Minamiashigara, Kanagawa

Minamiashigara 南足柄市
—  City  —
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Location of Minamiashigara in Kanagawa
Minamiashigara
Coordinates: 35°19′N 139°06′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Kanagawa
Area
• Total	76.93 km2 (29.70 sq mi)
Population (February 1, 2012)
• Total	43,866
• Density	570/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Camellia sasanqua
- Flower	Japanese gentian
Address	Sekimoto 440-banchi, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa-ken 250-0192
Website	City of Minamiashigara

City office (Nov 9, 2010)

Minamiashigara (南足柄市, Minamiashigara-shi) is a city located in the far southwestern corner of Kanagawa, Japan. As of February 2012, the city had an estimated population of 43,866 and population density of 570 persons per km². The total area was 76.93 km².

Geography

Minamiashigara is located in the mountainous west of Kanagawa Prefecture, with most of the city located within either the Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park or the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Surrounding Municipalities

Kanagawa Prefecture

• Odawara
• Kaeisei
• Yamakita
• Hakone

Shizuoka Prefecture

• Oyama

History

The area that us now Minaimashigara was under control of the late Hōjō clan in the Sengoku period, and part of Odawara Domain during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, casastral reforms created Minamiashigawa, Fukusawa, Okamoto and Kitaashigara villages within Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture. The development of the area was spurred by the opening of the Oyama Mountain Railway (present-day Izuhakone Railway Daiyūzan Line) on October 15, 1925. Minamiashigara was elevated in status to that of a town on April 1, 1940, and annexed neighboring Fukusawa, Okamoto and Kitaashigara villages in 1955. It became a city on April 1, 1972.

Economy

The economy of Minamiashigara is based on forestry and agriculture (primarily green tea and mikan). Fujifilm and Asahi Breweries have factories in Minamiashigara to make use of its abundant fresh water.

Transportation

Railway

• Izuhakone Railway - Daiyūzan Line
  • Sagami-Numata - Iwahara - Tsukahara - Wadagahara - Fujifilm-Mae - Daiyūzan

Sister City relations

• - Tilburg, Netherlands, since June 4, 1989.

Local attractions

• Saijoji Temple, many temples and shrines located in an old growth cedar forest.
• Niju Isseki no Mori (21st Century Forest), a park with hiking trails throughout.
• Maruta no Mori: a park with hiking trails and camp grounds.

Noted people from Minamiashigara

• Rina Uchiyama - actress

External links

• (Japanese) Official website
• The Minamiashigaran
• Odawara Living - Information about Minami Ashigara
• Japan Living