Nishiwaki, Hyōgo

Nishiwaki 西脇市
City
Flag
Location of Nishiwaki in Hyōgo Prefecture
Nishiwaki Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°59′25″N 134°58′20″E / 34.99028°N 134.97222°ECoordinates: 34°59′25″N 134°58′20″E / 34.99028°N 134.97222°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Juichi Kishi (since November 2005)
Area
• Total	132.47 km^2 (51.15 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2011)
• Total	43,970
• Density	330/km^2 (860/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Cherry blossom
• Flower	Phlox subulata
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	Gonose 605, Nishiwaki City, Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県西脇市郷瀬町605) 677-8511
Website	www.city.nishiwaki.lg.jp

Nishiwaki (西脇市 Nishiwaki-shi) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1952.

Tera Dome in Nishiwaki Navel (Heso) Park

The city calls itself "The Navel of Japan (Nihon no Heso)." Located at the crossing of the 135° East meridian and the 35° North parallel, the city's Nihon no Heso Park marks the center of the nation. JR West operates Nihon Heso Station on the Kakogawa Line (in addition to other stations in Nishiwaki).

As of May 1, 2011 the city has an estimated population of 43,970, with 16,490 households and a population density of 331.92 persons per km². The total area is 132.47 km².

Nishiwaki the sister city of Renton, Washington, U.S.A.

On October 1, 2005, the town of Kurodashō (from Taka District) was merged into Nishiwaki.

Sister city

Street sign in Renton, WA commemorating its sister city

Nishiwaki, Japan and Renton, WA, became sister cities in 1969.^[1] Since then there have been mutual exchanges between the two cities, most notably the annual middle school exchange program which began in 1989 (The US delegation was in Japan from October 3 - 13th, 1989). The initial delegation from the US included (future) actress Casey Strand.

References

1. http://rentonwa.gov/government/default.aspx?id=1502

External links

• Media related to Nishiwaki, Hyōgo at Wikimedia Commons
• Nishiwaki City official website (Japanese)