Mimasaka, Okayama

Mimasaka 美作市
City
Flag
Location of Mimasaka in Okayama Prefecture
Mimasaka Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°0′31″N 134°8′55″E / 35.00861°N 134.14861°ECoordinates: 35°0′31″N 134°8′55″E / 35.00861°N 134.14861°E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture	Okayama Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Yoshitaka Andō
Area
• Total	429.19 km^2 (165.71 sq mi)
Population (November 1, 2011)
• Total	30,019
• Density	70/km^2 (180/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Prunus mume
• Flower	Erythronium japonicum
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	38-2　Sakaemachi, Mimasaka-shi, Okayama-ken 707-8501
Website	www.city.mimasaka.lg.jp

Mimasaka city hall

Mimasaka (美作市 Mimasaka-shi) is a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

As of November 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 30,019 (34,338 in 2004) and a population density of 70 persons per km². The total area is 429.19 km².

History

The 16th century village Miyamoto, considered the birthplace of Miyamoto Musashi, is part of present-day Mimasaka.

The modern city of Mimasaka was founded on March 31, 2005 by the merger of the former town of Mimasaka, absorbing the towns of Aida, Ōhara and Sakutō, the village Higashiawakura (all from Aida District), and the town of Katsuta (from Katsuta District).

Geography

• Mountains:Mount Ushiro (The highest mountain in Okayama Prefecture)
• Rivers:Yoshino River, Kajinami River

Adjoining municipalities

• Okayama Prefecture
  • Bizen
  • Wake
  • Misaki
  • Shōō
  • Nagi
  • Nishiawakura
• Hyōgo Prefecture
  • Shisō
  • Sayō
• Tottori Prefecture
  • Chizu

Transport

Railways

• West Japan Railway Company
  • Kishin Line
    • Mimasaka-Doi Station - Mimasaka-Emi Station - Narahara Station - Hayashino Station
• Chizu Express
  • Chizu Line
    • Miyamoto Musashi Station - Ōhara Station

Road

• Expressways:
  • Chūgoku Expressway
    • Sakutō Interchange - Narahara Parking Area - Mimasaka Interchange
• National highways:
  • Route 179
  • Route 373
  • Route 374
  • Route 429
• Main prefectural roads:
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 5 (Sakutō-Ōhara)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 7 (Chizu-Katsuta)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 46 (Wake-Sasame-Sakutō)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 51 (Mimasaka-Nagi)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 86 (Sakutō Interchange)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 90 (Akō-Saeki)

Sister and Friendship cities

• Former Ōhara town
  • Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan - Friendship city agreement concluded in 1991
  • Echizen (Former Imadate town), Fukui, Japan - Sister city agreement concluded in 1990
• Former Sakutō town
  • Saint-Valentin, France - Sister city agreement concluded in April 6, 1988
  • Sankt Valentin, Austria - Sister city agreement concluded in October 25, 1994
  • Saint-Valentin, Canada - Sister city agreement concluded in October 24, 1997

Notable places and events

• Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
• Yunogo Onsen
• Okayama International Circuit
• Village of Miyamoto Musashi
• Ōhara-shuku (Shukuba)
• Valentine Park Sakutō
• Chōfukuji Temple
• Japan museum of contemporary toy & Hall of music box

• 
  Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
• 
  Village of Miyamoto Musashi
• 
  Ōhara-shuku
• 
  Valentine Park Sakutō
• 
  Chōfukuji Temple

Notable people from Mimasaka

• Miyamoto Musashi
• Tomoji Abe
• Doshin So
• Atsuko Asano

External links

• Mimasaka City official website (Japanese)
• 美作国 (French)