Iwata, Shizuoka

Iwata
磐田市

City

Iwata City Hall

Flag

Seal

Location of Iwata in Shizuoka Prefecture

Iwata

Coordinates: 34°43′N 137°51′E / 34.717°N 137.850°ECoordinates: 34°43′N 137°51′E / 34.717°N 137.850°E

Chūbu (Tōkai)

Government

• - Mayor

Nozomu Suzuki

Area

• Total

164.08 km² (63.35 sq mi)

Population (September 2014)

• Total

164,704

• Density

1,000/km² (3,000/sq mi)

Time zone

Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

- Tree

Camphor

- Flower

Azalea

- Bird

Blue Rock-thrush

Phone number

0538-37-4827

Address

3-1, Kōnodai, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka-ken 438-8650

Website

www.city.iwata.shizuoka.jp

Iwata (磐田市, Iwata-shi) is a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, widely known as the headquarters of the Yamaha Motor Corporation. Iwata is also home to Júbilo Iwata, a J. League soccer team, as well as Yamaha Jubilo, a rugby team.

As of September 2014, the city had an estimated population of 164,704 and a population density was 1,000 persons per km². The total area was 164.08 km².

Geography

Iwata is located in southwestern Shizuoka Prefecture, bordered by the Tenryū River to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the south.

Surrounding municipalities

Hamamatsu
Fukuroi
Mori

History

Iwata is an ancient settlement, and contains the ruins of the Nara period provincial capital and Kokubun-ji of Tōtōmi province. During the Edo period, it developed as a post station on the Tokaidō and contained Mitsuke-juku, one of the 53 stations on the road.

During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period on October 1, 1889, Mitsuke Village of Iwata District becomes Mitsuke Town. On the same day, Nakaizumi Village and Ninomiya Village merged to from Nakaizumi Town. These two towns merged on November 1, 1940 with Saikai Village and Tenryū Village to form the new town of Iwata. Iwata Town became Iwata City on April 1, 1948.

On April 1, 2005, the towns of Fukude, Ryūyō and Toyoda, and the village of Toyooka (all from Iwata District) were merged into Iwata City.

Economy

The economy of Iwata is primarily agricultural and is known for green tea and melons grown in greenhouses, which are called "Iwata melon". The Yamaha Corporation was founded in Iwata and maintains a strong presence in the city. Yamaha Motor's headquarters is in Iwata. Suzuki Motor Corporation has a vehicle assembly plant in Iwata.