Ninohe, Iwate

Ninohe 二戸市
City
Ninohe City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ninohe in Iwate Prefecture
Ninohe
Coordinates: 40°16′N 141°18′E / 40.267°N 141.300°ECoordinates: 40°16′N 141°18′E / 40.267°N 141.300°E
Country	Japan
Region	Tōhoku
Prefecture	Iwate
Area
• Total	420.31 km^2 (162.28 sq mi)
Population (February 2014)
• Total	28,452
• Density	67.7/km^2 (175/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Toxicodendron vernicifluum
• Flower	Prunus serrulata
• Bird	Green pheasant
Phone number	0195-23-3111
Address	47, Fukuoka Aza Kawamata, Ninohe-shi, Iwate-ken 028-6192
Website	Official website

Skyline of Ninohe

Ninohe (二戸市 Ninohe-shi) is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2014, the city had an estimated population of 28,452 and a population density of 67.7 persons per km². The total area was 420.31  km².

Geography

Ninohe is located in far north-center Iwate Prefecture, bordered by Aomori Prefecture to the north.

Climate

The average temperature is 9.8°C in 'old' Ninohe and 9.9°C in the area that was Jōbōji. The annual rainfall in Ninohe and Jōbōji is 1,011 mm and 785 mm, respectively.

Neighboring municipalities

• Aomori Prefecture
  • Nanbu, Aomori
  • Sannohe, Aomori
  • Takko, Aomori
• Iwate Prefecture
  • Hachimantai, Iwate
  • Kunohe, Iwate
  • Karumai, Iwate
  • Ichinohe, Iwate

History

The area of present-day Ninohe was part of ancient Mutsu Province, and has been settled since at least the Jomon period. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by various samurai clans before coming under the control of the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Hachinohe Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The town of Fukuoka and the villages of Jōbōji, Kindaichi, Gohenchi, Tomai, Ishikiridokoro, and Nisattai were established within Ninohe District on April 1, 1889. Jōbōji was elevated to town status on December 25, 1940. Gohenchi, Tomai, Ishikiridokoro, and Nisattai merged with Fukuoka on March 10, 1955. The modern city was founded on April 1, 1972 with the merger of the town of Fukuoka with the village of Kindaichi. On January 1, 2006, the city of Ninohe annexed the town of Jōbōji.

Economy

The local economy is based on agriculture.

Transportation

Railway

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East) – Tōhoku Shinkansen
  • Ninohe
• Iwate Ginga Railway Line
  • Ninohe - Tomai - Kintaichi-Onsen

Highway

• Hachinohe Expressway – Jōbōji IC
• Japan National Route 4
• Japan National Route 395

Local attractions

• Site of Kunohe Castle, a National Historic Site ^[1]
• Kindaichi Onsen is a popular hot spring resort in the town.
• Tendai-ji temple, founded in the Nara period

Noted people from Ninohe

• Tanakadate Aikitsu – scientist
• Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki – judoka
• Tochinohana Hitoshi – sumo wrestler

References

1. Agency for Cultural Affairs

External links

Media related to Ninohe, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)