Izunokuni, Shizuoka

Izunokuni 伊豆の国市
—  City  —
Location of Izunokuni in Shizuoka
Izunokuni
Coordinates: 35°2′N 138°56′E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Shizuoka
Government
• Mayor	Yoshikazu Mochizuki (since April 2005, and former Ohito mayor since April 1991)
Area
• Total	94.71 km2 (36.57 sq mi)
Population (February 2010)
• Total	49,381
• Density	521/km2 (1,350/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Nageia nagi
- Flower	viola
Phone number	055-948-1413
Address	340-1 Nakaoka 410-2292
Website	Izunokuni official website

Izunokuni (伊豆の国市, Izunokuni-shi) is a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 49,381 and a population density of 521 persons per km². The total area was 94.71 km².

Geography

Izunokuni is located on the northern "neck" of the Izu Peninsula in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. The region is hilly, with numerous hot springs. The climate of the region is temperate maritime, with hot, humid summers and short, cool winters, with the warm Kuroshio Current offshore having a moderating effect.

Surrounding municipalities

• Atami
• Izu
• Itō
• Numazu
• Kannami

History

During the late Heian and Kamakura period, the town of Nirayama within the current borders of Izunokuni was the home of the clan, which dominated Japanese politics in the 12th century. A castle was established at Nirayama by Ise Moritoki, founder of the Late Hōjō clan in 1493.During the Edo period, most of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, who ruled Izu and parts of eastern Suruga Province from a daikansho established at Nirayama. After the Meiji Restoration, the area became the short-lived Nirayama Prefecture, which was merged into the equally short-lived Ashigara Prefecture in 1871. From 1876, the area has been part of Shizuoka Prefecture. During the cadastral reform of 1886, the area was reorganized into several villages under Kimisawa District, which was with Tagata District in 1896.

In 1934, Izunagaoka was elevated to town status, followed by Ōhito in 1940, and Nirayama in 1962. The city of Izunokuni was created from the merger of these three towns on April 1, 2005.

Economy

The economy of Izunokuni is dominated by agriculture (strawberries and tomatoes) and by tourism related to the hot spring resort industry.

Transportation

Izu-nagaoka station

Highway

• Japan National Route 136
• Route 414 (Japan)

Railway

• Izuhakone Railway - Sunzu Line
  • Baraki - Nirayama - Izu-Nagaoka - Ōhito - Takyō

A view from top of Mount Jōyama in Izunokuni

Sister City relations

• - Gainesville, Georgia, USA

Notable people from Izunokuni

• Sayuri Iwata - actress
• Takanobu Hozumi - actor and voice actor

External links

• Official website (Japanese) Media related to Izunokuni, Shizuoka at Wikimedia Commons