Mishima, Shizuoka

Template:Infobox City Japan Mishima (三島市, Mishima-shi) is a city located in central Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 112,078 and a density of 1,800 persons per km². The total area is 62.13 km². Its population has expanded since the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line made it possible to commute to Tokyo.

Novelist Kimitake Hiraoka adopted his penname Yukio Mishima after the city.

History

Mishima is an ancient town, which developed around the important Shinto shrine of Mishima Shrine (三嶋大社, Mishima Taisha). Under the Ritsuryo administration system established in the Nara period, Mishima was made capital of Izu Province. It was also the location of the Kokubun-ji for Izu Province. In the Edo period, Mishima prospered from its location on the Tōkaidō, and Mishima-shuku was one of the 53 post stations on that road. The area was ruled by a daikan appointed directly by the Tokugawa shogunate during that period. After the Meiji Restoration, Mishima became part of Shizuoka Prefecture. After the Tanna Tunnel was completed in 1934, the city was connected on the Tōkaidō Main Line railway between Tokyo and Shizuoka, and developed rapidly. It merged with Kitakami Village in 1935 and Watada Village in 1941. Mishima Town became a city on April 29, 1941.

Economy

Mishima is an industrial city. In addition to a railroad repair facility operated by JR Tokai, the city hosts factories from:

• Toray
• DMW Corporation
• Toshiba TEC Corporation
• Yokohama Rubber Company
• CFS Corporation (HAC Drugstores)
• Izuhakone Railway Company Ltd

Sister City relations

• New Plymouth, New Zealand
• Pasadena, California, United States
• Lishui, China

Transport

Railway

• Tōkaidō Shinkansen - Mishima Station
• Tōkaidō Main Line - Mishima Station
• Sunzu Line - 5 stations

Highway

• Japan National Route 1
• Japan National Route 136

Education

The College of International Relations for Nihon University is located in Mishima. It provides opportunities for international students to live in Mishima and explore Japanese culture.

Culture

The Mishima summer festival takes place from August 15 to 17 every year, under the auspices of Mishima, in and around the Mishima Taisha shrine, as well as near the Mishima JR station. Mikoshi are carried through the streets and the taiko are played.

Through Rakujuen, a park central to the image of Mishima, the city's calm nature can be seen.

External links

• Mishima official website in Japanese