel, and Enju-ga-hama, a white-sand beach with green pines, is a prefectural natural park. Cucumbers and tomatoes grown with compost from the pine forest have become brands, and whitebait and spiny lobster are also caught. Many people from the Mio area emigrated to Canada, and Cape Hinomisaki offers a grand view of the sea.","30382":"Hidaka Town has a ria coast facing the Kii Channel and is known as the \"town of kue,\" where people come in winter for dishes of the high-grade fish kue (longtooth grouper). Stone paving remains on Shishigase Pass on the Kii route of the Kumano Kodo, and the Kii Hinomisaki Lighthouse and Michishio-no-Yu hot spring with sea views are also highlights.","30383":"Yura Town has mountains to the east and the Kii Channel to the west, and the Shirasaki Coast, where white limestone rocks shine, is a scenic spot praised in the Man'yoshu poetry collection. Kokoku-ji Temple is said to be the birthplace of Kinzanji miso and soy sauce, and mandarin growing in the warm climate and the farming of Ena wakame seaweed are also active.","30390":"Inami Town stretches from the western end of the Kii Mountains to the Kii Channel and has prospered through fishing, centered on Inami Port. It is one of Japan's leading producers of peas (snow peas and usui peas), and small watermelons, plums and flowers such as statice and senryo are also widely grown. It is also known as the birthplace of Mazuma wasabi.","30391":"Minabe Town ranks 1st in Japan in plum (ume) production and is the birthplace of Nanko-ume, the leading plum variety. Its output of umeboshi (pickled plums) is also the largest in Japan, and it even has an \"onigiri with umeboshi ordinance.\" Making Kishu Binchotan charcoal from ubame oak is active, and visitors can learn about local life at the Ume Promotion Hall and the Kishu Binchotan Charcoal Museum.","30392":"Hidakagawa Town was formed by the merger of Kawabe Town, Nakatsu Village and Miyama Village. The Hidaka River, which gives the town its name, flows through its center, and forest covers most of it. Its Kishu Binchotan charcoal output ranks 1st in Japan, and ayu (sweetfish) farming is also active. It has Dojo-ji Temple, known for the legend of Anchin and Kiyohime, and stargazing at Kawabe Astronomical Park.","30401":"Shirahama Town is the town of Nanki-Shirahama Onsen, known since the Nara period, with scenic coastal spots such as the pure white sand of Shirarahama Beach, Engetsu Island, Sandanbeki cliffs and Senjojiki rocks. It also has Adventure World, a combined zoo and amusement park, and Nanki-Shirahama Airport, and it is a resort that draws tourists all year, mainly from Kinki.","30404":"Kamitonda Town has the Tonda River flowing through it from north to south and is surrounded by Tanabe City and Shirahama Town. Plums, mandarins and Japanese plums are widely grown, and gourds, loved as lucky charms of the Kumano pilgrimage, are a specialty. Inabane Oji Shrine of the Kumano Kodo is here, and button making, which grew out of shell buttons, continues as a local industry.","30406":"Susami Town faces the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of the Kii Peninsula and is known for \"kenken\" trolling for bonito. On the Karekinada Coast, famous among anglers, valuable rock layers such as the Phoenix Fold can be seen, and the town has unique facilities such as Michi-no-Eki Inobutan-land Susami and an aquarium of shrimp and crabs.","30421":"Nachikatsuura Town is in the Kumano area of the World Heritage \"Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.\" The view of Nachi Falls, falling in a single stream, together with Kumano Nachi Taisha and the three-story pagoda of Seiganto-ji Temple, is the most representative scene of Kumano. Katsuura is the best port in Nanki and is known for landings of fresh tuna, and Nanki-Katsuura Onsen also springs here.","30422":"Taiji Town, on a cape jutting into the Kumano Sea, is the smallest town in Wakayama Prefecture. It is said to be the birthplace of traditional Japanese whaling and has the Taiji Whale Museum and Whale Beach Park, which tell the history of whaling. The grand sea view from Cape Kandori and the Hiromitsu Ochiai Baseball Hall are also highlights.","30424":"Kozagawa Town is a mountain town in the south of the Kii Peninsula, with settlements scattered along the clear Koza River. \"Ichimai-iwa,\" a huge rock wall rising from the riverbank, and \"Mushikui-iwa\" of Takaike, with countless holes, are national Natural Monuments. It once prospered as a producer of Kozagawa timber and Binchotan charcoal, and the potholes of Takinohai are also impressive.","30427":"Kitayama Village is the only exclave village in Japan, surrounded by Nara and Mie prefectures, and it is also the only village in Wakayama Prefecture. Almost all of it is forest, with settlements scattered along the Kitayama River. It is known for tourist raft rides that make use of the old way of carrying timber and for the citrus fruit \"jabara.\"","30428":"Kushimoto Town has Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost point of Honshu, and its urban area spreads over a tombolo (sandbar linking an island to land). Highlights are Hashigui-iwa, a row of strange rocks, and Kii Oshima Island, with the Kushimoto Turkish Memorial and Museum, which tells of the Ertugrul shipwreck. The coastal waters, where corals grow in colonies, are registered under the Ramsar Convention.","31201":"Tottori City, the capital of Tottori Prefecture, grew as the castle town of the Tottori Domain under the Ikeda clan. The Tottori Sand Dunes, with beautiful wind ripples, line the Sea of Japan, and the Sand Museum shows sand sculptures. The Western-style Jinpukaku stands below the Tottori Castle ruins on Mt. Kyusho, and Lake Koyama and Hakuto Beach are nearby.","31202":"Yonago City, the \"merchant city of the San'in region,\" is the center of western Tottori Prefecture and a railway and airport hub. Kaike Onsen (hot spring), on the Sea of Japan, is the birthplace of triathlon. The Yonago Castle ruins on Mt. Minato overlook Nakaumi and Mt. Daisen. The city's spring green onion harvest ranks 3rd in Japan.","31203":"Kurayoshi City is the center of central Tottori Prefecture. The Utsubuki-tamagawa district at the foot of Mt. Utsubuki is known for white-walled storehouses and red-tiled houses. In ancient times, the provincial capital of Hoki Province was here. The city has a museum on the history of the Nijisseiki (20th Century) pear and the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art.","31204":"Sakaiminato City is a port town at the northern tip of the Yumigahama Peninsula. Sakai Fishing Port is known for landings of red snow crab and Pacific bluefin tuna. The city is the hometown of manga artist Mizuki Shigeru, and many people visit Mizuki Shigeru Road, lined with bronze statues of yokai (supernatural creatures), and the Mizuki Shigeru Memorial Museum.","31302":"Iwami Town is at the eastern end of Tottori Prefecture and borders Hyogo Prefecture. Uradome Coast, part of San'inkaigan National Park and the San'in Kaigan Geopark, has a landscape of small islands and sea caves. The old spa town of Iwai Onsen (hot spring) lies in the mountains, and fisheries are the town's main industry.","31325":"Wakasa Town is a mountain town at the southeastern end of Tottori Prefecture, bordering Hyogo and Okayama Prefectures. The town prospered as a post town on the Wakasa Road, and storehouses and covered walkways under the eaves, called \"kariya,\" remain. Mt. Hyono on the prefectural border draws hikers in summer and skiers in winter.","31328":"Chizu Town, a \"town of cedar,\" is 93% forest and has long prospered through forestry. Chizu-shuku, a post town used by the Tottori Domain lord on trips to Edo, keeps the Ishitani Residence (an Important Cultural Property), the home of a head village official. The town also has a forest therapy base that includes the Ashizu Gorge.","31329":"Yazu Town in eastern Tottori Prefecture is surrounded by mountains over 1,000 m high, such as Mt. Ogi. It was formed by merging the 3 towns of Koge, Funaoka, and Hatto. Pears, persimmons, and other fruits grow along the Hatto River. Hayabusa Station on the Wakasa Railway attracts fans of the motorcycle with the same name.","31364":"Misasa Town in central Tottori Prefecture has villages scattered along the upper Tenjin River. Misasa Onsen (hot spring), rich in radon, is known for therapeutic bathing. Together with Mt. Mitoku, where the Nageire-do hall of Sanbutsu-ji Temple (a National Treasure) stands on a cliff, it is a Japan Heritage site. The Oshika Gorge is a Place of Scenic Beauty.","31370":"Yurihama Town surrounds Lake Togo, and its name comes from hot springs, Nijisseiki (20th Century) pears, and sandy beaches. Hawai Onsen and Togo Onsen (hot springs) are on the lakeshore, and the town has Encho-en, a Chinese garden. The town is considered the birthplace of ground golf, and historic sites such as the Ueshi Castle ruins remain.","31371":"Kotoura Town stretches from the northeastern foot of Mt. Daisen to the Sea of Japan, and its name comes from \"Koto-no-ura,\" an old name for its coast. The town has the Sainoo Haiji Ruins, a temple site from the early Nara period, Daisen Falls, a famous waterfall, and Mt. Senjo. Dairy farming, known for Shirobara milk, is also active.","31372":"Hokuei Town in central Tottori Prefecture has the Hojo Sand Dunes along the Sea of Japan, where watermelons, rakkyo (Japanese scallions), Chinese yams, and grapes are grown. The town is the hometown of Aoyama Gosho, creator of \"Detective Conan,\" and has the Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory. The Yura battery, a coastal fort from the end of the Edo period, remains.","31384":"Hiezu Village is surrounded by Yonago City on three sides and faces the Sea of Japan to the north. It is the only village in Tottori Prefecture and the smallest municipality there by area. It has never merged since the Meiji-era village system began. Farmland spreads east of the Hino River, and the large AEON MALL Hiezu is here.","31386":"Daisen Town is named after Mt. Daisen, the highest peak in the Chugoku region, and extends from the Sea of Japan coast to the summit. Daisen-ji Temple and the inner shrine of Ogamiyama Shrine are on the slopes, and the town is a base for hiking and skiing. The Tokoro district is a protected historic townscape with the Kadowaki Residence.","31389":"Nanbu Town in western Tottori Prefecture borders Shimane Prefecture and was formed by merging Saihaku Town and Aimi Town. Tottori Hanakairo-Flower Park, a large flower park, looks out on Mt. Daisen, and Lake Ryokusui of Kasho Dam is on the upper Hosshoji River. Akaiiwa Shrine is linked to the myth of the god Okuninushi.","31390":"Hoki Town, on the western foot of Mt. Daisen in the Hino River basin, was formed by merging Kishimoto Town and Mizokuchi Town. The town is known for a demon-slaying legend. The Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography shows the photographer's works in a building facing Mt. Daisen. Sake, beer, and bottled natural water are made with Daisen water.","31401":"Nichinan Town is an inland town at the southwestern end of Tottori Prefecture, at the source of the Hino River, bordering 3 prefectures: Shimane, Okayama, and Hiroshima. Tatara iron-making flourished here, and legends of Emperor Korei remain. The town has links to the writers Inoue Yasushi and Matsumoto Seicho, and the Sekkakei gorge is a highlight.","31402":"Hino Town is a mountain town along the Hino River in southwestern Tottori Prefecture. Kamochi Shrine, named after the place name \"Kamochi\" (meaning \"rich\"), draws worshippers from across Japan who pray for wealth. In the 2000 Western Tottori Earthquake, the town recorded seismic intensity 6 Upper, the strongest in that earthquake.","31403":"Kofu Town lies in \"Oku-Daisen,\" at the southern foot of Mt. Daisen. Its name comes from the meeting of rivers such as the Hino River and the Matano River. Natural water factories here use water from vast virgin beech forests. The town also grows rice, white green onions, and tomatoes, and raises dairy cows and wagyu beef cattle.","32201":"Matsue City, the prefectural capital, is a \"city of water\" on both banks of the Ohashi River, which links Lake Shinji and Nakaumi. Matsue Castle, with a National Treasure original keep, and its moats remain, and the city is linked to Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn). Lake Shinji sunsets and shijimi clams, Daikonjima peonies, and the old Kamosu Shrine are highlights.","32202":"Hamada City, the most populous city in the Iwami area, is a leading San'in fishing city with Hamada Port and Hamada Fishing Port. It is known for landings of horse mackerel and blackthroat seaperch and has Shimane Aquarium AQUAS, home to beluga whales. The Hamada Castle ruins and the tradition of Iwami Kagura (sacred dance) remain.","32203":"Izumo City is the center of western Izumo, the \"land of myths,\" and has Izumo Taisha, known for its god of matchmaking. A large hoard of bronze objects from the Kojindani Site in the city is a National Treasure, and Hinomisaki Shrine, Gakuen-ji Temple, and Tachikue Gorge are highlights. Izumo soba (buckwheat noodles) is a specialty.","32204":"Masuda City is at the western end of Shimane Prefecture, bordering Yamaguchi and Hiroshima Prefectures, and is the center of western Iwami. Manpuku-ji Temple and Iko-ji Temple, linked to the Muromachi-period painter-monk Sesshu, keep his gardens, and Takatsu-kakinomoto Shrine honors the poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro. The clear Takatsu River flows here, and the city has the Grand Toit arts center.","32205":"Oda City in central Shimane Prefecture has the World Heritage Site \"Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape.\" Highlights include the Omori district, a silver mining town, the onsen (hot spring) town of Yunotsu, once a silver shipping port, and Tomogaura and Okidomari. At the foot of Mt. Sanbe is a buried forest that shows an ancient woodland.","32206":"Yasugi City, at the eastern end of Shimane Prefecture bordering Tottori Prefecture, is the home of the folk song \"Yasugi-bushi.\" The Adachi Museum of Art is famous for Yokoyama Taikan's works and a vast Japanese garden. The ruins of Gassantoda Castle, seat of the warlord Amago clan, remain, and the Wako Museum covers the history of tatara iron-making.","32207":"Gotsu City, the smallest city in Shimane Prefecture by area, is where the Gonokawa River, the Chugoku region's largest river, enters the Sea of Japan. The city long prospered as a river and sea shipping hub and is known for red Sekishu roof tiles. Arifuku Onsen (hot spring) lies in the mountains, and the Ogawa family's Sesshu garden remains.","32209":"Unnan City is named for lying in the south of Izumo Province, with the Hii River and its tributaries. It has the Kamo-Iwakura Site, where many dotaku bronze bells were found, and Suga Shrine, said to be Japan's first shrine, and is the setting of the Yamata no Orochi myth. Ryuzu Yae Falls and cherry blossom spots are also here.","32343":"Okuizumo Town in the Chugoku Mountains is at the source of the Hii River and has long prospered through tatara iron-making. Museums of the Itohara and Sakurai iron-master families remain, and tamahagane steel for Japanese swords is still made. Nita rice and Kamedake abacuses are specialties, and the Oninoshitaburui gorge and the Okuizumo Orochi Loop are here.","32386":"Iinan Town is a highland town in the Chugoku Mountains bordering Hiroshima Prefecture, where even the flat land is about 450 m above sea level. The Izumo Road and the Iwami Ginzan Road pass through, and the Akana Castle ruins remain. Apples, Yamato yams, and maitake mushrooms are specialties, and areas such as Mt. Oyorogi are certified forest therapy bases.","32441":"Kawamoto Town in central Shimane Prefecture is crossed by the Gonokawa River, and it is the only town in the Chugoku region whose \"town\" is read \"machi.\" In the Edo period, it came under direct shogunate rule because of Iwami Ginzan, and in the Meiji era the Ochi District office was here. The Maruyama Castle and Nuruyu Castle ruins remain.","32448":"Misato Town in central Shimane Prefecture lies at a sharp bend of the Gonokawa River and was formed by merging Ochi Town and Daiwa Village. Kasubuchi and Hamahara were river ports that grew with river shipping. Mountain hot springs such as Yugakai, Ushio, and Chihara Onsen dot the town, known for community building that uses wild boar meat and hides.","32449":"Onan Town is the largest town in Shimane Prefecture by area and was formed by merging Mizuho Town, Iwami Town, and Hasumi Village. Gorges such as Dangyokei and Senjokei lie along tributaries of the Gonokawa River, and Mizuho Highland offers skiing. The town also promotes itself through food under the slogan \"A-class gourmet.\"","32501":"Tsuwano Town, the \"Little Kyoto of the San'in region,\" keeps a castle-town streetscape in a mountain basin, a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. It has carp-filled Tonomachi Street, the Tsuwano Castle ruins, Taikodani Inari Shrine, and the former homes of Mori Ogai and Nishi Amane. Yasaka Shrine's heron dance is Intangible Cultural Heritage.","32505":"Yoshika Town is at the southwestern end of Shimane Prefecture, bordering Yamaguchi Prefecture, at the source of the clear Takatsu River. It was formed by merging Muikaichi Town and Kakinoki Village and was once a post town on a highway. The Kakinoki area is known for organic farming, and Muikaichi has a Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) with a hot spring.","32525":"Ama Town covers Nakanoshima, a single island in the Dozen group of the Oki Islands. It is linked to the retired Emperor Go-Toba, exiled here after the Jokyu War, and has Oki Shrine, which honors him, and the Gotobain Museum. Rock oysters, turban shells, and Oki beef are specialties, and the town is known for welcoming new settlers.","32526":"Nishinoshima Town is on Nishinoshima in the Dozen group of the Oki Islands. Kuniga Coast, with the towering Matengai Cliff, is the most famous scenic spot of Oki, where grazing cattle and horses can be seen. Urago Port is the largest fishing base in Oki, and old shrines such as Yurahime Shrine and Takuhi Shrine remain.","32527":"Chibu Village, the only village in Shimane Prefecture, consists of Chiburijima and other islands in the far south of the Oki Islands. The island is named after a god of navigation, and it prospered as a port where Kitamae ships waited for wind. Akahage-yama and the Chibu Sekiheki cliffs belong to the Oki UNESCO Global Geopark, and cattle graze here.","32528":"Okinoshima Town centers on Dogo, the largest island of the Oki Islands. Ancient history remains at the Oki Kokubun-ji Temple ruins, Mizuwakasu Shrine, and Tamawakasu-no-Mikoto Shrine. Candle Island, where the sunset looks like a flame on the rock's tip, is a famous sight. Unique traditions such as ushi-zuki (bullfighting) and classical sumo are passed down.","33100":"Okayama City, the prefectural capital and a designated city (a major city with special status), grew as the Ikeda clan's Okayama Domain castle town. Black Okayama Castle stands beside Koraku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens. Kibitsu Shrine, of the Momotaro legend, has a National Treasure main hall. White peaches and Muscat grapes grow here; two-row barley ranks 3rd nationally.","33202":"Kurashiki City prospered as a merchant town under direct shogunate rule in the Edo period, and its Bikan Historical Quarter has white-walled houses along the Kurashiki River. The Ohara Museum of Art was Japan's first private museum of mainly Western art. The Mizushima industrial complex lines the coast, and Kojima makes Japanese jeans and starts the Great Seto Bridge.","33203":"Tsuyama City, the center of the Mimasaka area in northern Okayama Prefecture, grew from the castle town of Tsuyama Castle, built by Mori Tadamasa. The castle ruins, with stone walls, are famous for cherry blossoms. Shuraku-en, a feudal lord's garden, and the Joto historic townscape on the Izumo Road are highlights. Horumon udon (noodles with offal) is a specialty.","33204":"Tamano City is a port city at the southern end of Okayama Prefecture on the Seto Inland Sea. Ferries leave the Port of Uno for Naoshima, Teshima, and Shodo Island, and the port was once the gateway to Shikoku, linked to Takamatsu by the Uko ferry. The city is known for shipbuilding, and Mt. Ojigatake overlooks many islands.","33205":"Kasaoka City in southwestern Okayama Prefecture faces the Seto Inland Sea, with the 32 Kasaoka Islands offshore. The city is a breeding ground of the horseshoe crab, a \"living fossil,\" and has the Horseshoe Crab Museum. The Shiraishi Odori dance of Shiraishi Island and the farms on the vast reclaimed land of Kasaoka Bay are also features.","33207":"Ibara City in southwestern Okayama Prefecture borders Hiroshima Prefecture and is known for denim fabric. The former Bisei Town, a \"village of stars,\" passed Japan's first light pollution ordinance and has the Bisei Astronomical Observatory. The city is said to be the birthplace of the \"Chugoku Region Lullaby\" and has the Hanatori Otsuka Art Museum.","33208":"Soja City was the heart of ancient Kibi and the seat of the provincial capital of Bitchu Province. Sites include Bitchu Kokubun-ji Temple, with a five-story pagoda, and the huge Tsukuriyama Kofun (ancient burial mound). Ki Castle, an ancient hilltop fortress, is said to be the home of Ura, the Momotaro legend's demon. The painter-monk Sesshu was born here.","33209":"Takahashi City was the castle town of the Bitchu Matsuyama Domain. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, the only mountain castle with an original keep, seems to float on a sea of clouds. With samurai houses and the Raikyu-ji Temple garden, the town is called the \"Little Kyoto of Bitchu.\" Fukiya keeps red streets that prospered from copper and bengara (red pigment).","33210":"Niimi City is at the northwestern end of Okayama Prefecture, bordering Tottori and Hiroshima Prefectures, and over 80% of its area is mountains. Limestone caves such as Maki-do Cave and Ikura Cave dot its limestone plateau, and the cliffs of Ikura Gorge are a highlight. Chiya beef (wagyu) and grapes such as Pione are local specialties.","33211":"Bizen City has long made pottery and is known for Bizen ware, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns. The lecture hall of Shizutani School, a school for commoners opened by the Okayama Domain in the Edo period, is a National Treasure. Oyster farming thrives in Hinase, and \"kaki-oko,\" okonomiyaki (savory pancake) with oysters, is a specialty.","33212":"Setouchi City is east of Okayama City and faces the Seto Inland Sea. The former Ushimado Town is known as the \"Aegean Sea of Japan\" for its scenery of many islands, and it has olive gardens and Honren-ji Temple. The Osafune district is known as the home of Bizen swords, famous blades made since the Kamakura period.","33213":"Akaiwa City in south-central Okayama Prefecture lies on the Yoshii River, and its housing estates make it a commuter town for Okayama City. Ancient sites include the Ryoguzan Kofun (ancient burial mound), one of the largest in the prefecture, and the Bizen Kokubun-ji Temple ruins. The city grows white peaches and grapes and has attractions such as the German Forest.","33214":"Maniwa City is the largest city in Okayama Prefecture by area, with the Hiruzen Plateau in its north, bordering Tottori Prefecture. It is known for grazing Jersey cows and Hiruzen yakisoba (fried noodles). Sunayu, the open-air bath of Yubara Onsen (hot spring), and Kanba Falls are highlights. Katsuyama, a former castle town, has streets hung with noren (shop curtains).","33215":"Mimasaka City in northeastern Okayama Prefecture borders Hyogo and Tottori Prefectures. Villages lie along the Yoshino and Kajinami Rivers, tributaries of the Yoshii River. The city is said to be the birthplace of swordsman Miyamoto Musashi and has the Musashi Museum. Yunogo Onsen is one of Mimasaka's 3 hot springs, and Mt. Ushiro is the prefecture's highest peak.","33216":"Asakuchi City is the smallest city in Okayama Prefecture by area and is known as an \"astronomy town\" with several astronomical facilities. The Okayama Astronomical Museum stands on Mt. Chikurinji, which has many clear days. The city is the birthplace and headquarters of the Konkokyo religion, and local industries such as Kamogata hand-stretched somen noodles remain.","33346":"Wake Town in southeastern Okayama Prefecture lies in a small basin where the Yoshii River and Kongo River meet. It is known as the birthplace of Wake no Kiyomaro of the Nara period, and it has Wake Shrine and a wisteria park with wisteria from all over Japan. Fruit growing, such as grapes and apples, is also active.","33423":"Hayashima Town is surrounded by Okayama City and Kurashiki City and is the smallest town in Okayama Prefecture by area. It was once an island in the shallow Kibi Sea and became land through reclamation. The town prospered by producing igusa (rush) and tatami mat covers, and today it has the Okayama Prefectural Distribution Center and Convex Okayama.","33445":"Satosho Town is the only town in Asakuchi District and is a commuter town for Kurashiki City and Fukuyama City. It is the hometown of Nishina Yoshio, called the \"father of modern physics in Japan,\" and has the Nishina Memorial Hall. The town has long produced somen noodles and is a quiet town dotted with irrigation ponds.","33461":"Yakage Town was a post town (a stopover town on an old highway) on the old San'yo Road, and its center keeps the old townscape. Rarely, both its main inn (Ishii family) and sub-inn (Takakusa family) survive as Important Cultural Properties. The town is linked to Kibi no Makibi of the Nara period and grows grapes, pears, and figs.","33586":"Shinjo Village is in the Chugoku Mountains, bordering Tottori Prefecture, and has the smallest population of any municipality in Okayama Prefecture. It prospered as a post town on the Izumo Road, and \"Gaisen-zakura\" cherry trees, planted to celebrate the victory in the Russo-Japanese War, line the old street. The village is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\"","33606":"Kagamino Town in north-central Okayama Prefecture borders Tottori Prefecture and has Lake Okutsu on the upper Yoshii River. Okutsu Onsen, one of Mimasaka's 3 hot springs, and Okutsu Gorge, famous for autumn leaves, are well known, and the Kamisaibara highlands offer skiing. Forestry and farming are the main industries, and Yamada Bee Farm is headquartered here.","33622":"Shoo Town in northeastern Okayama Prefecture is known as the place where Sakata no Kintoki (Kintaro) died. Its center, Katsumata, prospered as a station town on the Izumo Road. The town produces black soybeans, pears, and chestnuts, and major companies have factories in the Shoo Core Industrial Park.","33623":"Nagi Town is named after Mt. Nagi, which rises on the border with Tottori Prefecture. The town has the Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Isozaki Arata, and the Nagi Vicarya Museum, which shows fossil sea snails. It is known for the \"Hirotokaze,\" a strong wind blowing down from the mountain, and it actively supports child-rearing.","33643":"Nishiawakura Village is at the northeastern end of Okayama Prefecture, bordering Hyogo and Tottori Prefectures, and about 95% of its area is forest. The village chose not to merge. It is known for its \"Hundred-Year Forest\" project, in which the village manages private forests together, and for wood-based businesses and welcoming new residents. Awakura Onsen (hot spring) is also here.","33663":"Kumenan Town in central Okayama Prefecture is the birthplace of Honen, founder of the Jodo (Pure Land) school of Buddhism, and Tanjo-ji Temple stands here. Since 1949, the town has promoted itself through senryu (humorous short poems), and poem monuments line the town. Terraced rice fields spread in the mountains, and the Tanjoji River flows into the Asahi River.","33666":"Misaki Town in central Okayama Prefecture, on the Asahi and Yoshii Rivers, is known as the town of tamago kake gohan (raw egg over rice). Ohaganishi and other terraced rice fields are among Japan's Top 100 Terraced Rice Fields. The town has a facility on the history of the former Yanahara Mine and the Kofun-period Tsukinowa Kofun.","33681":"Kibi-chuo Town is on the Kibi Highlands at the \"very center\" of Okayama Prefecture and was formed by merging Kayo Town and Kamogawa Town. It has Kibi Kogen City, built by the prefecture, and Gokei Gorge, lined with strange rocks, is famous for autumn leaves. Garden designer Shigemori Mirei was born here, and the town has a memorial hall.","34100":"Hiroshima City, the prefectural capital, is the only city of over 1 million in Chugoku and Shikoku. It was the first city in human history hit by an atomic bomb. The Atomic Bomb Dome (a World Heritage Site), Peace Memorial Park, and Peace Memorial Museum convey the value of peace. Hiroshima Castle, Shukkei-en garden, and okonomiyaki (savory pancake) are famous.","34202":"Kure City has a fine natural harbor on the Seto Inland Sea. It grew as a navy base from the Meiji era and still has a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force base. The Yamato Museum, with a model of the battleship Yamato, and a submarine museum are popular. The old townscape of Mitarai remains along the Akinada Tobishima Kaido island route.","34203":"Takehara City, the \"Little Kyoto of Aki,\" has been a port town since the Muromachi period and prospered from salt making in the late Edo period. Wealthy merchants' houses line the Takehara historic district, a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Offshore, Okunoshima is popular as an island of wild rabbits and has a poison gas museum.","34204":"Mihara City grew from the castle town of Mihara Castle, called the \"Floating Castle,\" and is a transport hub with a Shinkansen station, an airport, and a port. The city has the Niitakayama Castle ruins, linked to Kobayakawa Takakage, and Buttsu-ji Temple, famous for autumn leaves. It is also known for the Mihara Yassa Festival and octopus landings.","34205":"Onomichi City is a hillside town on the Onomichi Channel that has long prospered as a shipping hub. Temples dot the slopes, and Jodo-ji Temple's main hall and two-story pagoda are National Treasures. The city is a familiar film setting, and the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido links it to Imabari in Shikoku via Innoshima and Ikuchijima.","34207":"Fukuyama City is the center of the Bingo area at the eastern end of Hiroshima Prefecture and a core city (a large city with some prefectural powers), the prefecture's 2nd most populous. It grew as Fukuyama Castle's town and has a JFE Steel steelworks. The \"City of Roses\" has Tomonoura, an old port, and Myoo-in Temple's National Treasure five-story pagoda.","34208":"Fuchu City lies in a basin crossed by the Ashida River, and its name comes from the provincial capital (fuchu) of Bingo Province that was here in ancient times. Also called \"Bingo Fuchu,\" the city is known for furniture and miso. The Joge district, a former post town on the Iwami Ginzan Road, keeps white-walled streets.","34209":"Miyoshi City lies in the Miyoshi Basin, where tributaries of the Gonokawa River meet, and has long linked the San'in and San'yo regions. The confluence brings frequent fog from late autumn to early spring, giving it the name \"town of fog,\" and cormorant fishing is practiced. Many kofun (ancient burial mounds) are nearby, with a yokai museum and Fudoki Hill.","34210":"Shobara City in the Chugoku Mountains borders Okayama, Shimane, and Tottori, 3 prefectures, and is the largest city by area in western Japan. Mountains include Mt. Hiba and Mt. Dogo, and the limestone Taishaku Valley is a Quasi-National Park. Rural scenery such as the Hiwa terraced rice fields spreads out, and the city produces wagyu beef.","34211":"Otake City is the westernmost city of Hiroshima Prefecture on the Seto Inland Sea and borders Yamaguchi Prefecture. Across the Oze River, it forms one industrial zone with Iwakuni City and Waki Town in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with petrochemical and paper plants. The city has the seaside Simose Art Museum and Atadajima, an island known for oyster farming.","34212":"Higashihiroshima City includes Saijo, counted with Nada and Fushimi as one of Japan's three great sake-brewing areas, where red brick chimneys and white-walled breweries line the street. Akitsu is said to be the birthplace of ginjo sake. The city is a college town centered on Hiroshima University, and the Aki Kokubun-ji Temple ruins and the Mitsujo Kofun remain.","34213":"Hatsukaichi City has Miyajima (Itsukushima), one of the Three Views of Japan; Itsukushima Shrine and the primeval forest of Mt. Misen are a World Heritage Site. The great torii gate in the sea and Senjokaku are highlights. The city has long prospered as a timber trading center and is the birthplace of the modern kendama (cup-and-ball toy).","34214":"Akitakata City was the base of the warlord Mori Motonari, and the ruins of his Yoshida-Koriyama Castle remain. The city lies in a small basin in the Chugoku Mountains and contains the watershed between the Ota River and Gonokawa River. Its spring green onions rank 5th in Japan. Kagura (sacred dance) thrives, and Kagura Monzen Toji Mura is well known.","34215":"Etajima City consists entirely of islands, including Etajima and Nomijima, and is linked to Kurahashijima by Hayase Bridge. The former Imperial Japanese Navy Academy was here, and today the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's 1st Service School is located here. Oyster farming is active, and Mt. Furutaka offers views of many islands.","34302":"Fuchu Town is surrounded by Hiroshima City and has the largest population of any town or village in Japan. It is known as a company town with the headquarters of the automaker Mazda. The provincial capital of Aki Province is said to have been here in ancient times, and Take Shrine is an old shrine of Aki Province.","34304":"Kaita Town, east of Hiroshima Bay, is the 2nd smallest town by area in Hiroshima Prefecture. In the Edo period, it prospered as \"Kaitaichi,\" a post town on the Saigoku Road, and old houses remain. It has the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 13th Brigade headquarters and Mazda-related plants, and it links Hiroshima City, Kure City, and Higashihiroshima City.","34307":"Kumano Town lies in a basin surrounded by mountains and makes Kumano brushes, which have the top market share in Japan. Besides calligraphy and painting brushes, its makeup brushes are valued worldwide, and Fudenosato Kobo introduces the history of brushes and the skills of their makers. The town also developed as a commuter town for Hiroshima City and Kure City.","34309":"Saka Town in Aki District faces Hiroshima Bay and lies between Hiroshima City and Kure City. Forests cover about 50% of the town, and communities spread between the foot of the mountains and the coast. The town suffered heavy damage in the July 2018 Heavy Rain (Heisei 30). It has the Bayside Beach Saka swimming beach.","34368":"Akiota Town is a mountain town on the upper Ota River, formed by merging Kake Town, Togouchi Town, and Tsutsuga Village. Sandan-kyo, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, is a gorge with a chain of waterfalls and pools, and Mt. Osorakan offers skiing. The town has rural scenery and flavors such as the Ini terraced rice fields and Gionbo persimmons.","34369":"Kitahiroshima Town, the largest town by area in the Chugoku region, lies in the Chugoku Mountains bordering Shimane Prefecture. It holds the sources of the Ota and Gonokawa Rivers, and Mibu no Hana Taue (a rice-planting ritual) is Intangible Cultural Heritage. Mountain castle ruins linked to the Kikkawa clan remain, and Geihoku's ski areas and highlands are popular.","34431":"Osakikamijima Town consists of Osakikamijima and other islands of the Geiyo Islands, reached by ferry from Takehara Port and Akitsu Port. Shipbuilding is active, with shipyards in the island's coves. The warm, dry climate is used to grow mandarin oranges, lemons, and blueberries, and Kinoe keeps the look of an old port town.","34462":"Sera Town spreads over the Sera Plateau at 350–450 m above sea level and produces pears, tomatoes, rice, and matsutake mushrooms. There are many tourist farms and flower parks, where visitors can enjoy flower fields from spring to autumn. The town has Sera High School, a powerhouse in ekiden (long-distance relay running), and is known as an \"ekiden town.\"","34545":"Jinsekikogen Town in east-central Hiroshima Prefecture borders Okayama Prefecture and lies on highlands 400–700 m above sea level. Taishaku Valley in the north is a Quasi-National Park known for its gorge scenery, and highlands such as Senyogahara spread out. The town is also known for wagyu beef called Jinseki beef.","35201":"Shimonoseki City, at the western tip of Honshu, is Yamaguchi Prefecture's most populous city and faces Kitakyushu City across the Kanmon Straits. It has Dan-no-ura, site of the last Genpei War battle, Akama Jingu, enshrining Emperor Antoku, and Ganryu-jima, where Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro dueled. Karato Market, known for fugu (pufferfish) trading, and Tsunoshima Bridge are popular.","35202":"Ube City faces the Suo-nada Sea. From the Meiji era onward, the city grew through coal mining at the Ube coal mines, and the chemical industry flourished in this company town of UBE (formerly Ube Industries). Tokiwa Park, around Lake Tokiwa, has a zoo and outdoor sculptures. The Watanabe Memorial Hall by architect Togo Murano is an Important Cultural Property.","35203":"Yamaguchi City, the prefectural capital, was built by the Ouchi clan in the Muromachi period, modeled on Kyoto and called the \"Kyoto of the West.\" It has Ruriko-ji's Five-storied Pagoda (National Treasure) and Joei-ji's garden, attributed to Sesshu. The Choshu Domain moved its seat here at the end of the Edo period. Yuda Onsen (hot spring) is near poet Nakahara Chuya's birthplace.","35204":"Hagi City, on the Sea of Japan, was the castle town of the Mori clan of the Choshu Domain and produced many Meiji Restoration leaders, such as Yoshida Shoin and Takasugi Shinsaku. Shoka Sonjuku and the Hagi Reverberatory Furnace belong to the World Heritage Site \"Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.\" Old streets, Hagi ware, and offshore Mishima are known.","35206":"Hofu City lies on the Suo-nada Sea at the mouth of the Saba River. It was the ancient provincial capital of Suo Province, and Hofu Tenmangu is said to be Japan's first Tenmangu shrine. The Mori Residence Garden holds Sesshu's National Treasure painting \"Landscapes of the Four Seasons,\" and Suo Kokubun-ji Temple also remains.","35207":"Kudamatsu City, on the Seto Inland Sea in the Shunan area, has active industries such as the manufacture of railway cars. Kasado Island is linked to the mainland by Kasado Bridge and offers sea views and an onsen (hot spring). The city has the highest population density in Yamaguchi Prefecture and is known for ramen in beef bone soup.","35208":"Iwakuni City is Yamaguchi Prefecture's easternmost city. In the Edo period it was the administrative town of the Kikkawa clan's Iwakuni territory. The Kintai Bridge, a wooden bridge of 5 arches over the Nishiki River, is one of Japan's most famous bridges, and Iwakuni Castle stands above. The city is known for white snakes, Iwakuni sushi, and lotus root.","35210":"Hikari City, on the Seto Inland Sea, has white sand and green pines at Nijigahama, one of the prefecture's leading swimming beaches, and Murozumi Beach. Cape Zobana at Murozumi is a rare landform that combines a tied island and a sand spit. The city also has Iwakisan Kogoishi, an ancient mountain fortress, and the birthplace of Ito Hirobumi.","35211":"Nagato City lies on the Sea of Japan in northern Yamaguchi Prefecture. Omijima Island, with its cliffs and sea caves, is called the \"Alps on the Sea.\" Motonosumi Shrine, with red torii gates in a line toward the sea, and Nagato Yumoto Onsen are popular. Senzaki, home of children's poet Kaneko Misuzu, also passes on a history of whaling.","35212":"Yanai City is at the base of the Murotsu Peninsula in southeastern Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Furuichi-Kanaya district, with white-walled merchant houses, is a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Goldfish-shaped lanterns (kingyo chochin) and kanro shoyu, a sweet soy sauce, are local specialties. The city area also includes offshore Heigun Island.","35213":"Mine City is an inland city in central Yamaguchi Prefecture with Akiyoshidai, one of the largest karst plateaus in Japan. Under the plateau lies the huge limestone cave Akiyoshido, and the whole city is certified as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The Naganobori copper mine site, which supplied copper for the Great Buddha of Nara in ancient times, is also here.","35215":"Shunan City, on the Seto Inland Sea, has large heavy and chemical industrial complexes, including petrochemical plants, around the port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu. Offshore Ozu Island was a training base for the \"Kaiten\" human torpedo and has the Kaiten Memorial Museum. Factory night views and the Tokuyama Zoo are also known.","35216":"San'yo-Onoda City was formed by the merger of San'yo Town and Onoda City, and the Asa and Ariho rivers flow into the Suo-nada Sea here. The city is one of the birthplaces of Japan's cement industry and has an active chemical industry. It has the glass art center Kirara Glass Miraikan and an onsen (hot spring) by Lake Eshio.","35305":"Suo-oshima Town consists of Suo-Oshima (Yashiro Island) and other islands in the Seto Inland Sea, linked to Yanai City by Oshima Bridge. The warm climate supports mandarin orange growing. From the Meiji era, many residents emigrated to Hawaii, and the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii is here. Folklorist Miyamoto Tsuneichi was born in the town.","35321":"Waki Town is at the eastern end of mainland Yamaguchi Prefecture and borders Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture, across the Oze River. Mitsui Chemicals and ENEOS plants stand on reclaimed land at the river mouth, part of the Setouchi Industrial Region. The town supports child-rearing with measures such as free school lunches and has Hachigamine General Park.","35341":"Kaminoseki Town consists of the tip of the Murotsu Peninsula and the islands of Nagashima, Iwaishima, and Yashima in the Seto Inland Sea. An old maritime checkpoint (seki) gave Kaminoseki its name. Iwaishima keeps a village with walls of piled stones and clay, and the Kanmai Shinto ritual is held once every 4 years.","35343":"Tabuse Town spreads inland from the base of the Murotsu Peninsula in southeastern Yamaguchi Prefecture and includes Umashima Island in the Seto Inland Sea. Many kofun (ancient burial mounds) remain, such as the Goi Kofun Cluster and Kunimori Kofun. The town is known for its ties to the brothers and prime ministers Kishi Nobusuke and Sato Eisaku.","35344":"Hirao Town lies on the west side of the Murotsu Peninsula, and Hirao Bay is part of Setonaikai National Park. The view of the Seto Inland Sea from the peninsula is said to be one of the best in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Ancient sites such as Jingayama Kofun and Shiratori Kofun (burial mounds) remain, and the town includes offshore Sago Island.","35502":"Abu Town, on the Sea of Japan and surrounded by Hagi City, faces Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park. The Sogogawa Bridge of the San'in Main Line stands by the sea and is a famous spot for railway photography. Mukaku Wagyu (hornless Japanese cattle) and kiwifruit are local products, and the town is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.\"","36201":"Tokushima City, the prefectural capital, is the Hachisuka family's castle town (Tokushima Domain) at the mouth of the Yoshino River. It prospered from the indigo trade in the late Edo period. The summer Awa Odori draws people nationwide, and Mt. Bizan overlooks the river-filled \"City of Water.\" The Omote-goten Garden at Tokushima Castle site is notable.","36202":"Naruto City, at the northeastern tip of Shikoku, has whirlpools in the Naruto Strait facing Awaji Island, seen from the Onaruto Bridge walkway. The popular Otsuka Museum of Art shows ceramic copies of famous paintings. Ryozen-ji is Temple No. 1 of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and the Bando POW camp is said to be where Beethoven's Ninth premiered in Japan.","36203":"Komatsushima City faces the Kii Channel. It is known for the legend that Minamoto no Yoshitsune landed here to defeat the Taira, and for the folk tale of Kincho the tanuki (raccoon dog) in the Awa Tanuki War. Onzan-ji and Tatsue-ji are temples of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage. Once a port for the Kansai route, the city now promotes medical and welfare services.","36204":"Anan City is the second city of Tokushima Prefecture after Tokushima City and has Cape Kamoda, Shikoku's easternmost point. It lies at the mouth of the Naka River and is known for bamboo shoots. A major producer of LEDs, it calls itself the \"City of Light.\" A ropeway climbs to Tairyu-ji, a temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage.","36205":"Yoshinogawa City, on the south bank of the Yoshino River, was formed by merging Kamojima, Kawashima, and Yamakawa towns and Misato Village. The ancient Inbe clan is said to have been based here, and Inbe Shrine stands in the city. Fujii-dera is a temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and Misato is known for plum groves and fireflies.","36206":"Awa City spreads along the north bank of the Yoshino River and borders Kagawa Prefecture to the north across the Asan Mountains. The 4 pilgrimage temples Juraku-ji, Kumadani-ji, Horin-ji, and Kirihata-ji keep the culture of the Shikoku Pilgrimage alive. The Awa no Dochu earth pillars of sand and gravel are a highlight, and its summer–autumn eggplant ranks 3rd in Japan.","36207":"Mima City is one of the central cities of northwestern Tokushima Prefecture, on the middle reaches of the Yoshino River. In Wakimachi Minami-machi, which prospered from the indigo trade, merchant houses with udatsu firewalls line the street, a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The site of the ancient Kozato temple and the Dan-no-tsukaana kofun (burial mounds) also remain.","36208":"Miyoshi City has the largest area of any municipality in the 4 prefectures of Shikoku and borders the 3 prefectures of Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. It is known for the Oboke and Koboke gorges carved by the Yoshino River, the vine bridge of Iya, and the remote Iya area with legends of Heike refugees. Rafting on the rapids is popular.","36301":"Katsuura Town in eastern Tokushima Prefecture lies along the Katsuura River. The town is known as the birthplace of Awa mandarin oranges and is a leading orange producer in the prefecture. The Big Hina Festival of dolls in February draws many visitors. Because dinosaur fossils were found here, the town also promotes itself as a \"dinosaur town.\"","36302":"Kamikatsu Town lies in the mountains on the upper Katsuura River and has the smallest population of any town in Shikoku. The town is known worldwide for its \"leaf business,\" which ships leaves and flowers used to decorate dishes, and for its Zero Waste declaration with strict waste sorting. The stone-walled Kashihara terraced rice fields and Kanjogataki Falls are highlights.","36321":"Sanagochi Village borders Tokushima City to the southwest and is the only village in Tokushima Prefecture. Besides sudachi citrus and mandarin oranges, it is famous for \"Momoichigo,\" a sweet, large strawberry. Old systems of self-government by residents, such as neighborhood meetings (jokai), continue, and terraced fields and hamlets spread along the Sonose River.","36341":"Ishii Town, west of Tokushima City, has farmland on the plain of the Yoshino and Ino rivers, and farming is active. Jifuku-ji Temple is famous for wisteria, and Kobo Daishi is said to have studied at Dogaku-ji Temple. The Daijuzeki weir on the Yoshino River is here, and the town is also a commuter town for Tokushima City.","36342":"Kamiyama Town lies in the mountains on the upper Akui River and produces the most sudachi citrus in Japan. Shosan-ji, known as one of the hardest temples to reach on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and Amagoi Falls are here. Satellite offices in old houses and artist residencies have made it a notable town that attracts new residents.","36368":"Naka Town spreads through the mountains of the upper Naka River and is the 2nd largest municipality in Tokushima Prefecture after Miyoshi City. It has many waterfalls, such as Ogama Falls and Otodoro Falls, and the Takanose Gorge is known for autumn leaves. The town is known for Kito yuzu citrus and omoto plants, and tea growing is also active.","36383":"Mugi Town faces the Pacific Ocean in southeastern Tokushima Prefecture and is part of Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park. Offshore are Oshima, the largest uninhabited island in the prefecture, and Teba Island, with stone-paved lanes. Near Oshima is the \"Thousand-Year Coral,\" one of the largest Porites coral colonies in the world.","36387":"Minami Town was formed by the merger of Hiwasa and Yuki towns, and its center is Hiwasa, the temple town of Yakuo-ji. Ohama Beach is known as a beach where sea turtles come to lay eggs, and the Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum \"Caretta\" is here. The chosa floats of the autumn festival of Hiwasa Hachiman Shrine are also famous.","36388":"Kaiyo Town, at the southern tip of Tokushima Prefecture on the Pacific Ocean, has the clear Kaifu River. It is known for mountains with many waterfalls, such as Todoroki Falls, and for surfing beaches. The Asa Coast Railway was the first in the world to run the DMV, a vehicle for both rails and roads, in regular service.","36401":"Matsushige Town lies between Tokushima City and Naruto City and has Tokushima Airport (Tokushima Awaodori Airport), a gateway to Tokushima. The town was developed by reclaiming the delta at the mouth of the Yoshino River, and sweet potatoes, lotus root, and pears are grown. A museum of ningyo joruri puppet theater is also here.","36402":"Kitajima Town, on the delta at the mouth of the Yoshino River, is the smallest town by area in Tokushima Prefecture. Lying between the Kyu-Yoshino and Imagire rivers, it once prospered as a factory company town. It has the highest population density of any town or village in Shikoku, and Kitajima Tulip Park blooms in spring.","36403":"Aizumi Town, as its name (\"indigo dwelling\") suggests, prospered as a major producer of Awa indigo. At \"Ai-no-Yakata,\" an indigo merchant's residence, visitors learn the history and try indigo dyeing. The town belongs to the Japan Heritage story \"Awa, Home of Indigo.\" Its spring–summer carrot harvest ranks 2nd in Japan, and it is a commuter town for Tokushima City.","36404":"Itano Town lies at the foot of the Asan Mountains and has 3 temples of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage: Konsen-ji, Dainichi-ji, and Jizo-ji. The town was a key point on the Sanuki Kaido road. Its spring–summer carrot harvest ranks 1st in Japan, and Asutamu Land Tokushima, with a science museum for children, is popular.","36405":"Kamiita Town lies on the north bank of the Yoshino River, between the river and the Asan Mountains. It is known for sukumo, the fermented indigo used for dyeing, and for Awa wasanbon sugar, used in high-grade Japanese sweets. Taisan-ji Temple stands on Mt. Oyama, the town's highest peak, and spring–summer carrots are also widely grown.","36468":"Tsurugi Town spreads south of the Yoshino River. The \"Nishi-Awa Steep Slope Land Agriculture System,\" which farms steep slopes, is a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System. Mountains lead toward Mt. Tsurugi, and the Ichiu Gorge and the famous Narutaki Falls are highlights. Two-level udatsu firewalls remain on the streets of Sadamitsu.","36489":"Higashimiyoshi Town lies on the middle Yoshino River, between the Asan Mountains to the north and the Shikoku Mountains to the south. It was formed by merging the former Miyoshi and Mikamo towns, linked by the Sanzan Bridge. The Great Camphor Tree of Kamo is a Special Natural Monument, and its slope farming is a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.","37201":"Takamatsu City, the capital of Kagawa Prefecture, was the gateway to Shikoku where the Uko ferry once docked. It has the site of Takamatsu Castle, a sea castle (Tamamo Park), and Ritsurin Garden, a daimyo garden and Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Visitors enjoy Yashima, a Genpei War battlefield, boat trips to Megijima and Ogijima, and many Sanuki udon shops.","37202":"Marugame City, the second city of Kagawa Prefecture, has Marugame Castle, known for its high stone walls, as its symbol. Marugame uchiwa fans, a traditional craft, make up 90% of Japan's production. Honjima in the Shiwaku Islands keeps the Shiwaku Kinbansho, a base of the Shiwaku navy, and the Kasashima townscape. The Inokuma Genichiro art museum stands by the station.","37203":"Sakaide City is the Shikoku gateway to the Great Seto Bridge and was once a salt town with wide salt fields. Today the Bannosu industrial zone lines the coast. Shiromine-ji Temple, linked to retired Emperor Sutoku, and Kandani Shrine, with a National Treasure main hall, are here, and the Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum overlooks the Seto Inland Sea.","37204":"Zentsuji City is the temple town of Zentsu-ji, said to have been founded by Kukai in memory of his father, and has 5 temples of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage. In the Meiji era it was a military city with the Army's 11th Division, and a Ground Self-Defense Force camp remains today. The city is also known for square watermelons.","37205":"Kan'onji City is the center of the Seisan area at the western end of Kagawa Prefecture. On the beach of Kotohiki Park lies \"Zenigata Sand Art,\" a huge sand drawing shaped like a Kan'ei Tsuho coin, and Kotohiki Hachimangu shrine also stands there. Ibukijima Island is known for iriko (dried sardines), and the autumn chosa float festival is powerful.","37206":"Sanuki City, in eastern Kagawa Prefecture facing Shido Bay and Tsuda Bay, was formed by the merger of 5 towns. It is the hometown of the Edo-period inventor Hiraga Gennai and has a museum about him. It has Okubo-ji, the final temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, Shido-ji, and Nagao-ji, and the Tsuda pine grove is known.","37207":"Higashikagawa City, at the eastern end of Kagawa Prefecture, is known as the \"Glove Town\" because it makes most of Japan's gloves. Lake Ato (Atoike) is where yellowtail (hamachi) farming was first done in Japan. Old streets with soy sauce breweries remain in Hiketa, and wasanbon sugar is also a specialty.","37208":"Mitoyo City is in western Kagawa Prefecture, with the Shonai Peninsula extending north into the Seto Inland Sea. Chichibugahama Beach is popular for photos of the \"Mirror of the Sky,\" where pools reflect the sky. Mt. Shiudeyama is known for cherry blossoms and views of the island-dotted sea, and the city includes islands such as Awashima and Shishijima.","37322":"Tonosho Town consists of northwestern Shodo Island, Teshima, and other islands. It has the Angel Road, a path to an island that appears at low tide, and the Dobuchi Strait, certified by Guinness World Records as the narrowest strait in the world. Teshima has the Teshima Art Museum, and hand-stretched somen noodles are a specialty.","37324":"Shodoshima Town, in southeastern Shodo Island, is considered the birthplace of olive growing in Japan. Soy sauce, tsukudani (food simmered in soy sauce), and hand-stretched somen noodles are made here, and streets lined with soy sauce breweries remain. It has Kankakei Gorge, famous for autumn leaves, and a movie village at the filming location of \"Twenty-Four Eyes.\"","37341":"Miki Town, at the foot of the Sanuki Mountains in eastern Kagawa Prefecture, is a commuter town for Takamatsu City. It is also a student town, with the medical and agricultural faculties of Kagawa University. Mt. Shiroyama, one of the \"Seven Fujis of Sanuki,\" rises here, and farming is the main industry.","37364":"Naoshima Town consists of Naoshima and other islands in the Seto Inland Sea and is known worldwide as an island of contemporary art. The Chichu Art Museum and Benesse House, designed by Ando Tadao, and Kusama Yayoi's pumpkin sculpture are popular. A Mitsubishi Materials smelter is in the north of the island.","37386":"Utazu Town, between Sakaide City and Marugame City, is the smallest town by area in Kagawa Prefecture and has the highest population density in the prefecture. The new town area built on former salt fields has the Gold Tower and the Shikoku Aquarium, while the old town keeps old temples, shrines, and streets.","37387":"Ayagawa Town, in the center of Kagawa Prefecture, is known as the birthplace of Sanuki udon. The Aya River flows north, and Takinomiya Tenmangu, linked to Sugawara no Michizane, preserves the Takinomiya Nenbutsu Odori dance. Many kofun (ancient burial mounds) and kiln sites remain, and 2 of the \"Seven Fujis of Sanuki\" are in the town.","37403":"Kotohira Town is the shrine town of Kotohira-gu, known affectionately as \"Konpira-san,\" with a long stone stairway approach up the slopes of Mt. Zozu. It has the Konpira Grand Theatre (Kanamaru-za), the oldest surviving playhouse in Japan, and the Konpira onsen (hot spring) area. The town also produces garlic.","37404":"Tadotsu Town has long prospered as a hub of sea and land transportation, and Tadotsu Station is the starting point of the JR Dosan Line. It is the \"birthplace of railways in Shikoku,\" where the first railway in Shikoku opened. The head temple of Shorinji Kempo is here, and offshore Sanagi Island is known as a cat island.","37406":"Manno Town lies at the northern foot of the Sanuki Mountains and has Manno Pond, the largest irrigation reservoir in Japan, said to have been repaired by Kukai. Mt. Ryuo, the highest peak in Kagawa Prefecture, rises here, and Sanuki Manno Park, a national government park, is popular for flowers in every season. Sunflowers are also grown.","38201":"Matsuyama City, the capital of Ehime Prefecture, is the most populous city in Shikoku. Matsuyama Castle, with an original keep, crowns Mt. Katsuyama, and Dogo Onsen, said to be one of Japan's oldest hot springs, keeps its wooden Main Building. Linked to Masaoka Shiki and Natsume Soseki, the city has the Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum and Ishite-ji Temple.","38202":"Imabari City is a port town that was the ancient provincial capital of Iyo Province and grew as the castle town of Imabari Castle. It is a major towel producer, and shipbuilding is active. The city includes Oshima, Hakatajima, and Omishima, linked by the Shimanami Kaido, and Oyamazumi Shrine on Omishima is known for its treasured arms and armor.","38203":"Uwajima City, the center of the Nanyo region, grew as the castle town of the Date family's Uwajima Domain. Uwajima Castle, with an original keep, and Tensha-en, a daimyo garden, remain, and the city is known for bullfighting. Pearl and fish farming thrive in the ria coast of the Uwa Sea, and the Yusumizugaura terraced fields are a highlight.","38204":"Yawatahama City is a port town at the base of the Sadamisaki Peninsula that prospered through trade with Kyushu and Kansai and was called \"Osaka of Iyo.\" The Port of Yawatahama is a base for ferries to Kyushu and has one of Shikoku's leading fish markets. The city is a leading producer of unshu mandarin oranges grown on terraced fields.","38205":"Niihama City is an \"industrial city\" that prospered from the Besshi Copper Mine, opened by the Sumitomo family in the Edo period, and grew as a Sumitomo Group company town. The mountain area of Toyo keeps mine ruins, and the Besshi Copper Mine Memorial Museum tells the history. Ornate taikodai floats parade at the autumn Niihama Taiko Festival.","38206":"Saijo City lies at the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan, and has Ishizuchi Shrine, the mountain's sacred site. Its artesian groundwater, \"uchinuki,\" is one of Japan's 100 Best Waters, giving it the name \"City of Water.\" Its naked barley harvest ranks 1st in Japan, and the danjiri floats of the autumn Saijo Festival are famous.","38207":"Ozu City, the castle town of the Ozu Domain along the Hiji River, is called the \"Little Kyoto of Iyo.\" Highlights include Ozu Castle, rebuilt in wood, and Garyu Sanso (an Important Cultural Property) overlooking the Hiji River. Cormorant fishing on the river in summer and the \"Hijikawa Arashi,\" fog flowing down the river in winter, are also known.","38210":"Iyo City, at the western end of the Chuyo region facing the Iyo-nada Sea, produces 60% of Japan's domestic shipments of shaved dried bonito (kezuribushi). Goshikihama swimming beach and Futami Seaside Park in the Futami area, known for beautiful sunsets, are popular. Shimonada Station on the JR Yosan Line is popular as a station overlooking the sea.","38213":"Shikokuchuo City, at the eastern end of Ehime Prefecture, borders the 3 prefectures of Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. Home to Daio Paper's headquarters, it is one of Japan's leading paper industry areas and among the top in shipments of paper products. It is known for the \"Yamaji-kaze,\" a local wind from the mountains, and Kiri no Mori daifuku are popular.","38214":"Seiyo City stretches from east to west from the Uwa Sea to the Shikoku Karst and was formed by the merger of 5 towns. Unomachi keeps post-town streets, a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the Kaimei School preserves an old elementary school building. Dairy farming is carried out on the Onogahara plateau.","38215":"Toon City, at the top of the alluvial fan of the Dogo Plain, is the only city in Ehime Prefecture without a coastline. The Shigenobu River and its tributaries flow through it, and its mountain scenery includes Shirai Falls and Karako Falls. The Ehime University School of Medicine is here, and the Kasho Museum and Botchan Theater are known.","38356":"Kamijima Town consists of 25 islands in the Geiyo Islands of the Seto Inland Sea, and Yuge, Sashima, Ikina, and Iwagi islands are linked by bridges. In the Middle Ages, Yuge Island was known as a \"salt estate.\" Iwagi Island produces lemons, and the cherry blossoms of Mt. Sekizen are also beautiful.","38386":"Kumakogen Town has the largest area of any town in Ehime Prefecture and lies on highlands along the upper Niyodo River, at the southern foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan. The Omogo-kei Gorge is well known. Daiho-ji and the cliffside Iwaya-ji are temples of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and the Jomon-period Kamikuroiwa rock-shelter site remains.","38401":"Masaki Town, at the southern end of the Dogo Plain facing the Iyo-nada Sea, is the smallest town by area in Ehime Prefecture and its only municipality with no mountains. It is the birthplace of Sakube, a devoted farmer of the Edo period. Its naked barley harvest ranks 3rd in Japan, and the large shopping center Emifull MASAKI is here.","38402":"Tobe Town, bordering Matsuyama City to the south, is known for Tobe ware, white porcelain with indigo painting and a history of more than 200 years. Kilns are scattered around the town, and visitors can see works at the Traditional Industry Hall. The town has the Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo, and mandarin orange growing is active.","38422":"Uchiko Town is lined with merchant houses that prospered from producing and trading wood wax, and the Yokaichi-Gokoku townscape is a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Uchiko-za, a Taisho-era playhouse, is still used for performances. The Ikazaki kite battle, washi paper, and the nature of Odamiyama are also known.","38442":"Ikata Town is a long, narrow town covering the Sadamisaki Peninsula from its base to its tip. Cape Sada, the westernmost point of Shikoku, has a lighthouse, and wind turbines line the ridge of the peninsula. Ferries to Kyushu leave from the Port of Misaki, and the town has the only nuclear power plant in Shikoku.","38484":"Matsuno Town, on the middle Hiromi River, a tributary of the Shimanto River, has the smallest population of any town in Ehime Prefecture. Forests cover 84% of its area, and the town calls itself the \"Land of Forests.\" It is known for the Nametoko Gorge and Niji no Mori Park, which has an aquarium of freshwater fish.","38488":"Kihoku Town is a hilly and mountainous town along the Hiromi River on the upper Shimanto River, bordering Kochi Prefecture. Forests cover about 85% of its total area, and nature such as the Narukawa Valley remains. Pheasant farming is active, and the town uses its name, which contains the character for \"oni\" (ogre), in community building.","38506":"Ainan Town, at the southern tip of Ehime Prefecture, has a ria coast that is part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. Fishing is active, including bonito landings and the farming of red sea bream and pearls, and a citrus called \"Ainan Gold\" is also a specialty. Kanjizai-ji, a temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, is here.","39201":"Kochi City, the capital of Kochi Prefecture, is the castle town of the Tosa Domain, built by Yamauchi Kazutoyo. Kochi Castle (original keep and palace), Katsurahama Beach with a Sakamoto Ryoma statue, and Harimaya Bridge are known. The Yosakoi Festival, the Otesuji Sunday Market, and the Makino Botanical Garden are popular, and its winter–spring cucumber ranks 3rd in Japan.","39202":"Muroto City covers most of the Muroto Peninsula, which juts into the Pacific Ocean, and the whole city is certified as the Muroto UNESCO Global Geopark. Cape Muroto has Mikurodo, the cave where the young Kukai trained, and Hotsumisaki-ji Temple. The city is also known for deep ocean water, Tosa binchotan charcoal, and an aquarium in a former school.","39203":"Aki City, the center of eastern Kochi Prefecture, is the hometown of Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi. It is known for Doi Kakuchu, with remaining samurai residences, and the Nora-dokei, a clock tower standing among the fields. Greenhouse eggplant growing is active, and its winter–spring eggplant harvest ranks 1st in Japan.","39204":"Nankoku City, east of Kochi City, is the prefecture's second city and has Kochi Airport, Kochi's air gateway. The provincial capital of ancient Tosa Province was here, and the area is linked to Ki no Tsurayuki. The site of Oko Castle, home of Chosokabe Motochika, has a history and folklore museum, and Tosa Kokubun-ji Temple remains.","39205":"Tosa City spreads along the right bank of the lower Niyodo River and faces the Pacific Ocean to the south. It is known for Tosa buntan citrus, and its winter–spring green pepper ranks 5th in Japan. Kiyotaki-ji and Shoryu-ji are temples of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and the Yokonami Peninsula and the port town of Usa are also highlights.","39206":"Susaki City has prospered as one of Tosa's leading ports since the Sengoku period, and fishing, such as for bonito, is active. Deep inlets such as Uranouchi Bay and Susaki Bay line the coast. Traces of the Japanese river otter were found on the Shinjo River, so the city calls itself the \"Otter Town.\" Nabeyaki ramen is a local specialty.","39208":"Sukumo City is a port town at the western end of Kochi Prefecture, bordering Ehime Prefecture. In winter, the \"Daruma Sunset,\" where the setting sun merges with its reflection on the sea, can be seen over Sukumo Bay, and Okinoshima and Ugurujima islands lie offshore. Enko-ji is the last temple in Kochi Prefecture on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage.","39209":"Tosashimizu City is at the southwestern tip of Shikoku, and Cape Ashizuri on the Pacific Ocean has Kongofuku-ji, a temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage. Most of the coast is in Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, and the odd rocks of Tatsukushi and the Ashizuri Aquarium are highlights. The city is John Manjiro's hometown and is known for Shimizu mackerel.","39210":"Shimanto City, on the lower Shimanto River, called \"Japan's last clear stream,\" is the most populous city in western Kochi Prefecture. Its center, Nakamura, is the \"Little Kyoto of Tosa,\" laid out by the Tosa Ichijo clan on Kyoto's model. The city is known for chinkabashi (low bridges without railings), wild eels, and river products such as green laver.","39211":"Konan City lies east of the Monobe River facing Tosa Bay and was formed by the merger of 5 towns and villages. The Akaoka area is known for the theatrical screen paintings of Ekin, a late Edo-period painter, shown at the Ekingura. Noichi Zoological Park, the Tei Port Movable Bridge, and the Ya-Sea Park beach are popular.","39212":"Kami City extends from the headwaters of the Monobe River to the Kochi Plain and is the only city in Kochi Prefecture without a coastline. It is linked to the manga artist Yanase Takashi and has the Anpanman Museum. The limestone cave Ryuga Cave, the yuzu-growing Monobe area, and Tosa forged blades, a traditional craft, are also known.","39301":"Toyo Town, at the eastern end of Kochi Prefecture and bordering Tokushima Prefecture, lies near the center of Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park. It has Shirahama Beach, one of the best shallow beaches in Shikoku, and Ikumi Beach is known as one of Japan's top surfing spots. Kannoura Port is an old port town, and coastal fishing is carried out.","39302":"Nahari Town lies at the mouth of the Nahari River in eastern Kochi Prefecture and is the terminus of the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line. It once prospered as a collection point for timber carried from the forests of Yanase, and old streets with storehouses with mizukiri-gawara tiles remain. Fishing is carried out at ports such as Karyogo.","39303":"Tano Town, at the mouth of the Nahari River, is the smallest municipality by area in Shikoku. It once prospered from shipping Yanase cedar, and historic sites such as Oka Goten, a former Tosa Domain residence, remain. The town is also known for sun-dried salt made only with sunlight and seawater.","39304":"Yasuda Town lies along the middle and lower Yasuda River, which flows from Umaji Village, and about 80% is forest. Konomine-ji is known as a hard climb on the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and Kita-dera Temple has Buddhist statues that are Important Cultural Properties. Old streets and an old-style movie theater remain, and its winter–spring eggplant ranks 5th in Japan.","39305":"Kitagawa Village, in eastern Kochi Prefecture, lies on the upper Nahari River surrounded by forest. It is the birthplace of Nakaoka Shintaro, an activist of the late Edo period, and has the Shintaro Nakaoka Museum. The \"Monet's Garden Marmottan,\" which recreates the garden of the French painter Monet, is popular, and yuzu and yuzu products are specialties.","39306":"Umaji Village, in eastern Kochi Prefecture, is surrounded by mountains of about 1,000 m, and forests cover 96% of its area. It is known across Japan for yuzu products and revitalized the village with goods such as ponzu soy sauce. It produces Yanase cedar and has a facility on the history of its forest railway and Umaji Onsen (hot spring).","39307":"Geisei Village is a long, narrow village from north to south facing Tosa Bay, and its population is concentrated in the coastal Wajiki area. Greenhouse growing of eggplants and green peppers is active, and its winter–spring eggplant ranks 3rd in Japan. It has Kotogahama Beach, with a long pine grove, and the Geisei Astronomical Observatory, and flowers are also grown.","39341":"Motoyama Town lies on the upper Yoshino River near the center of Shikoku, and rice is grown on mountain terraced fields called the \"Village in the Sky.\" Tosa red cattle are also raised. The town is linked to the ancestors of Itagaki Taisuke, has a literary museum for the writer Ohara Tomie, and is known for the clear Asemi River.","39344":"Otoyo Town lies in the center of the Shikoku Mountains, with hamlets scattered along the valleys of the Yoshino River and its tributaries. The \"Great Cedars of Sugi,\" a Special Natural Monument, stand here, and the Yakushi Hall of Buraku-ji is a National Treasure. Goishi-cha, a fermented tea, is known as a traditional specialty.","39363":"Tosa Town lies in the middle of the Shikoku Mountains on the upper Yoshino River and has Sameura Dam, called the \"Water Jar of Shikoku.\" Forests cover 85% of its area, and high-quality rice is grown on terraced fields, using differences in elevation and temperature. Canoeing and other water activities can be enjoyed on Lake Sameura.","39364":"Okawa Village, surrounded by the Shikoku Mountains and bordering Ehime Prefecture, has the smallest population of any municipality in Shikoku. It once prospered from the Shirataki Mine and forestry, but its former center sank under the lake when Sameura Dam was completed. Okawa black cattle and Hachikin local chickens are raised.","39386":"Ino Town, bordering Kochi City to the west, is the most populous town or village in Kochi Prefecture. It has long produced Tosa washi paper and has a Paper Museum. The clear Niyodo River flows through it, and in the former Hongawa Village to the north, the Kamegamori Forest Road runs along the ridges of the Ishizuchi Mountains.","39387":"Niyodogawa Town lies in the Shikoku Mountains, bordering Ehime Prefecture, and forests cover about 90% of its area. The Niyodo River flows through the center of the town, and the Nakatsu and Yasui gorges show clear water called \"Niyodo Blue.\" Tosa tea production is active, and Mt. Torigata has a limestone mine.","39401":"Nakatosa Town faces Tosa Bay, and its center, Kure, is known for pole-and-line bonito fishing and was the setting of the manga \"Tosa no Ipponzuri.\" Fresh seafood is sold at the Kure Taisho-machi Market. The town has Kure-hachimangu shrine and the Nakatosa Town Art Museum, and inland Onomi is a mountain village along the Shimanto River.","39402":"Sakawa Town lies in a basin on the Yanase River and prospered in the Edo period as the castle town of the Fukao clan, chief retainers of the Tosa Domain. It is botanist Makino Tomitaro's hometown, with a park and a Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) linked to him. Sake brewery streets and the Seizan Bunko, holding late Edo-period documents, are highlights.","39403":"Ochi Town lies on the middle Niyodo River, and its center is where the Niyodo, Sakaori, and Yanase rivers meet. Mt. Yokokura has a legend that Emperor Antoku fled here, and fossils such as ancient trilobites are found there. In autumn, Miyanomae Park is colored with cosmos flowers.","39405":"Yusuhara Town, in western Kochi Prefecture, includes part of the Shikoku Karst and calls itself the \"Town Above the Clouds.\" Forests cover 91% of its area, and buildings by Kuma Kengo using local timber are scattered around. The route by which Sakamoto Ryoma and others fled the domain passes through, and the terraced rice fields called Senmaida are known.","39410":"Hidaka Village lies in a basin where the Niyodo River and its tributary, the Kusaka River, flow. Its name takes 1 character each from \"Nihon\" (Japan) and \"Kochi Prefecture.\" The village produces high-sugar \"sugar tomatoes\" and promotes itself with an \"Omurice Road\" using them. Omura Shrine, the second-ranked shrine of Tosa Province, holds a National Treasure sword.","39411":"Tsuno Town, in west-central Kochi Prefecture, has the source of the Shimanto River. The Tengu Plateau of the Shikoku Karst is certified as a Forest Therapy Base, with starry skies and highland views. Tsunoyama tea is grown using the foggy climate, and Tsunoyama Kagura, a sacred dance, is passed down.","39412":"Shimanto Town spreads along the middle Shimanto River and faces Tosa Bay to the east. Its ginger production is among the largest in Japan, and Niida rice and chestnuts are also specialties. It has Iwamoto-ji, a temple of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, and the Kaiyodo Hobby Museum Shimanto, which displays figures, and chinkabashi (low bridges without railings) can be seen.","39424":"Otsuki Town, at the southwestern tip of Kochi Prefecture, faces the Pacific Ocean and the Bungo Channel, and its coast is part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. Kashiwa-jima is a famous diving spot known for its very clear sea and many kinds of fish. The cliffs of the Odo Coast are also here, and fisheries operate at many fishing ports.","39427":"Mihara Village lies on a plateau surrounded by mountains in southwestern Kochi Prefecture and borders Shimanto City, Sukumo City, and Tosashimizu City. It is known as a \"doburoku special zone,\" where farms in the village brew doburoku (unrefined sake). In the Sengoku period it was the land of the Shikichi clan, who built Yunoki Castle.","39428":"Kuroshio Town faces Tosa Bay in southwestern Kochi Prefecture, and pole-and-line bonito fishing is active in the Saga area. Irino Beach is treated as a \"Sand Beach Art Museum,\" where events such as a T-shirt art exhibition are held. Fully sun-dried salt and whale watching are also known.","40100":"Kitakyushu City is a designated city (a large city with special status) at the northern tip of Kyushu, facing the Kanmon Straits. It was formed by merging 5 cities: Moji, Kokura, Wakamatsu, Yawata, and Tobata. The government-built Yawata Steel Works is a World Heritage Site. Retro Moji Port, Kokura Castle, and Kawachi Wisteria Garden are popular.","40130":"Fukuoka City, the prefectural capital, is the designated city (a large city with special status) with Kyushu's largest population. Long a gateway to the Asian mainland, it joined merchant Hakata with Fukuoka, the Kuroda clan's castle town. It is known for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, yatai food stalls, and the National Treasure gold seal found on Shikanoshima.","40202":"Omuta City, at the southern tip of Fukuoka Prefecture, faces the Ariake Sea. It grew on coal from the Mitsui Miike Coal Mine; Miyanohara Pit and Miike Port belong to the World Heritage Site \"Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.\" After closure it turned to environmental recycling industries; the Coal Industry and Science Museum tells its history.","40203":"Kurume City, a core city (a city with some prefectural powers), is the Chikugo region's hub and the largest city on the Tsukushi Plain. The former Kurume Domain castle town has the head Suitengu shrine and Kora Taisha, Chikugo Province's leading shrine. It is known for Kurume kasuri cloth and as tonkotsu ramen's birthplace. Spinach production ranks 4th in Japan.","40204":"Nogata City is the central city of the Chokura area at the northern end of the Chikuho region, and the Onga River flows through its center. The city once prospered as a coal town. The Fukuchi Mountains line the east, and in spring a tulip fair on the Onga riverbanks draws crowds.","40205":"Iizuka City is the most populous city and the center of the Chikuho region. The mansion of coal magnate Ito Den'emon is open to the public as a place linked to his wife, Yanagiwara Byakuren. The city has the Kaho Gekijo playhouse and Kagenouma Kogoishi, an ancient mountain fortress, and is the birthplace of the famous sweet Chidori Manju.","40206":"Tagawa City, near the center of Fukuoka Prefecture, is one of Chikuho's three coal cities and the birthplace of the Tanko-bushi miners' song. Coal-mining Memorial Park, telling the history of Chikuho's largest coal city, keeps two chimneys and a mine shaft tower. Mt. Kawara rises to the east, and mountains continue south to the sacred Mt. Hiko.","40207":"Yanagawa City, a castle town in southwestern Chikugo, is called the \"city of water\" for its many canals. It is known for donkobune boat rides, steamed eel, and Ohana, the villa of the Tachibana clan, lords of the Yanagawa Domain. The poet Kitahara Hakushu was born here, and nori seaweed farming in the Ariake Sea is active.","40210":"Yame City in the south of the prefecture reaches into the mountains on the border with Oita Prefecture. It produces Yame tea, a high-grade green tea, and the white-walled streets of Yame-Fukushima carry on crafts such as Buddhist altars and lanterns. Iwatoyama Kofun (an ancient burial mound), said to be the tomb of Tsukushi no Kimi Iwai, is also known.","40211":"Chikugo City is in the central Chikugo Plain, and the Yabe River flows through it. It has Funagoya Onsen (hot spring) and Chikugo Regional Park, which contains Chikugo-Funagoya Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen and the farm-team facilities of the Hawks baseball team. Mizuta Tenmangu, home of Koinoki Shrine, is also popular.","40212":"Okawa City lies near the mouth of the Chikugo River and is one of Japan's leading furniture-making areas, carrying on a woodworking tradition. River transport on the Chikugo River helped the furniture town grow. The Chikugo River Lift Bridge, which crosses to Saga Prefecture, is an Important Cultural Property as a movable iron bridge.","40213":"Yukuhashi City is the central city of the Keichiku area in eastern Fukuoka Prefecture and faces the Suo Sea. It grew as a commuter town for Kitakyushu City and is near Kitakyushu Airport. Large stores line the west side of the station. Rice paddies cover the southwest, and historic sites such as Goshogatani Kogoishi, an ancient mountain fortress, remain.","40214":"Buzen City in eastern Fukuoka Prefecture faces the Suo Sea and also borders Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture. Mt. Kubote in the south flourished as a center of Shugendo (mountain asceticism), and the Kubote Historical Museum tells its history. The mountains have many springs of fine water, and Hata Reisen is a well-known spring in the prefecture.","40215":"Nakama City has the Onga River flowing through its center and was once part of the Chikuho Coalfield. After the mines closed, the city developed as a commuter town for Kitakyushu City. The Onga River Pumping Station, which supplied water to the Yawata Steel Works, is registered as a World Heritage Site.","40216":"Ogori City in the south borders Saga Prefecture and is a commuter town for Fukuoka City and Kurume City. Its name comes from \"Tsukushi no Ogori\" in the Nihon Shoki, an ancient chronicle, and it has the Ogori Government Office Ruins, a national historic site. The Kyushu Historical Museum and Tanabata Shrine, linked to the Tanabata legend, are here.","40217":"Chikushino City lies between Fukuoka City and Kurume City and has Futsukaichi Onsen (hot spring), called the \"inner retreat of Hakata.\" The city sits on the divide between the river systems of Hakata Bay and the Ariake Sea, and Mt. Homan rises to the northeast. Chikushi Shrine and Goroyama Kofun (an ancient burial mound) also remain.","40218":"Kasuga City is a densely populated commuter town bordering Fukuoka City to the southeast. It is thought to have been the center of Na (Nakoku), a Yayoi-period state, and the Sugu-Okamoto Site is now Nakoku-no-oka Historical Park. Kofun (ancient burial mounds) and shrines are scattered across the city, which also hosts many Self-Defense Forces facilities.","40219":"Onojo City developed as a commuter town for Fukuoka City, and its name comes from Ono Castle, an ancient mountain fortress. The remains of Ono Castle are on Mt. Shioji, and the Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln Site was a large ancient pottery production area. The city also has a water purification plant that supplies the Fukuoka metropolitan area.","40220":"Munakata City lies between Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City, facing the Hibiki and Genkai seas. Munakata Taisha and Okinoshima, an island believed to be home to a deity, form the World Heritage Site \"Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region.\" The city includes Oshima and Jinoshima islands and is also a commuter town for both cities.","40221":"Dazaifu City is where Dazaifu, the ancient government office that governed Kyushu, was located. Many tourists visit Dazaifu Tenmangu, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning. The city has many sights and historic sites, such as the Kyushu National Museum, Kanzeon-ji Temple, and the Mizuki ruins, and it is also known as a student town.","40223":"Koga City lies northeast of Fukuoka City and faces the Genkai Sea to the west, where pine groves line the shore. Its population has grown as a commuter town for Fukuoka City. Katsurugahama Beach is part of Genkai Quasi-National Park, Funabaru Kofun yielded lavish horse fittings, and the Inunaki Mountains extend across the east.","40224":"Fukutsu City lies roughly midway between Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City, facing the Genkai Sea. It is known for the \"Path of Light,\" the view from the approach of Miyajidake Shrine to the sea, and the Shinbaru-Nuyama Kofun Group is part of a World Heritage Site. Fukuma Beach, called the \"Shonan of Kyushu,\" is a marine leisure spot.","40225":"Ukiha City lies on the south bank of the Chikugo River and borders Hita City in Oita Prefecture. Chikugo-Yoshii keeps white-walled storehouse buildings, and the area has many decorated kofun (painted burial mounds), such as Hinooka Kofun. Grapes, persimmons, and other fruit grow at the foot of the Mino Mountains, and the city is a certified Forest Therapy Base.","40226":"Miyawaka City is in the Chikuho area, roughly midway between Kitakyushu City and Fukuoka City. It is an industrial city with many automobile-related factories, including Toyota Motor Kyushu. Takehara Kofun, a national historic site, has vivid wall paintings. Wakita Onsen (hot spring) along the Inunaki River is known as a mountain spa close to Fukuoka City.","40227":"Kama City is an inland city near the center of Fukuoka Prefecture, on the upper reaches of the Onga River. It was once one of the leading coal-mining cities of Chikuho. The city has Sake Shrine, linked to a legend of salmon (sake) swimming upstream, and an art museum of the painter Oda Hiroki, and high mountains line the south.","40228":"Asakura City is on the north bank of the Chikugo River. Akizuki, the castle town of Akizuki Castle, is called the \"little Kyoto of Chikuzen,\" with cherry-lined streets and the Akizuki Megane Bridge. The city is also known for Harazuru Onsen (hot spring) and triple waterwheels that still supply rice fields. Its spring green onion production ranks 4th in Japan.","40229":"Miyama City faces the Ariake Sea and has a plain crossed by the Yabe River. Farming is its core industry, with much greenhouse growing of eggplants and celery; its winter–spring eggplant production ranks 4th in Japan. Zoyama Castle (Zoyama Kogoishi), an ancient mountain fortress, and the autumn leaves of Kiyomizu-dera Temple are also well known.","40230":"Itoshima City is at the western end of Fukuoka Prefecture, on the Itoshima Peninsula facing the Genkai Sea. It was the site of the ancient state of Ito, and finds from the Hirabaru Site are National Treasures. Seaside cafes and nature such as Shiraito Falls draw visitors, and the city is also attracting attention as a place to move to.","40231":"Nakagawa City borders Fukuoka City to the south and is named after the Naka River, which flows north–south through it. The north has grown around Hakata-Minami Station as a commuter town for Fukuoka City; the mountainous south has Minamihata Dam and Gokayama Dam. The capital of the ancient state of Na may have been here, and the Antokudai Site remains.","40341":"Umi Town lies east-southeast of Fukuoka City, and its flat northern part is a commuter town for Fukuoka City. Umi Hachimangu, where Empress Jingu is said to have given birth to Emperor Ojin, is worshiped as a shrine for safe childbirth. Mt. Shioji in the south and Mt. Sangun in the east are popular hiking routes.","40342":"Sasaguri Town lies east of Fukuoka City; its west is a commuter town for Fukuoka City and its east is mountainous. The town is known for the Sasaguri Shikoku 88 Sacred Sites pilgrimage, and many worshipers visit Nanzo-in Temple, which has a huge reclining Buddha statue. Mt. Wakasugi and many waterfalls are also highlights.","40343":"Shime Town borders Fukuoka City to the east and is almost entirely urban. Its population density is among the highest of all towns and villages in Japan. The town once had a navy-run coal mine, and its huge shaft tower remains as a national Important Cultural Property. The town is near Fukuoka Airport and has large shopping facilities.","40344":"Sue Town lies east of Fukuoka City; its name is said to come from Sue ware pottery made in the Kofun period. In the Edo period the Fukuoka Domain had its official kiln here, and from the Meiji to Showa eras it was a coal-mining village. Mt. Wakasugi is in the northeast, and commuter housing for Fukuoka City is increasing.","40345":"Shingu Town borders Fukuoka City to the east and faces the Genkai Sea. In the 2010s, housing development around the station advanced, and the town's population growth rate became the highest in Japan. Ainoshima Island offshore is known as a cat island and has the Ainoshima Stone Tumuli. Mt. Tachibana rises to the southeast.","40348":"Hisayama Town borders Fukuoka City to the east, and its eastern area is forest in the Sangun Mountains. The town is known as the site of the Hisayama Study, an epidemiological study that has examined residents' health for many years. It has the large shopping complex TORIUS and Ino Tensho Kotai Jingu, a shrine called the \"Ise of Kyushu.\"","40349":"Kasuya Town borders Fukuoka City to the east and has the largest population of any town or village in Kyushu. It is close to Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station, and because the town has 6 JR stations, its population keeps growing. Kayoicho Park, around Kayoicho Pond, is known for its rose garden.","40381":"Ashiya Town is at the mouth of the Onga River, facing the Hibiki Sea to the north. The Air Self-Defense Force's Ashiya Air Base and the Ashiya boat race course are on the west bank. Ashiya Beach is busy in summer, and in the Muromachi period the area was known for Ashiya-gama, iron kettles for the tea ceremony.","40382":"Mizumaki Town is on the east bank of the Onga River and borders Kitakyushu City. The town has been closely tied to Kitakyushu since the days of the coal industry, and today its residential areas spread as a commuter town for Kitakyushu. National Route 3 and the Kagoshima Main Line run through the town.","40383":"Okagaki Town has the largest population in Onga District and has grown as a commuter town for Kitakyushu City and Fukuoka City. Under the slogan \"a town where sea turtles return, too,\" it protects the nature of the Sanri Matsubara pine grove along the Hibiki Sea. Fruit such as loquats and grapes is also widely grown.","40384":"Onga Town lies west of Kitakyushu City, with the Onga River along its eastern edge. It is the only town in Fukuoka Prefecture whose word for \"town\" is read \"cho.\" Centered on Ongagawa Station, it has grown as a commuter town for Kitakyushu. The town also has Ongagawa Onsen (hot spring) and is rich in water and greenery.","40401":"Kotake Town is in northern Chikuho between Nogata City and Iizuka City, and the Onga River flows north–south through its center. The town once prospered from coal mining. The Soldiers' and Ordinary People's War Museum shows daily life in the war years. After the mines closed, the town built industrial parks and is working to attract companies.","40402":"Kurate Town is in northwestern Fukuoka Prefecture; the Onga River runs along its eastern edge, and the west and south are mountainous. The Kyushu Expressway and the Sanyo Shinkansen cross the town. It has the Furutsuki Cave Tombs, a national historic site, and Hase-dera Temple. Many residents commute to Kitakyushu City, which a bridge links across the Onga River.","40421":"Keisen Town is at Chikuho's southern end, southwest of Iizuka City. Ozuka Kofun, a Special Historic Site, is a decorated burial mound with wall paintings in red, black, and other colors. Many decorated kofun have been found here, and in the Heian period the area was an estate of Anraku-ji Temple (today's Dazaifu Tenmangu). The Honami River flows here.","40447":"Chikuzen Town spreads across the northern end of the Chikugo Plain, between Fukuoka City and Kurume City. It has the Tachiarai Peace Memorial Museum, which tells the history of the former Tachiarai Airfield. The town also has many historic sites, such as Yakenotoge Kofun and Onamuchi Shrine, and farming, including black soybeans, is active.","40448":"Toho Village is a mountain village bordering Hita City in Oita Prefecture, formed by merging Koishiwara Village and Hoshuyama Village. Kilns of Koishiwara ware, a folk pottery, and Takatori ware are concentrated here, and they are known for tobikanna (chatter-patterned) pottery. The village is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association.","40503":"Tachiarai Town is a flat town in the northern Chikugo Plain, with the Chikugo River in its southeast. The name is said to come from a legend that Kikuchi Takemitsu washed his sword (tachi) in a river here. The red-brick Imamura Church is a national Important Cultural Property, and ring levees from the history of Chikugo River flood control remain.","40522":"Oki Town is in the southwestern Chikugo Plain, with a network of creeks (canals) throughout the town. It has Creek-no-Sato Ishimaruyama Park, and mushrooms such as enoki and shimeji are widely grown. The town also works hard to reduce waste.","40544":"Hirokawa Town is inland in southern Fukuoka Prefecture, with the Kyushu Expressway and National Route 3 running north–south through it. The west is flat land on the Chikugo Plain, and the east is mountainous. It has decorated kofun (painted burial mounds) such as Sekijinsan Kofun and Kokadani Kofun, and it also produces Kurume kasuri cloth.","40601":"Kawara Town is at the northeastern end of the Chikuho area. Mt. Kawara, made of limestone, became famous through Itsuki Hiroyuki's novel \"Seishun no Mon\" (The Gate of Youth). The area has had deep ties with the Korean Peninsula since ancient times, and Kawara Shrine stands here. The place name Saidosho (\"copper-mining station\") preserves the history of copper mining.","40602":"Soeda Town is at the southeastern end of Fukuoka Prefecture and borders Oita Prefecture. Mt. Hiko, a sacred mountain of Shugendo (mountain asceticism), has Hikosan Jingu, which carries on the history of yamabushi (mountain ascetic) faith. The Hikosan River flows through the center of the town, and the mountains have dam lakes such as the one at Aburagi Dam.","40604":"Itoda Town is a small town in northeastern Chikuho, roughly midway between Iizuka City and Tagawa City. It has no oaza (named districts), so addresses use lot numbers only. The Heisei Chikuho Railway Itoda Line and the Chugenji River run north–south through the town, and Karasuo Pass to the west has long linked Chikuzen and Buzen.","40605":"Kawasaki Town is in central Tagawa District and once prospered as a coal-mining town. It is surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Kumagahata, and the Chugenji River flows through it. The town has Gyoraku-en, a garden said to have been made by Sesshu. In 1960 (Showa 35), heavy rain sent river water into a coal mine, and 67 people died.","40608":"Oto Town is next to Tagawa City; the Hikosan River flows north–south through its center, and much of the town lies in the Tagawa Basin. The town once prospered as a coal-producing area of the Chikuho Coalfield. Michi-no-Eki Oto-sakurakaido, a roadside station with a hot-spring facility, is a popular stop.","40609":"Aka Village is in the mountains at the eastern end of Chikuho, on the border with the Keichiku area. The Heisei Chikuho Railway Tagawa Line runs through it, and the stone Uchida three-arch bridge remains. It is Chikuho's only village never to have merged or become a town, and it has Genji no Mori, a nature-rich forest.","40610":"Fukuchi Town is at the northeastern end of Chikuho, with views of mountains such as Mt. Fukuchi. The Hikosan River and the Chugenji River meet in the town center. It once prospered as a coal-producing area of the Chikuho Coalfield and is also known as the home of Agano ware pottery. It also has hot springs such as Hojo Onsen.","40621":"Kanda Town faces the Suo Sea and is an industrial town with many factories on reclaimed land along the coast, including those of Nissan Motor Kyushu and Toyota Motor Kyushu. With Kitakyushu Airport, Kanda Port, and the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway, the town is a logistics hub. Ishizukayama Kofun (an ancient burial mound) also remains.","40625":"Miyako Town in northeastern Fukuoka Prefecture has farmland on the Miyako Plain and southern mountains. The provincial capital and provincial temple of Buzen Province were here, and the three-story pagoda of Buzen Kokubun-ji Temple stands in the town. The Hiraodai karst plateau spreads across the north, and Chuai Park on the old Chuai Pass road is known for cherry blossoms.","40642":"Yoshitomi Town is at the eastern tip of Fukuoka Prefecture and borders Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture across the Yamakuni River. It is the municipality with the smallest area in Kyushu. The town grew as a company town of Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical. Hachiman Kohyo Shrine preserves a kugutsu puppet dance in which puppets perform sumo wrestling.","40646":"Koge Town is at the eastern end of Fukuoka Prefecture and borders Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture across the Yamakuni River. In the Edo period it belonged to the Nakatsu Domain, and it still has strong ties with Nakatsu. The north is plains and the south is mountains, and the Anagahayama Kofun Group, a national historic site, remains.","40647":"Chikujo Town lies between Yukuhashi City and Buzen City, facing the Suo Sea to the north and bordering Oita Prefecture to the south. Akahata Kagura (sacred Shinto dance), regarded as the origin of many Buzen Iwato Kagura groups, is handed down here. The town has the Air Self-Defense Force's Tsuiki Air Base, and Tsunashiki Tenmangu is famous for plum blossoms.","41201":"Saga City, the capital of Saga Prefecture, stretches from the Ariake Sea north to the Sefuri Mountains. It prospered as the castle town of the Saga Domain and produced figures such as Okuma Shigenobu and Eto Shinpei. The city is known for the Saga International Balloon Fiesta in autumn, and its two-row barley production ranks 1st in Japan.","41202":"Karatsu City faces the Genkai Sea in the northwest and has the prefecture's largest area. Centered on the Karatsu Domain's castle town, it is known for the Karatsu Kunchi festival, Karatsu ware pottery, and Nijinomatsubara, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Popular sights include Nagoya Castle ruins, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's base for invading Korea, and Yobuko's morning market, famous for squid.","41203":"Tosu City is a transportation hub where expressways and railways linking Kyushu north–south and east–west cross, and logistics facilities gather here. It has the prefecture's highest population density and Shin-Tosu Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen. Once prosperous from Tashiro medicine peddling, it has the Nakatomi Memorial Medicine Museum and is home to the soccer club Sagan Tosu.","41204":"Taku City lies in a basin along the Ushizu River in the center of the prefecture, surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Ten. Taku Seibyo, a Confucian shrine built by a local lord who valued Confucian learning, is an Important Cultural Property, and its spring and autumn Sekisai rites continue. The city also once prospered from coal mining.","41205":"Imari City in the west of the prefecture surrounds Imari Bay on three sides. In the Edo period, porcelain from Hizen was shipped from this port within Japan and abroad and became known as \"Ko-Imari\" (Old Imari). Kilns are concentrated in Okawachiyama, where the Nabeshima Domain's official kiln was located, and the townscape of this \"village of secret kilns\" remains.","41206":"Takeo City in the west of the prefecture is centered on Takeo Onsen, a famous hot spring since ancient times. Its vermilion tower gate, by Tokyo Station architect Tatsuno Kingo, is an Important Cultural Property. The city is also known for Mifuneyama Rakuen, a pond-circling stroll garden, the giant camphor tree Kawago no kusu, and the much-discussed Takeo City Library.","41207":"Kashima City faces the Ariake Sea in the south of the prefecture and spreads out at the foot of Mt. Tara. Many worshipers visit Yutoku Inari Shrine, counted among Japan's three great Inari shrines. The city also has Hizen Hamashuku, a district lined with sake breweries, and the Hizen Kashima Tidal Flats, registered under the Ramsar Convention.","41208":"Ogi City spreads over the western Saga Plain at the southern foot of Mt. Ten. It was the castle town of the Ogi Domain, a branch of the Saga Domain; Ogi Park, famous for cherry blossoms, remains, and the city is known for Ogi yokan (sweet bean jelly). Kiyomizu Falls and the Eriyama terraced rice fields are mountain highlights.","41209":"Ureshino City lies in a western basin. It has Ureshino Onsen, a hot spring said to make skin smooth, and produces Ureshino tea. The Great Tea Tree of Ureshino is a Natural Monument, and Shiotatsu, once a post town and river port on the Nagasaki Kaido road, keeps its old streets. Hot-spring tofu is a specialty.","41210":"Kanzaki City is long and narrow from north to south, between the Sefuri Mountains and the Chikugo River. Part of the Yoshinogari Site, a moated Yayoi-period settlement, is in the city, and it is also known for Kunen'an, famous for autumn leaves, and Kanzaki somen noodles. Its two-row barley production ranks 6th in Japan.","41327":"Yoshinogari Town is long and narrow, stretching from the northern edge of the Saga Plain into the Sefuri Mountains. The Yoshinogari Site, a Special Historic Site of a Yayoi-period moated settlement, extends into Kanzaki City and has been developed as a historical park. The ruins of Ryosen-ji Temple, linked to the monk Eisai, remain in the mountains.","41341":"Kiyama Town is at the eastern end of the prefecture, borders Chikushino City and Ogori City in Fukuoka Prefecture, and is a commuter town for Fukuoka City. The remains of Kii Castle, an ancient mountain fortress built to defend Dazaifu, lie near the summit of Mt. Kiyama. Daikozen-ji Temple, known as the \"azalea temple,\" is also popular.","41345":"Kamimine Town is in the eastern Saga Plain, between Saga City and Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture. On Mt. Chinzei in the north, a legend says that Minamoto no Tametomo built a castle, and a tale about Gomangaike Pond also remains. Most of the town is flat land, and it also has the Kaminobyu-zuka Kofun (an ancient burial mound).","41346":"Miyaki Town lies on the north bank of the Chikugo River, and in the south its border with Fukuoka Prefecture is intricately interwoven. It has Chiriku Hachimangu, regarded as the leading shrine of Hizen Province, and Ayabe Shrine, dedicated to the god of wind. The Chiriku Doi levee, built against Chikugo River floods, also remains.","41387":"Genkai Town faces the Genkai Sea on the western side of the Higashimatsuura Peninsula and has the smallest population of any municipality in the prefecture. The Hamanoura terraced rice fields, stepping down toward the sea, are known for sunsets. The Genkai Nuclear Power Plant is in the town, whose name comes from \"Genkai,\" another name for the Genkai Sea.","41401":"Arita Town is the home of Arita ware and is considered the birthplace of Japanese porcelain. Izumiyama Quarry, where porcelain stone was mined, and the Kakiemon Kiln Site remain, and the Uchiyama district is a protected historic townscape. The town has the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, and many people visit the Arita Ceramic Fair in spring.","41423":"Omachi Town, in central Saga, has the smallest area of any municipality in Saga Prefecture, slightly smaller than Chiyoda City in Tokyo. It once prospered with the Kishima Coal Mine, and after the war Emperor Showa came to inspect it. The town lies in the Rokkaku River basin, and the Doi Family Residence, an Important Cultural Property, remains.","41424":"Kohoku Town is a rail junction where the Nagasaki Main Line and the Sasebo Line divide at Kohoku Station (formerly Hizen-Yamaguchi Station). It is the only town in the prefecture whose word for \"town\" is read \"machi.\" It lies on a plain crossed by the Rokkaku and Ushizu rivers, and its two-row barley production ranks 9th in Japan.","41425":"Shiroishi Town in the south of the prefecture faces the Ariake Sea and has wide areas of reclaimed farmland. Its onion and two-row barley production both rank 4th in Japan, and farming, including Shiroishi lotus root, is active. At the foot of Mt. Kishima are Inasa Shrine and the ruins of Suko Castle from the Sengoku (Warring States) period.","41441":"Tara Town, at the prefecture's southern tip, faces the Ariake Sea at the foot of Mt. Tara. It is known for seafood such as Takezaki crab and oysters and calls itself \"the town where you can see the moon's gravity.\" Ouo Shrine, whose torii gates seem to float at high tide, is popular. Takezaki Island has Takezaki Kanzeon-ji Temple.","42201":"Nagasaki City, the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture, was a port town that traded with the Netherlands and China through Dejima in the Edo period. Oura Church, Glover Garden, and Chinatown keep an exotic atmosphere, and Hashima Island (\"Battleship Island\") is a World Heritage Site. Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum convey the damage caused by the atomic bomb.","42202":"Sasebo City is the hub of northern Nagasaki Prefecture. After a naval district headquarters opened in the Meiji era, it grew as a naval port and shipbuilding city, and it still has Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy bases. It is known for the Kujuku Islands (\"99 islands\") and the Huis Ten Bosch theme park, and for Sasebo burgers.","42203":"Shimabara City is a castle town at the eastern end of the Shimabara Peninsula, with Shimabara Castle and samurai residences. The city has many springs and waterways where carp swim. Mt. Unzen, including Heisei Shinzan, rises to the west. Its spring Chinese cabbage and spring daikon radish production both rank 2nd in Japan.","42204":"Isahaya City, in the center of the prefecture, is surrounded by 3 seas: the Ariake Sea (Isahaya Bay), Omura Bay, and Tachibana Bay. The Isahaya Plain, enlarged by reclamation, is the prefecture's largest rice-growing area, and a stone Megane (spectacles) Bridge remains in Isahaya Park. Routes such as the Nagasaki Kaido road meet here.","42205":"Omura City, on the eastern shore of Omura Bay, is the prefecture's air gateway, with Nagasaki Airport built on Mishima Island in the bay. It was the Omura Domain's castle town, and Omura Park, on the site of Kushima Castle, is famous for cherry blossoms and irises. It has a Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen station, and its population keeps growing.","42207":"Hirado City consists of islands such as Hirado and Ikitsuki plus the Tabira area on the Kyushu mainland. In the early Edo period this trading port had Dutch and English trading posts, and Hirado Castle overlooks the sea. Kasuga Village and Mt. Yasuman, linked to the Hidden Christians (who kept their faith in secret), are World Heritage sites.","42208":"Matsuura City faces Imari Bay in the northern Kitamatsuura Peninsula and is the birthplace of the medieval Matsura League. It lands the most horse mackerel in Japan and calls itself the \"holy land of fried horse mackerel.\" Off Takashima Island, ships sunk in the Mongol invasions were found; the area is a national historic site, the Takashima Kozaki Site.","42209":"Tsushima City covers Tsushima Island, between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula, and has the prefecture's largest area. The island is mostly mountainous, and the deeply indented Aso Bay is a highlight. Historic sites tell of exchange with the Asian mainland, such as Kaneda Castle, an ancient mountain fortress, and Watatsumi Shrine, whose torii gates stand in the sea.","42210":"Iki City consists of Iki Island and nearby islands in the Genkai Sea. The Harunotsuji Site, believed to be the capital of the Yayoi-period state of Iki-koku, is a Special Historic Site, and its finds are shown at the Iki City Ikikoku Museum. It has many old shrines and is known for Iki shochu (a distilled spirit) and sea urchin.","42211":"Goto City consists of islands in the southwestern Goto Islands, such as Fukue, Hisaka, and Naru. Churches such as Egami Church and the Former Gorin Church, which tell the history of the Hidden Christians (who kept their faith in secret), are World Heritage sites. The ruins of Ishida Castle, seat of the Goto Domain, also remain.","42212":"Saikai City consists of the northern part of the Nishisonogi Peninsula and surrounding islands, and its coastline is a complex ria coast. Saikai Bridge spans the Hario Strait, which connects Sasebo Bay and Omura Bay, and whirlpools can be seen there. Tourist spots include Nagasaki Bio Park and the Nanatsugama Limestone Caves.","42213":"Unzen City is in the western Shimabara Peninsula. On the slopes of Mt. Unzen is Unzen Onsen (hot spring), known for its \"hell tour\" of steaming vents, and on Tachibana Bay is Obama Onsen. The samurai residence streets of Kojirokuji remain. The city's winter lettuce and autumn-planted potato production both rank 2nd in Japan.","42214":"Minamishimabara City is in the southern Shimabara Peninsula. The ruins of Hara Castle, the site of the Shimabara-Amakusa Uprising, are registered as part of the World Heritage Site of Hidden Christian sites. The city also has a park that preserves houses buried by the eruption of Mt. Unzen-Fugendake, and it is known for hand-stretched somen noodles.","42307":"Nagayo Town borders Nagasaki City to the north and faces the southern shore of Omura Bay. It was once a farming area of mandarin orange orchards and rice paddies, but housing estates were built one after another on its hills as it became a commuter town for Nagasaki City. The Siebold Campus of the University of Nagasaki is here.","42308":"Togitsu Town, on the southwestern shore of Omura Bay, is the municipality with the smallest area in Nagasaki Prefecture. It borders Nagasaki City; factories stand on reclaimed land by the port, and homes and large stores cover the flat land. In the Edo period it belonged to the Omura Domain and was a busy port for ships bound for Nagasaki.","42321":"Higashisonogi Town faces the eastern side of Omura Bay and has Hisago-zuka Kofun, one of the prefecture's largest ancient burial mounds. In the Edo period it was a post town (a stopover for travelers) on the Nagasaki Kaido road and prospered as Kyushu's collection point for whale meat. Tea fields cover the hillsides, producing \"Sonogi tea.\"","42322":"Kawatana Town spreads along the Kawatana River basin on the northern shore of Omura Bay and is known for its views of the bay. The western coast is an indented ria coast dotted with the Osaki Peninsula and small islands. Ogushi was once a source of natural pearls, recorded in the Hizen no Kuni Fudoki, an ancient regional record.","42323":"Hasami Town lies inland near the center of the prefecture and is the only town in Nagasaki Prefecture that does not face the sea. It produces Hasami ware, made since the early Edo period and known for everyday tableware. The town borders Arita Town in Saga Prefecture, and kiln districts such as Nakaoyama are highlights.","42383":"Ojika Town consists of Ojika Island and surrounding islands in the northern Goto Islands. The flat islands were formed by volcanoes and have old townscapes and pastures. Nozaki Island, now uninhabited, has the Former Nokubi Church, part of the World Heritage Site of Hidden Christian sites (Christians who kept their faith in secret).","42391":"Saza Town spreads along the valley of the Saza River in the central southwest of the Kitamatsuura Peninsula. Part of the Hokusho Coalfield, it prospered from coal mining until the Showa 40s (1965–1974). The town stayed independent during the Great Heisei Mergers (a wave of municipal mergers), and except for part of its coast it is surrounded by Sasebo City.","42411":"Shinkamigoto Town consists of Nakadori Island, Wakamatsu Island, and surrounding islands in the Goto Islands. The share of Catholics is high, and many churches stand in the inlets, such as Kashiragashima Church (a World Heritage Site) and Aosagaura Church. The town is also known for producing Goto udon noodles.","43100":"Kumamoto City, capital of Kumamoto Prefecture, is a designated city (major city with special powers) and Kyushu's third most populous. It grew as the castle town of the Hosokawa clan's Kumamoto Domain, around Kumamoto Castle built by Kato Kiyomasa. It has Suizen-ji Joju-en garden, Reigando cave, where Miyamoto Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings, and springs like Lake Ezu.","43202":"Yatsushiro City, at the mouth of the Kuma River in south-central Kumamoto Prefecture, is the prefecture's second-largest city. The Yatsushiro Plain, expanded by reclamation, is Japan's top producer of igusa rush for tatami mats, and the large citrus banpeiyu is a specialty. Its winter-spring tomato harvest ranks 1st in Japan, and the autumn Yatsushiro Myoken Festival is known.","43203":"Hitoyoshi City, in the Hitoyoshi Basin in the far south of Kumamoto Prefecture, is the Sagara clan's castle town, called a \"Little Kyoto.\" It is known for hot springs, boat rides on the Kuma River, and Aoi Aso Shrine, whose thatched buildings are National Treasures. The Sagara clan's 700 years of culture is recognized as Japan Heritage.","43204":"Arao City, at the northwestern tip of Kumamoto Prefecture, faces the Ariake Sea and borders Omuta City in Fukuoka Prefecture. Both grew as Mitsui Miike coal mine towns, and the Manda Pit, a World Cultural Heritage Site, remains. The city is also known for Greenland, one of Kyushu's largest amusement parks, and the Arao tidal flats, with migratory birds.","43205":"Minamata City, in the far south of Kumamoto Prefecture, faces the Shiranui Sea and the Amakusa Islands. Known worldwide for the pollution disease Minamata disease, the city has used that experience to build an environment-conscious community. It has seaside Yunoko Onsen (hot spring), terraced rice fields in the mountain district of Sabukawa, and a memorial museum for Tokutomi Soho.","43206":"Tamana City, the main city of northern Kumamoto Prefecture, lies on the lower Kikuchi River and faces the Ariake Sea. It has Tamana Onsen and Oama Onsen (hot springs); Oama is the setting of Natsume Soseki's novel Kusamakura. Its winter-spring tomato harvest ranks 2nd in Japan, and decorated kofun (ancient burial mounds with painted walls) such as Daibo Kofun remain.","43208":"Yamaga City, inland on the Kikuchi River in northern Kumamoto Prefecture, is known for Yamaga Onsen (hot spring) and its Lantern Festival, where women dance with gilded lanterns on their heads. The Yachiyo-za playhouse is an Important Cultural Property. The city has many decorated kofun (burial mounds), a prefectural kofun museum, and ruins of the ancient mountain fortress Kikuchi Castle.","43210":"Kikuchi City, on the upper Kikuchi River, was the base of the Kikuchi clan, who fought for the Southern Court in the medieval imperial split. Kikuchi Valley, in the Aso outer rim forests, is one of Japan's 100 Exquisite Waters and a cool summer retreat. The city has Kikuchi Onsen (hot spring) and Kikuchi Shrine, honoring the Kikuchi clan.","43211":"Uto City occupies the northern half of the Uto Peninsula, facing the Ariake Sea. Known as the castle town of Konishi Yukinaga, it keeps the ruins of Uto Castle. Okoshiki Beach, where sand patterns appear at low tide, is one of Japan's 100 Best Beaches, and a water supply from the Todoroki Spring has been used since long ago.","43212":"Kamiamakusa City consists of islands in the eastern Amakusa Islands, such as Oyano Island and Iwa Island. The Five Bridges of Amakusa connect it to the Kyushu mainland, with views of the bridges and the sea. The area is associated with Amakusa Shiro, who led the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion, and Yushima Island is also called \"Dango-jima\" (Conference Island).","43213":"Uki City, in central Kumamoto Prefecture, faces the Yatsushiro Sea south of the Uto Peninsula. Misumi West Port, built in the Meiji era, keeps its stone-built port and is part of the World Cultural Heritage Site \"Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.\" The sea is known for shiranui, mysterious lights offshore. Its winter-spring tomato harvest ranks 5th in Japan.","43214":"Aso City, in northeastern Kumamoto Prefecture, lies in the Aso Valley in the northern Mt. Aso caldera (huge volcanic basin), ringed by the Five Peaks of Aso and the outer rim. Sights include Aso Shrine, top shrine of Higo Province, the bowl-shaped hill Komezuka, grasslands, and Uchinomaki Onsen (hot spring). Its summer-autumn tomato harvest ranks 6th in Japan.","43215":"Amakusa City consists of Shimoshima, Kamishima, Goshoura Island, and other Amakusa islands; excluding the main island of Okinawa, it is Japan's most populous outlying-island municipality. The Sakitsu Village of the Hidden Christians (secret believers), with a church by the sea, is a World Cultural Heritage Site. The city is also known for dinosaur fossils on Goshoura Island and dolphin watching.","43216":"Koshi City borders Kumamoto City to the north, and its population is growing as a commuter town for Kumamoto. In the north, fields of kuroboku soil, formed from volcanic ash from Aso, spread out, and the south has residential and commercial areas. The Koshi Manga Museum holds a large collection of manga.","43348":"Misato Town is a mountain town in central Kumamoto Prefecture, about 75 percent forest. Reidai Bridge, a stone arch bridge built in the Edo period, is a national Important Cultural Property, and many stone bridges remain in the town. The road to Shaka-in Temple, which has the longest stone stairway in Japan, is also well known.","43364":"Gyokuto Town is a small town in northern Kumamoto Prefecture whose slogan is \"a home of mandarins and historic sites.\" Fruit such as mandarin oranges and pears is widely grown. The area was a fierce battlefield of the Satsuma Rebellion (Seinan War) near Tabaruzaka, and many historic sites, including cemeteries for the war dead, remain in the town.","43367":"Nankan Town, at the northwestern tip of Kumamoto Prefecture, borders Fukuoka Prefecture. Its name comes from an ancient checkpoint (seki), which also appears in The Tale of the Heike. In the Edo period it prospered as a post town (a stop for travelers) on the Buzen Kaido road. Nankan age, thin fried tofu baked and dried, is a specialty.","43368":"Nagasu Town faces the Ariake Sea in northwestern Kumamoto Prefecture and is known for raising goldfish and nishikigoi (ornamental carp). Land reclaimed since the Edo period spreads across the town, and the Ariake Ferry runs from the Port of Nagasu to the Shimabara Peninsula. Factories, including a shipyard, line the coast.","43369":"Nagomi Town, long and narrow from north to south in northwestern Kumamoto Prefecture, borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north and has basins along the Kikuchi River. An inscribed sword excavated from Eta Funayama Kofun (an ancient burial mound) is a National Treasure. The town is also the hometown of Kanakuri Shizo, called the father of the marathon in Japan.","43403":"Ozu Town lies between Kumamoto City and Mt. Aso, at the eastern edge of the Kumamoto Plain. National Route 57 and the Hohi Main Line pass through the town toward Aso, and shops line the road. The Shira River flows through the south, and the town hosts factories such as Honda Motor's motorcycle plant.","43404":"Kikuyo Town borders Kumamoto City to the northeast, and its population grew rapidly with developments such as the Hikari-no-Mori residential area. The Shira River flows through the central and southern parts, which have river terraces. Semiconductor factories have moved in one after another, and the cedar avenue of the old Bungo Kaido road remains in Suginamiki Park.","43423":"Minamioguni Town is a highland town outside the northern outer rim of Aso, in the headwaters of the Chikugo River. Kurokawa Onsen (hot spring), in the mountains, is popular for its entry pass (nyuto tegata) for touring open-air baths. The Senomoto Plateau offers views of the Kuju Mountains, and forestry of Oguni cedar is practiced.","43424":"Oguni Town, at the northern tip of Kumamoto Prefecture, borders Oita Prefecture, and about 80 percent of it is forest. Sights include Tsuetate Onsen (hot spring), known for carp streamers (koinobori), and Nabe Falls, where visitors can walk behind the water. The town is the birthplace of bacteriologist Kitasato Shibasaburo, whose birth house remains at a memorial museum.","43425":"Ubuyama Village is a highland village in northeastern Kumamoto Prefecture, between the Aso outer rim and the Kuju Mountains, bordering Oita Prefecture. It has a park of higotai, a plant with blue flowers in summer, and grasslands of Aso-Kuju National Park. The village is also known for springs such as the Yamabuki Spring.","43428":"Takamori Town lies in southeastern Aso and is divided into east and west by the outer rim. On the west side, the Nango Valley holds the town center and Takamori Station on the Minamiaso Railway, and Takamori Spring Tunnel Park is popular. The mossy approach to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine and the view of Mt. Neko are also attractions.","43432":"Nishihara Village lies east of Kumamoto City at the western foot of the Aso outer rim, near Kumamoto Airport. Wild grasslands and forests cover it, and it is the gateway to the road over Mt. Tawara to Minamiaso. The east wind from Aso is called the \"matsubori wind,\" and more people are moving to the village.","43433":"Minamiaso Village lies in the Nango Valley in the southern Aso caldera (huge volcanic basin). Its springs, the Minamiaso Village Spring Group including the Shirakawa Spring, are one of Japan's 100 Exquisite Waters. Rice fields line the Shira River, the village has hot springs such as Jigoku Onsen, and it is a base for visiting Mt. Aso.","43441":"Mifune Town borders Kumamoto City to the southeast. Mifuneryu, the first fossil of a carnivorous dinosaur found in Japan, was discovered here, and the town calls itself a \"dinosaur village.\" It has the Mifune Dinosaur Museum and many historic sites of battles from the Nanboku-cho period (the era of two rival imperial courts) to the Satsuma Rebellion.","43442":"Kashima Town is a flat town bordering Kumamoto City to the south, with rivers such as the Midori River and the Kase River. Spring water is abundant, welling up clear in places such as the pond of Ukishima Shrine. The town has the large shopping mall AEON Mall Kumamoto, and kofun (ancient burial mounds) such as Idera Kofun remain.","43443":"Mashiki Town borders Kumamoto City to the east and is a transport hub with Kumamoto Airport and an interchange on the Kyushu Expressway. The town is also a commuter town for Kumamoto City. The town suffered heavy damage in the 2016 (Heisei 28) Kumamoto Earthquake, and an earthquake memorial park passes on its lessons.","43444":"Kosa Town lies near the center of Kumamoto Prefecture. The Midori River runs through it, drawing anglers from summer to autumn for tomozuri, decoy fishing for ayu (sweetfish). The northwest is the southeastern edge of the Kumamoto Plain, but most of the town is in the Kyushu Mountains. Kosa Shrine, an old shrine closely tied to Aso Shrine, is here.","43447":"Yamato Town in eastern Kumamoto Prefecture calls itself the \"navel of Kyushu.\" Tsujun Bridge, an Edo-period stone bridge carrying water to the Shiraito Plateau, is a National Treasure famous for its water discharge. The town also has Seiwa Bunraku puppet theater and Heitate Shrine, and its summer-autumn tomato and green pepper harvests both rank 5th in Japan.","43468":"Hikawa Town faces the Yatsushiro Sea in central Kumamoto Prefecture, and the whole town lies on the Yatsushiro Plain. Many kofun (ancient burial mounds), such as Ono-no-Iwa Kofun and the Nozu Kofun Group, remain along the Hikawa River, which forms the border with Yatsushiro City. Upstream is Tategami Gorge, carved by the river, and Miyahara Sanjingu Shrine also stands here.","43482":"Ashikita Town faces the Yatsushiro Sea in southern Kumamoto Prefecture, with the Kuma River in its eastern mountains. Sashiki was a post town (a stop for travelers) on the Satsuma Kaido road, and the ruins of Sashiki Castle, built by Kato Kiyomasa, remain. The town has Yunoura Onsen (hot spring), and citrus such as dekopon is grown along the coast.","43484":"Tsunagi Town lies just north of Minamata City in southern Kumamoto Prefecture and faces the Yatsushiro Sea. The town's name is said to come from a legend that Emperor Keiko tied up (tsunagu) his boat here. The town promotes the arts, with the Tsunagi Art Museum in a former elementary school and outdoor sculptures placed around the town.","43501":"Nishiki Town lies on the western side of the Hitoyoshi Basin in southern Kumamoto Prefecture. The Kuma River flows from east to west, and the southern edge borders Miyazaki Prefecture. Pears and peaches are widely grown in the southern hills, and rice is farmed on the flatlands. The town has a semiconductor factory, and the Kamezuka Kofun Group remains.","43505":"Taragi Town lies at the southeastern tip of Kumamoto Prefecture, in the eastern Hitoyoshi Basin. The Sagara clan first settled here in the Kamakura period, and the town became the clan's foothold for ruling the Kuma region. The town once prospered as a collection point for timber, and it also has distilleries of Kuma shochu (a distilled spirit).","43506":"Yunomae Town, at the eastern end of the Hitoyoshi Basin, has Yunomae Station, the terminus of the Kumagawa Railway Yunomae Line. Its east and south are steep peaks of the Kyushu Mountains. The hometown of cartoonist Nasu Ryosuke, it has the Yunomae Manga Museum, and Myodo-ji Temple, whose Amida Hall is a National Treasure, is also in the town.","43507":"Mizukami Village, at the easternmost edge of the Hitoyoshi Basin, is entirely mountainous and lies in the headwaters of the Kuma River. The lakeside of Ichifusa Dam, at the foot of Mt. Ichifusa, is famous for cherry blossoms. The village has Yuyama Onsen (hot spring) and Shiramizu Falls and is certified as a Forest Therapy Base for forest walks.","43510":"Sagara Village lies in the western Hitoyoshi Basin, and most of its northern part is mountainous. The Kawabe River, known for its clear water, runs north to south through the village and is popular for ayu (sweetfish) fishing. The village ranks 1st in Kumamoto Prefecture in tea production, and rice, leaf tobacco, and Yotsuura konnyaku are also specialties.","43511":"Itsuki Village is a deep mountain village in the Kyushu Mountains, and forest covers 96.2% of its total area. The village is known as the birthplace of the \"Itsuki Lullaby,\" and the Kawabe River and the Itsuki-Ogawa River cut deep gorges. Because of the plan for the Kawabe River Dam, the center of the village was moved to replacement land.","43512":"Yamae Village lies north of the Hitoyoshi Basin; mountains cover 90% of the village, and settlements gather in the basin to the south. The village is known for chestnuts, and \"Yamae chestnuts\" are a specialty. It is also rich in mountain products such as yamame trout and wasabi, and the gorge of Takanosu Valley is an attraction.","43513":"Kuma Village in southern Kumamoto Prefecture is about 90% forest, with the Kuma River flowing east to west. Known for Kyusendo, one of Kyushu's largest limestone caves, and terraced rice fields, it belongs to \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association. The village was heavily damaged by the heavy rain of July 2020 (Reiwa 2).","43514":"Asagiri Town, in the center of the Hitoyoshi Basin, is named after the morning fog (asagiri) that fills the basin from autumn to spring. It is the only municipality in Kumamoto Prefecture with a name in hiragana (phonetic script). Mt. Shiraga in the south is a Nature Conservation Area, and old shrines such as Okadome Kumanoza Shrine remain.","43531":"Reihoku Town, at the northwestern tip of Shimoshima Island in the Amakusa Islands, features the Tomioka Peninsula, a former island tied to land by sand, with the ruins of Tomioka Castle. The Shiki clan ruled the area for a long time, and it was the center of Amakusa for several hundred years. Dolphin watching is popular in the Hayasaki Strait.","44201":"Oita City is the capital of Oita Prefecture. In ancient times it held the provincial capital of Bungo Province and was called \"Funai.\" In the Sengoku (Warring States) period, Nanban (early European) culture flourished here under Otomo Sorin. The city grew with a coastal industrial zone and has Mt. Takasaki, known for wild monkeys, and the aquarium \"Umitamago.\"","44202":"Beppu City, on Beppu Bay, is one of Japan's leading hot spring cities, with about one tenth of Japan's hot spring sources and Japan's largest hot water flow. Popular sights are steamy Kannawa Onsen, the Hells of Beppu tour of colorful springs, and the retro wooden Takegawara Onsen. The springs have also been used for geothermal power and making alum.","44203":"Nakatsu City, a castle town at the northwestern tip of Oita Prefecture, keeps Nakatsu Castle and the former residence of Fukuzawa Yukichi. In the south, rocky Yabakei valley has the Ao-no-Domon tunnel, dug by the monk Zenkai, and Rakan-ji Temple. It has close ties to the old Buzen Province area of Fukuoka Prefecture and is known for karaage (fried chicken).","44204":"Hita City, in a mountain-ringed basin in northwestern Oita Prefecture, is called a \"water town\" because many rivers meet there. In the Edo period it prospered as land ruled directly by the shogunate, and merchant houses remain in Mameda-machi. The city is also known for the site of Kangien, Hirose Tanso's private school, summer cormorant fishing, and Hita cedar forestry.","44205":"Saiki City, at the southeastern tip of Oita Prefecture, has the largest area of any municipality in Kyushu. This castle town of the Saiki Domain is so rich in seafood that people said \"the lord of Saiki lives off the bays,\" and fresh sushi is a specialty. Cape Tsurumi on the Bungo Channel and the ria coast's islands are attractions.","44206":"Usuki City is a castle town (a town built around a lord's castle) on the east coast along Usuki Bay. The Usuki Stone Buddhas, carved into rock, were the first stone Buddhas designated as National Treasures. Brewing of soy sauce and miso thrives, and the stone-paved streets of Niouza remain. Its harvest of summer-autumn green peppers ranks 2nd in Japan.","44207":"Tsukumi City faces the Bungo Channel around Tsukumi Bay and has the smallest population of the cities in Oita Prefecture. The city developed through limestone mining and the cement industry and is also known for mandarin oranges. It has Hotojima Island, known for tuna fishing, and \"Tsukumi Dolphin Island,\" where visitors can interact with dolphins.","44208":"Taketa City in southwestern Oita Prefecture, surrounded by the Kuju Mountains and Mt. Sobo, is the Oka Domain's castle town. The cliff-top stone walls of Oka Castle are where Taki Rentaro conceived the song \"Kojo no Tsuki\" (Moon over the Ruined Castle). The city also has hot springs such as Nagayu Onsen, the Taketa springs, and the mountain wetland Bogatsuru.","44209":"Bungotakada City, on the western Kunisaki Peninsula, faces the Suo Sea. Temples of Rokugo Manzan (the peninsula's Buddhist culture) remain, including the National Treasure O-do hall of Fuki-ji Temple, considered Kyushu's oldest wooden building, and Maki O-do Temple with its rows of Buddha statues. \"Showa no Machi,\" a shopping street recreating the Showa era, is also lively.","44210":"Kitsuki City lies in the southern Kunisaki Peninsula, facing Beppu Bay and the Iyo Sea. It is the castle town of the Kitsuki Domain, with a unique townscape of samurai residences on northern and southern hills linked by sloping streets, and it is known as a town for walking in kimono. Kitsuki Castle stands on a hill facing the sea.","44211":"Usa City, at the base of the Kunisaki Peninsula, has Usa Jingu, the head shrine of all Hachiman shrines in Japan. The Usa Plain is the prefecture's largest grain area; its two-row barley production ranks 5th in Japan and naked barley 6th. The city also has Kyushu African Safari, where visitors drive around to see animals.","44212":"Bungo-ono City lies in southern Oita Prefecture and borders Miyazaki Prefecture to the south, with Mt. Sobo and Mt. Katamuki on the border. Sights include Harajiri Falls, called the \"Niagara of the Orient,\" and Chinda Falls, painted by Sesshu. Many old stone bridges remain along the Ono River, and its harvest of summer-autumn green peppers ranks 4th in Japan.","44213":"Yufu City lies near the center of Oita Prefecture along the Oita River. Yufuin Onsen (hot spring), at the foot of Mt. Yufu, is known throughout Japan as a quiet hot spring town, and the view of the basin wrapped in morning fog can be seen from Sagiridai. The city also has Yunohira Onsen and the Tsukahara Highlands.","44214":"Kunisaki City, on the eastern Kunisaki Peninsula, is a \"land of Buddhas\" with many temples, stone Buddhas, and stone pagodas of Rokugo Manzan (the peninsula's Buddhist culture). Futago-ji Temple in the mountains and Monjusen-ji Temple among rocky peaks are well known. The city has Oita Airport, the prefecture's air gateway, and its naked barley harvest ranks 2nd in Japan.","44322":"Himeshima Village consists of Himeshima Island, north of the Kunisaki Peninsula, and is the only village in Oita Prefecture. The island is said to appear in the land-creation myth of the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and has been known for obsidian since the Jomon period. Migrating chestnut tiger butterflies stop on the island, and kuruma prawn farming thrives.","44341":"Hiji Town, at the southern tip of the Kunisaki Peninsula, faces Beppu Bay. It was the castle town of the Hiji Domain, and marbled flounder from the sea by the Hiji Castle ruins, called \"shiroshita karei,\" is a specialty. The town has Harmonyland, a Sanrio theme park, and has strong ties with Beppu City and Kitsuki City.","44461":"Kokonoe Town, on the north side of the Kuju Mountains, is entirely mountainous. The Kokonoe Yume Suspension Bridge overlooks Shindo Falls, and the autumn leaves of Kyusuikei and the Handa Plateau are attractions. Geothermal power, such as the Hatchobaru Power Station, is active, and the town's electricity self-sufficiency rate is the highest of any municipality in Japan.","44462":"Kusu Town lies in the Kusu Basin in west-central Oita Prefecture, surrounded by flat-topped mountains such as Mt. Hane and Mt. Kirikabu. The Mori Jin'ya, the administrative office of the Kurushima Domain, was located here. The town calls itself a \"village of fairy tales\" as the hometown of Kurushima Takehiko, called the \"Andersen of Japan.\"","45201":"Miyazaki City, capital of Miyazaki Prefecture, has the Oyodo River crossing the southern Miyazaki Plain into the Hyuga Sea. Sights include Aoshima Island, ringed by the \"Devil's Washboard\" rocks, Miyazaki Jingu, and the Ikime Kofun Cluster. It is known as a training camp site for professional baseball and soccer, and its winter-spring cucumber harvest ranks 1st in Japan.","45202":"Miyakonojo City, the second-largest city in Miyazaki Prefecture, lies in the Miyakonojo Basin at its southwestern tip, between the Kirishima and Wanitsuka mountains. Said to be the birthplace of the Shimazu clan, it thrives on livestock such as beef cattle and pigs and on shochu distilling. Sekinoo Falls, one of \"Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls,\" has countless potholes in its riverbed.","45203":"Nobeoka City, the main city of northern Miyazaki Prefecture, grew as an industrial city where Asahi Kasei was founded. In this castle town of the Nobeoka Domain, the castle ruins keep a high stone wall called \"Sennin-goroshi\" (killer of a thousand). Many rivers, including the Gokase River, meet here, and in autumn, weirs (yana) are set to catch ayu (sweetfish).","45204":"Nichinan City faces the Hyuga Sea in southern Miyazaki Prefecture. Obi, the castle town of the Ito clan's Obi Domain, is called the \"Little Kyoto of Kyushu,\" and its townscape of stone walls remains. Sights include Udo Jingu, whose main hall stands in a cave in a cliff, and the Port of Aburatsu, which prospered by shipping Obi cedar.","45205":"Kobayashi City spreads over the northeastern foot of the Kirishima Mountains in southwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, and its area includes Mt. Karakuni and Mt. Shinmoe. Fine spring water wells up at the foot of the mountains, and sturgeon are farmed with the spring water of Idenoyama Park. The Ikoma Plateau, with views of the Kirishima Mountains, is famous for flowers.","45206":"Hyuga City faces the Hyuga Sea in northeastern Miyazaki Prefecture, and Hososhima Port, a fine natural harbor, is the prefecture's gateway by sea. In Mimitsu, where a legend says Emperor Jinmu set sail, a townscape of shipping merchants' houses remains. The city is also known for \"Umagase,\" cliffs of columnar rock on Cape Hyuga, and for surfing beaches.","45207":"Kushima City lies at the southernmost tip of Miyazaki Prefecture and faces the Hyuga Sea and Shibushi Bay. At Cape Toi, wild Misaki horses live on grasslands, and Kojima Island is known for Japanese macaques that wash sweet potatoes before eating them. The coastline is designated as part of Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park.","45208":"Saito City lies in central Miyazaki Prefecture. The Saitobaru Kofun Cluster, on a plateau west of the Hitotsuse River, is a Special Historic Site among Japan's largest kofun (ancient burial mound) groups, colored by rape and cherry blossoms in spring. The Hyuga provincial capital site and Tsuma Shrine remain, and its winter-spring green pepper harvest ranks 2nd in Japan.","45209":"Ebino City, in southwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, borders both Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures. The Ebino Plateau, at the foot of Mt. Karakuni in the Kirishima Mountains, is a scenic area with the crater lake Rokkannon Miike and wild deer. Kyomachi Onsen (hot spring) is in the central Kakuto Basin, and the Masaki terraced rice fields are known.","45341":"Mimata Town, on the east side of the Miyakonojo Basin in southwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, has an urban area joined with Miyakonojo City. The Wanitsuka Mountains in the east rise to their highest peak, Mt. Wanitsuka. In the Middle Ages, the Kabayama clan, a branch of the Shimazu clan, ruled here, and housing is spreading in this easy-to-live-in town.","45361":"Takaharu Town, at the eastern foot of Mt. Takachiho (Kirishima Mountains) in southwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, is the home of the myth of the heavenly grandson's descent (Tenson Korin). Sano Shrine, said to be Emperor Jinmu's birthplace, has a cedar-lined approach, and the crater lake Lake Miike is in the town. Sano Kagura and other kagura (sacred dances) are handed down.","45382":"Kunitomi Town, inland and bordering Miyazaki City to the northwest, has the clear Honjo River in the south. In the Edo period it was shogunate-ruled land and a collection point for goods carried by river. Many kofun (ancient burial mounds), such as the Honjo Kofun Cluster, remain, and its winter-spring cucumber harvest ranks 7th in Japan.","45383":"Aya Town, near the center of Miyazaki Prefecture, has one of Japan's largest remaining laurel forests (evergreen broadleaf forests). The forest is registered as the Aya UNESCO Eco Park (biosphere reserve), and the Aya Teruha Suspension Bridge overlooks the deep forest. The town promotes itself as an \"organic farming town\" and is also known as a village of handmade crafts.","45401":"Takanabe Town, on the coast of central Miyazaki Prefecture, has the smallest area of any town in Miyazaki Prefecture. It was the castle town of the Akizuki clan's Takanabe Domain, a \"domain of education\" that trained people at its domain school, Meirindo. The town has Maizuru Park on the Takanabe Castle ruins and the Mochida Kofun Cluster.","45402":"Shintomi Town faces the Hyuga Sea in central Miyazaki Prefecture; about 70% of it is flatland, and the Hitotsuse River flows in the south. A leading vegetable area of the Miyazaki Plain, the town ranks 7th in Japan in its winter-spring green pepper harvest. It has the Nyutabaru Kofun Cluster and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Nyutabaru Air Base.","45403":"Nishimera Village lies in the middle of the Kyushu Mountains, is mostly forest, and has the smallest population of any village in Miyazaki Prefecture. The Mera clan, said to be descendants of the Kikuchi clan, ruled as lords, and the ruins of Ogawa Castle (the Mera clan residence) remain. The Karikobozu Bridge spans the Hitotsuse River in the mountains.","45404":"Kijo Town, inland in east-central Miyazaki Prefecture, has the Omaru River running through its center with several hydroelectric dams. In the Sengoku (Warring States) period, fighting over Takajo Castle recurred, and the area saw battles between the Shimazu and Otomo clans, such as the Battle of Mimikawa. Gion Falls on Mt. Osuzu is also here.","45405":"Kawaminami Town faces the Hyuga Sea in the northern Miyazaki Plain and is one of Japan's three great land-reclamation settlements. Livestock and farming thrive on a plateau developed after World War II, and Miyazaki Prefecture Agricultural Cooperative Fruit Juice (Sun A) is based here. The town center is called \"Toron Toron,\" and the Kawaminami Kofun Cluster remains.","45406":"Tsuno Town faces the Hyuga Sea in east-central Miyazaki Prefecture, with Mt. Osuzu to the west. Fruit growing, greenhouse horticulture, and livestock farming thrive, and the town is known for \"Tsuno Wine.\" Sights include Tsuno Shrine, said to be the top shrine (ichinomiya) of Hyuga Province, and Yatogi Falls, which drops from Mt. Osuzu.","45421":"Kadogawa Town faces the Hyuga Sea between Nobeoka City and Hyuga City and developed as a commuter town for both cities. Fishing and seafood processing thrive, and the town is known as a good place for fishing. The coast, with Birojima Island and Otoshima Island offshore, is part of Nippo Kaigan Quasi-National Park.","45429":"Morotsuka Village lies in the Kyushu Mountains in northern Miyazaki Prefecture and is entirely mountainous. Its density of forest roads per area is the highest in Japan, and the slopes show a \"mosaic forest\" of patches of conifers and broadleaf trees. Forestry, including shiitake mushroom production, supports local life.","45430":"Shiiba Village, deep in the center of the Kyushu Mountains, has legends of fleeing Heike warriors. The Tonegawa settlement, with tile-roofed houses on stone walls, is an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and the Nasu Family Residence is known as \"Tsurutomi Yashiki.\" Shiiba Kagura (sacred dance) and slash-and-burn farming are also handed down.","45431":"Misato Town, in the Kyushu Mountains of northern Miyazaki Prefecture, is about 90% forest. The Nango district has a legend of Baekje (ancient Korean kingdom) royalty and the \"Nishi no Shosoin\" (Shosoin of the West), housing bronze mirrors and other treasures of Mikado Shrine. The Omaru River and the Mimi River flow through this mountain town.","45441":"Takachiho Town, in the Kyushu Mountains of northwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, is the setting of the myth of the heavenly grandson's descent (Tenson Korin). In Takachihokyo Gorge, columnar rock cut by the Gokase River, visitors row boats past Manai Falls. Amanoiwato Shrine honors the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu reputedly hid, and night kagura (sacred dance) is known.","45442":"Hinokage Town lies in the Kyushu Mountains in northern Miyazaki Prefecture, and about 90% of the town is forest. The Gokase River cuts a deep V-shaped gorge, and terraced fields and settlements spread on top of the cliffs. Seiun Bridge, spanning the valley, is known for its height, and a tradition of bamboo crafts remains.","45443":"Gokase Town is a high-elevation town in the center of the Kyushu Mountains in northwestern Miyazaki Prefecture, bordering Kumamoto Prefecture. It has Gokase Highland Ski Resort, said to be the southernmost ski area in Japan, which attracts many visitors from Kumamoto Prefecture as well. Tea growing, including kamairi-cha (pan-roasted tea), also thrives.","46201":"Kagoshima City, the prefectural capital, is called the \"Naples of the East\" for its view of Sakurajima across Kagoshima Bay. It grew as the castle town of the Shimazu family's Satsuma Domain and is the birthplace of Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi. Sengan-en, a Shimazu villa, and the Shoko Shuseikan are part of a World Cultural Heritage Site.","46203":"Kanoya City, in the center of the Osumi Peninsula, is the peninsula's administrative and economic center. On its Shirasu (volcanic ash) plateaus, farmers raise black pigs and broiler chickens and grow peanuts and sweet potatoes. It has the museum of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kanoya Air Base and Kanoya Rose Garden, a symbol of the \"city of roses.\"","46204":"Makurazaki City is in the southwest of the Satsuma Peninsula and faces the East China Sea. Makurazaki Fishing Port has one of the largest bonito catches in Japan, and the city is known for katsuobushi (dried bonito) made by traditional methods. The area is also known for frequent typhoons, and Tachigami Rock rises out of the sea offshore.","46206":"Akune City is in the northwest of the prefecture and faces the East China Sea, with islands such as Akune Oshima and Kuwashima scattered offshore. In the northwest, Kuronoseto Bridge connects the city to Nagashima Island. The coast has rich seaweed beds and supports fishing, and whole dried round herring and bontan pomelos are local specialties.","46208":"Izumi City is at the northern tip of Kagoshima Prefecture, faces the Yatsushiro Sea, and has the Izumi Plain. The city is known as the largest wintering ground for cranes in Japan; many cranes fly in from the Asian continent each winter, and the area is a Ramsar Convention wetland. The Izumi-Fumoto townscape, with preserved samurai residences, is another highlight.","46210":"Ibusuki City is a hot-spring town at the southern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, known for sand-steaming baths in which people are buried in warm beach sand. Scenic spots include Lake Ikeda, the largest lake in Kyushu; Mt. Kaimon, called \"Satsuma Fuji\"; and Chirin-ga-shima Island. The city is also famous for growing okra.","46213":"Nishinoomote City covers the northern part of Tanegashima Island and prospered as the castle town of the Tanegashima family. The city is the political and economic center of Tanegashima, and the Tanegashima Development Center (Gun Museum) tells the history of the arrival of firearms. The city grows sweet Anno sweet potatoes, and Mageshima Island lies offshore.","46214":"Tarumizu City is in the northwest of the Osumi Peninsula and faces Kagoshima Bay. In the great eruption of Sakurajima in 1914 (Taisho 3), lava filled the strait, and Sakurajima became connected to this area by land. Tarumizu has the smallest population of any city in Kyushu and is known for hot-spring water, amberjack (kampachi) farming, and loquat growing.","46215":"Satsumasendai City, the largest city by area in Kagoshima Prefecture, consists of mainland land in the northwest and the Koshikijima Islands. It is the central city of the Hokusatsu region along the Sendai River and has Sendai Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen. Highlights include Lake Imuta, a Ramsar Convention wetland, and the cliffs of Koshikijima.","46216":"Hioki City is in the central west of the Satsuma Peninsula, where Fukiagehama, one of Japan's three great sand dunes, stretches along the coast. Every year, people walk in armor to Tokushige Shrine, which enshrines Shimazu Yoshihiro, in the \"Myoenji Mairi\" procession. The Miyama district is known as a village of Satsuma ware pottery kilns.","46217":"Soo City lies inland in the northern Osumi Peninsula and shares a daily living area with Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Livestock and field crops thrive on its Shirasu (volcanic ash) plateaus, and its autumn-winter Chinese cabbage production ranks 6th in Japan. Iwakawa Hachiman Shrine's Yagoro-don Festival, tied to the legend of the giant Yagoro-don, is well known.","46218":"Kirishima City, in central mainland Kagoshima Prefecture, ranks 2nd in the prefecture in population and area. Kirishima Jingu shrine stands at the foot of Mt. Kirishima, where, according to myth, the sun goddess's grandson descended from heaven, and the Kirishima Onsen area offers many hot springs. It has Kagoshima Airport and high-tech industry, including Sony and Kyocera.","46219":"Ichikikushikino City is in the western Satsuma Peninsula, at the northern end of Fukiagehama beach. The city once prospered from gold mining and deep-sea tuna fishing, and Gold Park Kushikino uses a former gold mine. It is known as the birthplace of satsuma-age (fried fish cakes), and it has many shochu (distilled liquor) breweries.","46220":"Minamisatsuma City is at the southwestern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, and Fukiagehama, one of Japan's three great sand dunes, stretches along its northwest. Bonotsu, an old trading port, is a scenic spot on a ria coast and is where the monk Jianzhen (Ganjin) landed. Bansei Airfield, a departure base for tokko (kamikaze) special attack missions, was once at Fukiagehama.","46221":"Shibushi City, at the base of the Osumi Peninsula, faces Shibushi Bay. It has the Port of Shibushi, a national core international port, and serves as a logistics hub for southern Kyushu. Historic sites include the ruins of Shibushi Castle, a medieval mountain castle, and of Homan-ji Temple. Its production of winter-spring green peppers ranks 4th in Japan.","46222":"Amami City covers central and northern Amami Oshima Island and has the largest population among Kagoshima Prefecture's outlying islands. Subtropical forests and the primeval Sumiyo mangrove forest spread across the city, and Amami Oshima is a World Natural Heritage Site. The city is known for Oshima tsumugi silk, brown sugar shochu, and an art museum of the painter Tanaka Isson.","46223":"Minamikyushu City is in the southern Satsuma Peninsula and produces Chiran tea; its tea production ranks 1st among all municipalities in Japan. Chiran keeps a townscape of samurai residences with gardens, and the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots passes on the memory of the war. The city's name has the longest reading of any municipality name in Japan.","46224":"Isa City is an inland city at the northern end of Kagoshima Prefecture on the Kyushu mainland, bordering Kumamoto and Miyazaki Prefectures. The Okuchi Basin, formed by the Sendai River, is a rice-growing area known for Isa rice. The city has Sogi Falls, called the \"Niagara of the East,\" and the Hishikari Mine, which produces high-quality gold.","46225":"Aira City is at the inner end of Kagoshima Bay and has developed as a commuter town for Kagoshima City. At Kamo Hachiman Shrine stands Kamo no Kusu, a camphor tree regarded as the largest tree in Japan. The Kajiki area keeps a townscape associated with Shimazu Yoshihiro, and Ryumon Falls is another highlight.","46303":"Mishima Village consists of three islands in the sea south of the Satsuma Peninsula: Takeshima, Iojima, and Kuroshima. Its village office is in Kagoshima City. Iojima is a volcanic island where hot springs color the sea, and it is also known as an island of the djembe (an African drum). The whole village is part of the Kikai Caldera Geopark.","46304":"Toshima Village consists of the Tokara Islands, and its office is in Kagoshima City. Called the \"longest village in Japan\" for its north-south length, the village has legends of fleeing Heike warriors on each island. After the war, the islands were under U.S. administration. Akusekijima has unique culture such as the masked god Boze, and there are hot springs.","46392":"Satsuma Town, inland in the north-central part of the prefecture, is the prefecture's most populous town or village. The Sendai River flows through its center, with Tsuruda Dam upstream. Mt. Shibi rises to the north; Shibi Onsen at its foot is called the \"water of the gods\" as it springs from beneath a shrine. Bamboo and bamboo crafts are produced.","46404":"Nagashima Town, at the prefecture's northwestern tip, consists of Nagashima, Ikara Island, Shishijima, and other islands, linked to the Kyushu mainland by Kuronoseto Bridge. Once part of Amakusa District in Higo Province, the Shimazu clan seized the area in the Warring States period, and it joined Satsuma. It ranks 1st in Japan for autumn-planted potatoes and farms yellowtail.","46452":"Yusui Town is a basin town inland in the north of the prefecture, surrounded by the Kyushu Mountains and the Kirishima Mountains. The town's name (\"spring water\") comes from the abundant springs of Maruike and Takenaka-ike ponds. On the slopes of Mt. Kurino are the Kirishima Open-Air Museum, known for outdoor contemporary art, and Kurinodake Onsen (hot spring).","46468":"Osaki Town, in the eastern Osumi Peninsula, faces Shibushi Bay. It has Yokose Kofun (an ancient burial mound), a national Historic Site, and the area was anciently called Kuni. The coastal pine forest Kuni no Matsubara lines the shore, and waste sorting gives the town a high recycling rate. Its autumn-winter daikon radish production ranks 6th in Japan.","46482":"Higashikushira Town, in the eastern Osumi Peninsula, lies entirely on the Kimotsuki Plain at the mouth of the Kimotsuki River. The Shibushi National Petroleum Stockpiling Base stands on reclaimed land in Shibushi Bay. The Tojin Kofun Cluster is among the largest groups of ancient burial mounds in Osumi, and the town ranks 6th in Japan for winter-spring green peppers.","46490":"Kinko Town, in the western Osumi Peninsula, faces Kinko Bay across from the Satsuma Peninsula. Most of the town is in the Kimotsuki Mountains, and cliffs separate the coast from the inland plateaus. Waterfalls such as Urushiyama Falls and Otaki Falls dot the mountains. The evergreen broadleaf forest of Mt. Inao is a national Natural Monument.","46491":"Minamiosumi Town is in the southern Osumi Peninsula and has Cape Sata, the southernmost point of mainland Japan. The 31st parallel north passes over the cape, and an observation point looks out on Satamisaki Lighthouse. The Sata Old Medicinal Herb Garden, where the Satsuma Domain grew medicinal plants, remains, and most of the town consists of the Kimotsuki Mountains.","46492":"Kimotsuki Town is in the eastern Osumi Peninsula and is known for the Uchinoura Space Center, a rocket launch facility. Sights include the ruins of Koyama Castle, the medieval base of the Kimotsuki clan; Shijukusho Shrine, where yabusame (horseback archery) is offered; and the Tsukazaki camphor tree.","46501":"Nakatane Town is in central Tanegashima Island, and the road running the length of the island passes through the Noma district, where the town office stands. The town has never merged since the municipal system began. It has Tanegashima Airport, and sugarcane and sweet potato farming are active. The House of the Furuichi Family, an Important Cultural Property, remains.","46502":"Minamitane Town is in the southern part of Tanegashima Island and is known as the place where Portuguese people drifted ashore in 1543 and firearms were introduced to Japan. The town has JAXA's Tanegashima Space Center, where people can watch rocket launches up close. It is a rice-growing area that ships Koshihikari rice the earliest in Japan.","46505":"Yakushima Town consists of Yakushima Island and Kuchinoerabu Island, and Yakushima is a World Natural Heritage Site. Highlights include giant Yakusugi cedars such as Jomon Sugi and Wilson's Stump, and the moss-covered Shiratani Unsui Gorge. Rainfall is extremely heavy, and Oko Falls and Senpiro Falls, which pour down from the mountains, are well known.","46523":"Yamato Village, in central Amami Oshima Island, faces the East China Sea. Mt. Yuwan, the highest peak on Amami Oshima, is here, and the area near its summit is a special protection zone of a national park. The forests are home to rare animals such as the Amami rabbit, and the village is known for sumomo plums.","46524":"Uken Village is on the west coast of central-southern Amami Oshima Island, and its settlements are scattered around Yakeuchi Bay, a deep inlet. More than 90% of the village's total area is mountainous, and the village includes Edateku Island, the largest uninhabited island in the Amami Islands. The village also borders Mt. Yuwan, the highest peak on Amami Oshima.","46525":"Setouchi Town consists of the southern tip of Amami Oshima Island and islands such as Kakeromajima, Uke Island, and Yoroshima. The town's name comes from \"Setouchi,\" another name for the Oshima Strait. A ria coastline runs along the shore, and boats leave Koniya Port in the town center for the islands. Kakeromajima is associated with the writer Shimao Toshio.","46527":"Tatsugo Town, in eastern Amami Oshima Island, faces the East China Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The town has the site of the house where Saigo Takamori lived in exile and is known for Oshima tsumugi silk. Parts of its mountains and coast are in Amamigunto National Park.","46529":"Kikai Town covers all of Kikai Island, which is made entirely of uplifted coral reef. The coral stone walls of the Aden settlement are beautiful, and the town is a member of \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association. The town is known for white sesame, and the large ancient Gusuku Site has also been found here.","46530":"Tokunoshima Town occupies the eastern part of Tokunoshima Island, and Kametoku Port is the island's gateway by sea. Bullfighting, in which bulls fight each other, is popular, and the town's mascot character is based on a bull. Tokunoshima is a World Natural Heritage Site as an island where the Amami rabbit lives.","46531":"Amagi Town is in the northwestern part of Tokunoshima Island, and its name comes from Mt. Amagi. The town has Tokunoshima Airport, and sugarcane farming is active. The island's forests, home to the Amami rabbit and other animals, are a World Natural Heritage Site, and the culture of bullfighting between bulls is carried on.","46532":"Isen Town is in the southwestern part of Tokunoshima Island and uses the slogan \"Isen, the town of longevity and bullfighting.\" It is the hometown of Izumi Shigechiyo and Hongo Kamato, both known for their long lives. The limestone landscape has many limestone caves, and kiln sites of Kamuiyaki, a medieval pottery, also remain.","46533":"Wadomari Town occupies the eastern half of Okinoerabujima Island, a flat island of uplifted coral reef. Flower growing, including Erabu lilies, is active, and Koshiyama hill in the east of the island offers views over the island. Saigo Takamori was exiled here, and the town has Nanshu Shrine and a memorial hall. Wadomari Port is the island's gateway by sea.","46534":"Chinacho Town occupies the western half of Okinoerabujima Island. Shoryudo, a limestone cave with beautiful limestone formations inside, is the island's signature sight. Flower growing and sugarcane farming are active, uplifted coral reef scenery spreads along the coast, and the Sumiyoshi Shell Mound, a national Historic Site, also remains.","46535":"Yoron Town is the single island of Yoronjima at the southern tip of Kagoshima Prefecture, 23 km north of the main island of Okinawa. White sand and blue sea surround it; Yurigahama, a sandbar that appears offshore at low tide, is well known. Medieval Yoron Castle ruins remain, and the town is a sister city of Mykonos, Greece.","47201":"Naha City, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, is Okinawa's gateway, with Naha Airport and Naha Port. The site of Shuri Castle, the royal castle of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the royal tomb Tamaudun, and Shikina-en garden belong to the World Heritage Site \"Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.\" Kokusai-dori street and Makishi Public Market are lively.","47205":"Ginowan City is in central Okinawa Island, northeast of Naha City. Futenma Air Station (a U.S. military base) occupies the plateau in the middle of the city, making it a base town. The west coast has the Okinawa Convention Center, Ginowan Seaside Park, and Tropical Beach. Futenma-gu Shrine, one of the Eight Shrines of Ryukyu, has a cave.","47207":"Ishigaki City centers on Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Islands. The city's administrative area also includes the uninhabited Senkaku Islands. It is Japan's southernmost and westernmost city and the administrative and economic center of Yaeyama; the Taketomi Town office is also here. Sights include Mt. Omoto, Okinawa Prefecture's highest peak, emerald Kabira Bay, and the Nagura Anparu mangroves.","47208":"Urasoe City is an ancient capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom on the border between southern and central Okinawa Island. It flourished around Urasoe Castle from the 12th to the 14th century, and Urasoe Yodore, a royal tomb, remains. The city has developed as a residential area next to Naha City, and commerce and industry are active.","47209":"Nago City, the central city of northern Okinawa Island (Yanbaru), faces Nago Bay. The Nago Castle site is famous for Kanhizakura cherry blossoms, and the old Hinpun Banyan Tree stands here. Nago hosted the 2000 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit and is known for professional baseball spring training camps and its many soki soba (pork-rib noodle) shops.","47210":"Itoman City, at the southern tip of Okinawa Island, is where the Battle of Okinawa ended. The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and the Himeyuri Monument preserve the memory of the war. It is known for its sabani-boat fishermen; the Itoman Hare boat race, held on the 4th day of the 5th lunar month, and the Great Tug-of-War continue.","47211":"Okinawa City, in central Okinawa Island, has the largest population in the prefecture after Naha City. Near Kadena Air Base and other U.S. military bases, it has an international atmosphere, and its Koza area is known for music. The city has declared itself the \"City of Eisa\" (a traditional Okinawan dance) and hosts the Okinawa Zento Eisa Festival.","47212":"Tomigusuku City borders Naha City to the south, and its population is growing as a commuter town. The city has the Manko Wetland and the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, and Senaga Island, near Naha Airport, is a popular place with resort facilities. The Toyosaki area has Churasun Beach, an aquarium, and an outlet mall.","47213":"Uruma City, on the east coast of central Okinawa Island, has the 3rd-largest population in the prefecture. The ruins of Katsuren Castle on the Katsuren Peninsula are a World Heritage Site, and the Kaichu Road causeway links islands such as Henza Island and Miyagi Island. Henza Island and others have oil stockpiling bases, and the city is known for bullfighting.","47214":"Miyakojima City consists of six islands, including Miyako Island, Ikema Island, Irabu Island, and Shimoji Island, and all of them except Ogami Island are linked by bridges. The city is known for very clear sea and white sand beaches. Highlights include the cliffs of Cape Higashi-Hennazaki and Toriike on Irabu Island. Mango and sugarcane farming are also active.","47215":"Nanjo City is on the east coast of southern Okinawa Island. Sefa-utaki, the Ryukyu Kingdom's holiest site, is a World Heritage Site, and offshore lies Kudaka Island, the \"island of the gods\". Gyokusendo cave, Cape Chinen, and Ojima Island's tempura shops are popular; the city calls itself the \"home of gusuku (Ryukyuan castles) and water\", rich in springs.","47301":"Kunigami Village is at the northern tip of Okinawa Island, and the \"Yanbaru forest\" covers most of the village. Endemic species such as the Okinawa rail and the Okinawa woodpecker live there, and the forest is a World Natural Heritage Site. From Cape Hedo, Yoronjima Island can be seen on clear days.","47302":"Ogimi Village, on the west coast of northern Okinawa Island, calls itself a \"home of longevity\" and has declared itself No. 1 in Japan for long life. It is known for shikuwasa citrus, the scenery of Shioya Bay, and Kijoka bashofu, a traditional cloth woven from banana plant fiber. The Yanbaru forest is part of a World Natural Heritage Site.","47303":"Higashi Village is on the east coast of northern Okinawa Island and faces the Pacific Ocean. It has the Tsutsuji-en garden, where azaleas, the village flower, bloom, and visitors can tour the mangrove forest of Gesashi Bay by canoe. The village has Fukuji Dam, the largest in the prefecture, and is also known for growing pineapples.","47306":"Nakijin Village occupies the northern half of the Motobu Peninsula. The ruins of Nakijin Castle, the residence of the Hokuzan kings before the Ryukyu Kingdom, are a World Heritage Site, and the castle's stone walls are also famous for cherry blossoms. Kouri Island, connected by the Kouri Bridge, is popular for its views of clear sea.","47308":"Motobu Town is in the western Motobu Peninsula and is known for Ocean Expo Park and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Sesoko Island and Minna Island lie offshore, and Mt. Yae is famous for early-blooming cherry blossoms. The town is a port that prospered from bonito fishing, and the \"Motobu Soba Road,\" lined with Okinawa soba noodle shops, is also known.","47311":"Onna Village stretches long and narrow along the west coast of central Okinawa Island and is one of Japan's leading resort areas, with many resort hotels. The village is known for the cliffs of Manzamo and the Blue Cave at Cape Maeda. It works to protect coral and has declared itself the \"Village of Coral.\"","47313":"Ginoza Village, on the east coast of central Okinawa Island, faces the Pacific Ocean. It is known as the spring training camp site of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. During the Battle of Okinawa, civilian camps were set up here, and many people lived in them. The village has Michi-no-Eki Ginoza (a roadside station) and the Ginoza Municipal Museum.","47314":"Kin Town is on the east coast of central Okinawa Island and faces Kin Bay. The U.S. military's Camp Hansen occupies much of the town, and in the Shinkaichi district in front of its gate, shops with English signs line the streets. The town is known for the limestone cave of Kin Kannon-ji Temple and for growing taamu (taro).","47315":"Ie Village is the single island of Iejima, northwest of the Motobu Peninsula, with Gusukuyama (Iejima Tatchu) rising in its center. The island is a popular outlying island for day trips by ferry from Motobu Port, and its spring Lily Festival is well known. The island also has an auxiliary airfield of the U.S. military.","47324":"Yomitan Village is on the west coast of central Okinawa Island and is the most populous village in Japan. Highlights include the ruins of Zakimi Castle, a World Heritage Site, and the cliffs of Cape Zanpa. The village is also known for traditional crafts such as Yuntanza Hanaui textiles and its yachimun (pottery) village.","47325":"Kadena Town is on the west coast of central Okinawa Island, and U.S. military facilities such as Kadena Air Base occupy 82% of its area. Before the war, with the prefectural railway's terminal station and a busy port at the Hija River mouth, it was a central Okinawa transport hub. Michi-no-Eki Kadena (a roadside station) overlooks the base.","47326":"Chatan Town is on the west coast of central Okinawa Island. American Village in the Mihama district is a popular area with a Ferris wheel and shops, beside a seafront with beautiful sunsets. U.S. military facilities occupy about half of the town's area, and the town is also a spring training site of the Chunichi Dragons baseball team.","47327":"Kitanakagusuku Village, on the east coast of central Okinawa Island facing Nakagusuku Bay, has the highest population density of any village in Japan. The Nakamura House, which shows a Ryukyuan farmhouse, is a national Important Cultural Property. The village has the large AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom, and its area is about the same as Chiyoda City in Tokyo.","47328":"Nakagusuku Village, on the east coast of central Okinawa Island, faces Nakagusuku Bay. The ruins of Nakagusuku Castle, said to have been built by Gosamaru, have beautiful stonework and are a World Heritage Site. Part of the Senbaru Campus of the University of the Ryukyus is here, and its student population is growing. The bay view is another highlight.","47329":"Nishihara Town, in central Okinawa Island northeast of Naha City, is named for its location north (\"nishi\" in Okinawan) of Shuri. After the war, it was known for sugarcane. The University of the Ryukyus has its main campus here, and with the Fujukan university museum and the Okinawa Prefectural Archaeological Center, Nishihara is a town of learning.","47348":"Yonabaru Town, on the east coast of southern Okinawa Island facing Nakagusuku Bay, is the smallest municipality by area on Okinawa Island. Once a port for Yanbaru-sen sailing boats, it prospered as an east coast transport hub. The Great Tug-of-War is famous, and the tale of Untama Giru, a noble thief of Untamamui hill, is well known.","47350":"Haebaru Town, inland in southern Okinawa Island, is the only municipality in Okinawa Prefecture that does not face the sea. Its population has grown next to Naha City, and it is the most populous town in the prefecture. The town produces Ryukyu kasuri, a traditional woven textile, and the Haebaru Army Hospital Shelter from the Battle of Okinawa remains.","47353":"Tokashiki Village occupies the eastern half of the Kerama Islands, west of Naha City, and consists of islands such as Tokashiki Island. Clear water called \"Kerama Blue\" surrounds the islands, making them popular for diving and swimming. The islands are part of Keramashoto National Park, and humpback whales can be seen in winter.","47354":"Zamami Village occupies the western half of the Kerama Islands and consists of islands such as Zamami Island, Aka Island, and Geruma Island. The village is known for clear sea and coral reefs, and humpback whale watching is popular from winter to spring. These islands are also where U.S. forces first landed in the Battle of Okinawa.","47355":"Aguni Village consists of the single island of Aguni Island, northwest of Naha City. Sea views such as the cliffs of Fudenzaki surround the island, and the island was the setting of the film \"Nabbie's Love.\" The island is also known for \"Aguni salt,\" made from seawater, and for its cycad trees.","47356":"Tonaki Village consists of Tonaki Island and the uninhabited Irisuna Island, and it is the smallest municipality by area in Okinawa Prefecture. Its settlement of red-tiled houses, windbreak groves of fukugi trees, and white sand lanes is designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Fields of glutinous millet (mochikibi) and carrots also spread across the island.","47357":"Minamidaito Village covers Minamidaito Island, about 400 km east of Okinawa Island. People from Hachijojima Island settled the island in the Meiji era, and sugarcane production has been central since the village was founded. Highlights include Hoshino Cave, a limestone cave, and Oike pond, and local specialties include Daito sushi.","47358":"Kitadaito Village consists of Kitadaito Island, the easternmost point of Okinawa Prefecture, and uninhabited Okidaito Island. Kitadaito, an uplifted coral reef island, once prospered from phosphate mining, and its phosphate mine ruins are a national Historic Site. Sugarcane farming is the main industry, and Oike pond in the center of the island rises and falls with the tides.","47359":"Iheya Village consists of Iheya Island and Noho Island, north of Okinawa Island, and it is the northernmost village in Okinawa Prefecture. The two islands are connected by a bridge. Forests and farm fields spread across the islands, and rice is also grown. The village has Kumaya Cave, linked to the legend of Ama-no-Iwato (the heavenly rock cave).","47360":"Izena Village consists of Izena Island, north of the Motobu Peninsula, and the uninhabited islands around it. The island is known as the birthplace of King Sho En, founder of the Second Sho Dynasty of Ryukyu, and Izena Tamaudun, a royal tomb, remains. White sand beaches and quiet settlements make up the scenery.","47361":"Kumejima Town consists of Kume Island and other islands west of Okinawa Island. Highlights include Tatami-ishi, rocks lined up like a turtle's shell, and Hate-no-hama, a sandbar of nothing but white sand beach. Sugarcane farming and diving tourism are active, and the town is also developing the use of deep ocean water.","47362":"Yaese Town stretches from inland southern Okinawa Island to its south coast, with Mt. Yaese in the center. The Tomori Shisa, said to be the oldest surviving shisa (lion-dog guardian statue), remains here. Fields cover the hilly plateaus, and the area was a site of fierce fighting in the Battle of Okinawa, where many residents died.","47375":"Tarama Village consists of Tarama Island and Minna Island, about halfway between Miyako Island and Ishigaki Island. Tarama is a flat island of uplifted coral reef, with settlements surrounded by rows of fukugi trees. Harvest festivals such as the Hachigatsu Odori dances continue, and the village belongs to \"The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan\" association.","47381":"Taketomi Town consists of nine inhabited islands of the Yaeyama Islands, including Iriomote Island, Taketomi Island, and Hateruma Island, and it is the southernmost town in Japan. Iriomote Island is a World Natural Heritage Site and is home to the Iriomote cat. The red-tiled village on Taketomi Island and Hateruma Island, the southernmost inhabited island in Japan, are well known.","47382":"Yonaguni Town consists of Yonaguni Island and is the westernmost town in Japan, only 107.3 km from Taiwan. At Cape Irizaki stands a monument marking \"the westernmost point of Japan.\" The native Yonaguni horse and the Yonaguni atlas moth, one of the world's largest moths, live here, and the town is known for marlin fishing and diving."},"R":{"北海道・東北":["Hokkaido & Tohoku","The northern lands that make up about 40% of Japan's land area. A rich source of rice, fruit and seafood, shaped by snow, mountains and the sea."],"関東":["Kanto","The Tokyo metropolitan area, home to about one third of Japan's population. It is one of the largest urban areas in the world, supported by nearby farming and industrial zones."],"中部":["Chubu","With the Japan Alps as its backbone, the region lines up Hokuriku on the Sea of Japan side, Koshin inland and Tokai on the Pacific side. A region of manufacturing and mountains."],"近畿":["Kansai (Kinki)","The source of Japanese culture, where the capital stood for more than a thousand years. The history of ancient capitals and the energy of Osaka, the merchant city, exist side by side."],"中国":["Chugoku","The Chugoku Mountains divide the region into San'in, the land of myths on the Sea of Japan side, and San'yo, the sunny land on the other side. The calm sea of the Seto Inland Sea, with its chain of islands, is another attraction."],"四国":["Shikoku","Four prefectures linked by the pilgrimage route of the 88 temples. This one island has both the calm of the Seto Inland Sea and the roughness of the Pacific Ocean."],"九州・沖縄":["Kyushu & Okinawa","Japan's western gateway, which prospered as a window for exchange with the Asian continent. Kyushu is a land of volcanoes and hot springs, and Okinawa is a chain of subtropical islands."]}}