Maniwa, Okayama

Maniwa 真庭市
City
View of Hiruzen Plateau View of Hiruzen Plateau
Flag of Maniwa Flag Official seal of Maniwa Symbol
Location of Maniwa in Okayama Prefecture Location of Maniwa in Okayama Prefecture
Maniwa Location in Japan
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture	Okayama Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Koichiro Ide (since April 2005)
Area
• Total	828.43 km2 (319.86 sq mi)
Population (September 1, 2011)
• Total	50,389
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Chamaecyparis obtusa
• Flower	Cherry blossom
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address	2927-2 Kuse, Maniwa-shi, Okayama-ken 719-3292
Website	www.city.maniwa.lg.jp

File:Maniwa city office.jpg

Maniwa city hall

Maniwa (真庭市, Maniwa-shi) is a city located in north-central Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

The modern city of Maniwa was established on March 31, 2005, from the merger of the town of Hokubō (from Jōbō District); the towns of Katsuyama, Ochiai, Yubara and Kuse, and the villages of Mikamo, Kawakami, Yatsuka and Chūka (all from Maniwa District).

On September 1, 2011, Maniwa has an area of 828.43 km², the largest area of any municipality in the prefecture. Its population was 50,389, with 17,711 households. The city is known for Mount Hiruzen (1,202 m (3,944 ft)) and the Hiruzen Plateau. Mount Hiruzen is also the source of the Asahi River (142 kilometres (88 mi)), which flows through much of Okayama Prefecture.

Geography

Maniwa is located in approximately the center of the Chūgoku Mountains. The mountainous part of the city is dominated by Mount Hiruzen. The Asahi River, a Class 1 river under the Rivers Act of 1964, emerges from Mount Hiruzen in Maniwa, and its upper reaches are located within the town. The river has approximately 146 tributaries. Major tributaries of the Asahi in Maniwa include the Bitchū, Nakazui, Kōchi, Meki, and the Shinjō rivers.

• Lakes
  • Lake Yubara
• Dams
  • Yubara Dam

Adjoining municipalities

• Okayama Prefecture
  • Tsuyama
  • Takahashi
  • Niimi
  • Kibichūō
  • Misaki
  • Kagamino
  • Shinjō
• Tottori Prefecture
  • Kurayoshi
  • Misasa
  • Kōfu

Transport

Railways

• West Japan Railway Company
  • Kishin Line
    • Mimasaka-Oiwake Station - Mimasaka-Ochiai Station - Komi Station - Kuse Station - Chūgoku-Katsuyama Station - Tsukida Station - Tomihara Station

The main station is Chūgoku-Katsuyama.

Road

• Expressways:
  • Chūgoku Expressway
    • Mimasaka-Oiwake Parking Area - Ochiai Junction - Ochiai Interchange - Maniwa Parking Area - Hokubō Junction - Hokubō Interchange
  • Okayama Expressway
    • Hokubō Junction
  • Yonago Expressway
    • Ochiai Junction - Kuse Interchange - Ueno Parking Area - Yubara Interchange - Hiruzen-Kōgen Service Area - Hiruzen Interchange
• National highways:
  • Route 181
  • Route 313
  • Route 482
• Main prefectural roads:
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 30 (Ochiai-Takebe)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 32 (Niimi-Katsuyama)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 55 (Yubara-Mikamo)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 56 (Yubara-Okutsu)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 58 (Hokubō-Kawakami)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 65 (Kuse-Chūka)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 66 (Ochiai-Kamogawa)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 82 (Kagamino-Kuse)
  • Okayama Prefectural Route 84 (Katsuyama-Kurihara)
• Roadside Station
  • Hiruzen Plateau (蒜山高原, Hiruzen Kōgen)
  • Windy House (風の家, Kaze no Ie)
  • Village of Daigo (醍醐の里, Daigo no Sato)

Sister and Friendship cities

• Victor Harbor, Australia - Sister city agreement concluded in May 26, 2000
• Ruijin, China - Friendship city agreement concluded in January 16, 2001

Notable places and events

• The old castle town of Mimasaka-Katsuyama
• Kanba Waterfall (Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls)
• Former Senkyō Elementary School Building (Important Cultural Properties)
• Hiruzen Area
  • Mount Hiruzen
  • Hiruzen Plateau
  • Hiruzen Kōgen Center / Joyful Park (Amusement park)
  • Hiruzen Jersey Land
  • Ski resort

Festivals

• Katsuyama Festival (October 19–20)
• Kuse Festival (October 25–26)

Onsens

• Yubara Onsen

• Mimasaka Katsuyama -01.jpg

  The old castle town of Mimasaka-Katsuyama

• 

  Kanba Waterfall

• Yubara-onsen -01.jpg

  Yubara Onsen

External links

• Maniwa City official website (Japanese)