Nishinomiya, Hyōgo

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**Nishinomiya**
**西宮市**
Nishinomiya's location in Hyōgo, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo
Physical characteristics
Area	99.96 km² (38.59 sq mi)
Population (as of April 1, 2008)
Total	476,329
Location	34°44′N, 135°20′E
Symbols
Tree	Camphor Laurel
Flower	Sakura
Flag
Nishinomiya Government Office
Mayor	Satoru Yamada
Address	〒662-8567 10-3 Rokutanji-chō, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyōgo-ken
Phone number	0798-35-3151
Official website: City of Nishinomiya

Nishinomiya (西宮市, Nishinomiya-shi^?) is a city located in Hyōgo, Japan, between the cities of Ōsaka and Kōbe. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary. It is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball championship is held. It is also the location of Kwansei Gakuin University, a private university founded by American missionaries in the nineteenth century. Nishinomiya is an important commercial and shipping city in the Kansai region with the third largest population in Hyōgo Prefecture.

1 Topography
2 The history of the city
3 Industry
4 Agriculture
5 Universities and Colleges
6 Culture
7 Points of interest
8 Sister city and Friendship Cities
9 Special products
10 External links

[edit] Topography

Nishinomiya City is located in the south-east of Hyōgo Prefecture between the cities of Kobe and Osaka. It is bordered by Osaka Bay to the south, the cities of Amagasaki, Itami and Takarazuka along the Mukogawa and Nigawa rivers to the east and by a part of the Rokko Mountains and Kobe City to the north. The city can be divided into two areas: a mountainous area in the north and a coastal plain in the south. Situated in the middle is Kabutoyama (309 meters), a landmark of the city.

[edit] The history of the city

April 1, 1924: Opening of Kōshien Stadium
April 1925: Nishinomiya Town became a municipal organization.
April 1933: City merged with Imazu Town, Shiba Village and Taisha Village.
February 1941: City merged with Koto Village.
May 1942: City merged with Kawaragi Village.
April 1951: City merged with Naruo Village, Yamaguchi Village, and Shiose Village.
January 17, 1995: Great Hanshin earthquake disaster. Nishinomiya City received widespread damage.

[edit] Industry

Based on shipping volume, Nishinomiya ranks eighth in Hyōgo Prefecture as of 2001, with food processing industries making up 78.1% of the total. Of this percentage, sake production accounts for 24.3%.

To promote small and middle-size businesses and to improve the living environment in area where houses stand next to factories, the city conducted a collective relocation program of industrial facilities to Naruo-hama and Nishinomiya-hama reclaimed lands.

In general, local industries face difficulties due to the damage caused by the Great Hanshin earthquake and the present economic recession. The number of business establishments, employees, and the shipping volume of local industry is decreasing.

Kōshien Stadium

[edit] Agriculture

Since most of the farmland is located within the urban district, Nishinomiya agriculture is in a difficult situation and it worsens every year. Currently, efforts are being made to improve farming in order to make it profitable by growing such marketable products as soft vegetables for the big markets of Osaka and Kobe. Other efforts include effective land use by growing crops in greenhouses using hydroponic techniques and development of techniques for safe products.

[edit] Universities and Colleges

Private Universities and Colleges

Kwansei Gakuin University
Otemae University
Kobe College (Women's university)
Seiwa College and Junior College
Hyogo College Of Medicine
Mukogawa Women's University and Junior College
Shukugawa Gakuin Junior College
Koshien Junior College

[edit] Culture

Hirota Shrine
Hyogo Performing Arts Center
Kanno-ji
Koshikiiwa Shrine
Nishinomiya Shrine
Mondo-yakujin (Toko-ji)

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Sister city and Friendship Cities

Sister City
- Spokane since September,1961 (U.S., Washington)
- Burlington (U.S., Vermont)

Friendship Cities
- Londrina since May,1977 (Brazil, Paraná)
- Shaoxing since July,1985 (China, Zhejiang)
- District of Lot-et-Garonne and Agen since April,1992 (France, Aquitaine)
- Amami since October,1981(Japan, Kagoshima) (Former Naze)
- Yusuhara since March,1991 (Japan, Kochi)