Iida, Nagano

Iida 飯田市
City
Flag
Location of Iida in Nagano Prefecture
Iida Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°31′N 137°49′E / 35.517°N 137.817°E / 35.517; 137.817Coordinates: 35°31′N 137°49′E / 35.517°N 137.817°E / 35.517; 137.817
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)
Prefecture	Nagano Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Mitsuro Makino (since October 2004)
Area
• Total	658.76 km2 (254.35 sq mi)
Population (April 30, 2011)
• Total	104,877
• Density	159.20/km2 (412.3/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
- Tree	Apple
- Flower	Rhododendron dilataturn
Address	2534 Okubo-chō, Iida-shi, Nagano-ken 395-8501
Phone number	0265-22-4511
Website	City of Iida

Iida (飯田市, Iida-shi) is a city located in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 104,877 and a population density of 159.20 persons per km². The total area is 658.76 km².

History

An old castle town of strategic importance in the Edo Period, Iida escaped the bombings that damaged many other Japanese cities during World War II; however, most of central Iida was destroyed by a massive fire that swept through the central section of the city two years after the end of the war, in 1947. Established as a city on April 1, 1937, Iida is now known for its streets lined with apple trees, which were part of a revitalization project initiated by its citizens after the fire.

Geography

Surrounding municipalities

• Nagano Prefecture
  • Kamiina District: Iijima
  • Shimoina District: Matsukawa, Takamori, Achi, Shimojo, Yasuoka, Tenryū, Takagi, Toyooka, Ōshika
  • Kiso District: Nagiso, Ōkuwa
• Shizuoka Prefecture
  • Shizuoka: Aoi-ku
  • Hamamatsu
  • Haibara District: Kawanehon

Climate

Iida has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from April to September.

Transportation

Located on the Iida Line, an old local train line that runs through the valley of the Tenryū River in the southern Japan Alps, Iida lies 90 minutes northeast of the major city of Nagoya by automobile via the Chūō Expressway. The same expressway also provides access to Tokyo, about four hours to the east.

The nearest large metropolis to Iida is Nagoya, which is easily accessible by bus (about 2 hours). The larger cities of Matsumoto and Nagano in central and northern Nagano Prefecture are also accessible by bus and train. There is also a bus service to Shinjuku, Tokyo (about 4 hours).

Culture

Since 1979 the city of Iida has hosted the Iida Puppetry Festival, a major event that is the largest of its kind in Japan, with over 200 traditional and contemporary troupes from all over Japan and abroad participating in the annual four-day festival in early August. In 2008 the city hosted a nine-day version of the festival with expanded international participation to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the puppetry festival. Iida's connection to the traditional Japanese puppet theater commonly known as ningyō jōruri or Bunraku goes back more than 300 years. Four traditional puppet troupes are located in or near Iida: the Imada Puppet Troupe, Kuroda Puppet Troupe, the Furuta Puppets, and the Waseda Puppets.

Beginning in July, there are many festivals at local shrines. One aspect of these festivals that surprises visitors is the quantity of fireworks. One of the biggest and most spectacuar displays of fireworks is the Tōrō-nagashi festival, in Tokimata, held around the 16th of August. The fireworks are shot off over as well as on the surface of the Tenryu River. Another important festival in Iida is Oneri Matsuri, which is held every seventh year (the last being 2004, the next in March, 2010), a massive four-day event, most famous for the shi-shi lion dance.

Iida has adopted the apple as its symbol. One of the city's largest festivals is the Ringon Matsuri (Apple Festival), held every year in early August, and Iida's Ringo Namiki-dori (a street lined with apple trees) is tended by students of the city's Higashi Middle School. The area around Iida is well known for extensive peach, apple, and persimmon orchards, as well as the production of many other agricultural products, including Asian pears (nashi) and strawberries. A local specialty is hoshi-gaki, or dried persimmons.

Iida is also known for the production of mizuhiki.

Municipal Timeline

• The city (April 1, 1937-September 30, 1956) historically belonged within Shimoina District.
• September 30, 1956 - The current and the 2nd city of Iida was founded by merging with surrounding municipalities including the 1st city of Iida itself.
• July 1, 1993 - The town of Kamisato from Shimoina District) merged into the expanded city of Iida.
• October 1, 2005 - The 2nd city (9/30/1956-9/30/2005) absorbed Kami and Minamishinano and the current Iida (10/1/2005-) was born without forming the new municipal organization.
• April 6, 2006 - The city teamed up with the Bungotakada (Ōita Prefecture) based tourism company.

Sister cities

Within Japan

• Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture

Overseas

• Charleville-Mézières, France

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iida, Nagano.

• Iida City official website (Japanese)

Nagano Prefecture Cities Azumino Chikuma Chino Iida Iiyama Ina Komagane Komoro Matsumoto Nagano Nakano Okaya Ōmachi Saku Shiojiri Suwa Suzaka Tōmi Ueda Districts Chiisagata Hanishina Higashichikuma Kamiina Kamiminochi Kamitakai Kiso Kitaazumi Kitasaku Minamisaku Shimoina Shimominochi Shimotakai Suwa See also: Towns and villages by district