Minobu, Yamanashi

Minobu 身延町
Town
Mount Minobu
Flag Seal
Location of Minobu in Yamanashi Prefecture
Minobu
Coordinates: 35°28′N 138°27′E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu Tōkai
Prefecture	Yamanashi Prefecture
District	Minamikoma
Government
• Mayor	Hitoshi Mochizuki (since October 2008)
Area
• Total	302.00 km2 (116.60 sq mi)
Population  (July 1, 2012)
• Total	13,798
• Density	45.7/km2 (118/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	0556-42-2111
Address	350 Kiriishi, Minobu-chō, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken 409-3392
Website	http://www.town.minobu.lg.jp/

Minobu (身延町, Minobu-chō) is a town located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of July 2012, the town had an estimated population of 13,798, and a population density of 45.7 persons per km². The total area is 302.00  km².

Geography

Minobu is in south-central Yamanashi Prefecture. The Fuji River passes through the town, which is dominated by the sacred Mount Minobu. It also shares Lake Motosu with neighbouring Fujikawaguchiko.

Neighboring municipalities

Yamanashi Prefecture

• Kōfu
• Nanbu
• Ichikawamisato
• Hayakawa
• Fujikawa
• Fujikawaguchiko

Shizuoka Prefecture

• Aoi-ku, Shizuoka
• Fujinomiya

History

Minobu developed from the Kamakura period as a temple town outside the gates of the important Buddhist temple of Kuon-ji, one of the primary head temples of the Nichiren Shū.

During the reform of the early Meiji period in April 1, 1889, Minamikoma District within Yamanashi Prefecture was created and organized into 22 villages. Minobu village was raised to town status on January 1, 1931. On February 11, 1955 the town expanded by annexing three neighboring villages. On September 13, 2004, Minobu absorbed the towns of Nakatomi, also from Minamikoma District, and Shimobe, from Nishiyatsushiro District.

Education

• Minobusan University

Transportation

Railway

• East Japan Railway Company –Minobu Line
• Kai-Ōshima - Minobu - Shionosawa - Hadakajima - Shimobe-onsen - Kai-Tokiwa - Ichinose - Kunado

Highway

• Japan National Route 52
• Japan National Route 300

Local attractions

• Kuon-ji – Buddhist temple which is the headquarters of the Nichiren Shū

External links

Media related to Minobu, Yamanashi at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website Template:Ja icon