Iwata, Shizuoka

Iwata
磐田市
City

Iwata City Hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture
Iwata

 

Coordinates: 34°43′4.4″N 137°51′5.5″E / 34.717889°N 137.851528°E / 34.717889; 137.851528Coordinates: 34°43′4.4″N 137°51′5.5″E / 34.717889°N 137.851528°E / 34.717889; 137.851528
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Shizuoka Prefecture
Government
 • - Mayor Osamu Watanabe
Area
 • Total 163.45 km2 (63.11 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
 • Total 164,680
 • Density 1,010/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Camphor
- Flower Azalea
- Bird Blue Rock-thrush
Phone number 0538-37-4827
Address 3-1, Kōnodai, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka-ken 438-8650
Website www.city.iwata.shizuoka.jp

Iwata (磐田市 Iwata-shi) is a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, widely known as the headquarters of the Yamaha Motor Corporation. Iwata is also home to Júbilo Iwata, a J. League soccer team, as well as Yamaha Jubilo, a rugby team.

As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 164,680 and a population density was 1,010 persons per km². The total area was 163.45 square kilometres (63.11 sq mi).

Geography

Iwata is located in southwestern Shizuoka Prefecture, bordered by the Tenryū River to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the south.

Surrounding municipalities

History

Iwata is an ancient settlement, and contains the ruins of the Nara period provincial capital and Kokubun-ji of Tōtōmi province. During the Edo period, it developed as a post station on the Tokaidō and contained Mitsuke-juku, one of the 53 stations on the road.

On the North exit of JR Iwata station, the Great Camphor tree of Zendoji temple is situated. It was once a part of Zendoji temple and it is believed to be 700 years old. It's height is 18.3 meters and it's diameter at chest height is 2.87 meters. The root structure bulges out of the ground creating a second level, and the circumference at the portion touching the surface is 32.9 meters.

The Great Camphor tree of Zendoji temple situated on North exit of Iwata station.


During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period on October 1, 1889, Mitsuke Village of Iwata District becomes Mitsuke Town. On the same day, Nakaizumi Village and Ninomiya Village merged to from Nakaizumi Town. These two towns merged on November 1, 1940 with Saikai Village and Tenryū Village to form the new town of Iwata. Iwata Town became Iwata City on April 1, 1948.

On April 1, 2005, the towns of Fukude, Ryūyō and Toyoda, and the village of Toyooka (all from Iwata District) were merged into Iwata City.

Economy

The economy of Iwata is primarily agricultural and is known for green tea and melons grown in greenhouses, which are called "Iwata melon". The Yamaha Corporation was founded in Iwata and maintains a strong presence in the city. Yamaha Motor's headquarters is in Iwata. Suzuki Motor Corporation has a vehicle assembly plant in Iwata.

Education

Iwata has 23 elementary schools, 11 middle schools and five high schools, as well as two special education schools. There are also two international schools, the CEP Brasil – Centro Educacional e Profissionalizante - Brazilian school[1] and the Escola Objetivo de Iwata Tia Rosa, a Brazilian primary school[1]

Iwata formerly hosted another Brazilian school, a primary school called Escola Nipo-Brasileira de Iwata.[2]

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Sister City relations

Notable people from Iwata

References

  1. 1 2 "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Escolas Brasileiras Homologadas no Japão" (Archive). Embassy of Brazil in Tokyo. February 7, 2008. Retrieved on October 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "US-Japan Sister Cities by State". Asia Matters for America. Honolulu, HI: East-West Center. Retrieved 20 November 2015.

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