Iwami, Tottori

Iwami (岩美町, Iwami-chō) is a town located in Iwami District, Tottori Prefecture, Japan.

Iwami

岩美町
Town
Iwami Town Office
Flag
Location of Iwami in Tottori Prefecture
Iwami
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°35′N 134°20′E
CountryJapan
RegionChūgoku
San'in
PrefectureTottori Prefecture
DistrictIwami
Area
 • Total122.32 km2 (47.23 sq mi)
Population
 (June 1, 2016)
 • Total11,382
 • Density93.1/km2 (241/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address675-1 Uradome, Iwami-chō, Tottori-ken
681-8501
Websitewww.iwami.gr.jp/english/
Symbols
FlowerIris
TreePine

Iwami lies entirely within the San'in Kaigan Geopark.[1]

Geography
The Iwami beach front following a close encounter with a typhoon.

Located in eastern Tottori, Iwami faces the Sea of Japan to the north. As of March 1, 2008, the town has an estimated population of 12,827 and a density of 105 persons per km². The total area is 122.38 km². The surrounding landscape is dominated by low-lying hills and slopes; much of the built town and residential areas are located in flatter land between the heights. The north of the town borders onto Uradome Beach, though much of the rest of the coast consists of rough rocky outcrops and small inlets and bays. 15 km of this, collectively known as the Uradome Coast, is part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.[2] The Gamō River runs through the centre of the town. Iwami is around 30 minutes by train from the prefectural capital of Tottori City, and is the third stop by train heading east on the Tottori-Hamasaka line. Hyōgo Prefecture and Iwami's sister town of Shin'onsen are relatively nearby as well.

Weather in Iwami can be quite changeable, with summer temperatures peaking at over 30 degrees Celsius in August and dropping as low as -2 degrees in January and February. Whilst relatively tectonically stable for Japan, the area is prone to the occasional typhoon during the season.

Neighbouring municipalities

Education
Squid drying in Iwami harbor

There are three elementary schools - Iwami Minami, Nishi, and Kita - as well as a junior high school and a high school. In July 2005 the Iwami High School baseball team progressed to the semi-finals in the prefecture-wide high schools' baseball tournament. This was the furthest the team had ever progressed and was an event of prefecture-wide significance. They lost in the semi-finals to Tottori Nishi High School.

Economy

The majority of the town's working population works on squid fishing boats or farm, the most common crop being rice. Iwami also has a locally renowned onsen (hot spring), the Iwai onsen.

Iwami also features several restaurants which provide seafood-based meals and okonomiyaki, as well as a Family Mart and a Suntopia.

Culture

Iwami served as the model for the fictional town of Iwatobi, the setting for the anime series Free!. Iwami has used the series to promote tourism to the town.[3][4]

Transportation

Railway

References
  1. "What is San'in Kaigan Geopark" on the official website of San'in Kaigan Geopark (in Japanese)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2008-03-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Dong, Bamboo (October 15, 2013). "Town of Iwami Offers Exclusive Free! Merchandise and Iwatobi-chan Scarecrow". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  4. Stimson, Eric (November 13, 2015). "Seaside Town of Iwami Celebrates Upcoming Free! Prequel". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
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