| Aira 姶良市 |
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| — City — | |
| Location of Aira in Kagoshima | |
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Aira
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kyūshū |
| Prefecture | Kagoshima |
| Area | |
| • Total | 231.32 km2 (89.3 sq mi) |
| Population (May 2010) | |
| • Total | 74,611 |
| • Density | 323/km2 (836.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) |
| Website | Aira City |
Aira (姶良市 Aira-shi) is a city in Kagoshima, Japan. It is located west of Kirishima and north of Kagoshima. The city was founded on March 23, 2010 by merger of municipalties from Kajiki, Aira, Kamō. As of May 2010, the city has an estimated population of 74,611 and the density of 323 persons per km². The total area is 231.32 km².
The city faces to Kagoshima Bay in southeast. Along the coast, Aira plain lies and central urban district is located there. Other than Aira plain, much of Aira is mountainous. Farmlands and agrucultural lands surround the valley in which Aira is located.
It is accessed with the Kyūshū Expressway at interchange 25, the Kajiki Interchange and interchange 26, the Aira Interchange. The expressway passed through Aira, connecting Kagoshima to the west and Kirishima to the North. The interchange was first opened on December 13, 1973. There are five railway stations in the city. From east to west, Kajiki, Kinkō, Chōsa, Aira and Shigetomi stations serve the city. All of these stations belong to Nippō Main Line, and are operated by Kyushu Railway Company.
Aira's claim to fame is a stone gate in the village of Yamada, which commemorate the victory of Russo-Japanese War.
The merger plan of former three towns was defeated twice in 2005 and 2008, due to debt in public finance and the number of seats in the city council. Finally town representatives had compromised with these problems and the merger plan was accepted in 2009. Aira District will be left with one municipality.[1]
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