Inuyama

Inuyama
犬山市
City

Inuyama Castle, landmark place in Inuyama

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Location of Inuyama in Aichi Prefecture
Inuyama

 

Coordinates: 35°22′43″N 136°56′40.2″E / 35.37861°N 136.944500°E / 35.37861; 136.944500Coordinates: 35°22′43″N 136°56′40.2″E / 35.37861°N 136.944500°E / 35.37861; 136.944500
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Aichi Prefecture
Government
Area
 • Total 74.90 km2 (28.92 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2012)
 • Total 74,200
 • Density 991/km2 (2,570/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Chinese hawthorn
- Flower Sakura
Phone number 0568-61-1800
Address 36 Higashihata, Inuyama, Inuyama-shi, Aichi-ken 484-0081
Website Official website
Inuyama Festival

Inuyama (犬山市, Inuyama-shi) is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, north of the Nagoya Metropolis.

As of May 2015, the city had an estimated population of 74,200 and a population density of 911 persons per km². The total area was 74.90 square kilometres (28.92 sq mi).

Geography

Inuyama lies along the edge of Aichi Prefecture, separated from neighboring Gifu Prefecture by the Kiso River.

Surrounding municipalities

Aichi Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture

History

During the Edo period, Inuyama was a sub-domain of Owari Domain, entrusted to senior retainers of the Nagoya-branch of the Tokugawa clan.

Immediately following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, it was established as an independent feudal han, until the 1871 abolition of the han system. With the cadastral reforms of October 1, 1889, the town of Inuyama was created. Inuyama was elevated to city status in 1954.

Transportation

Highway

Bridges

Education

Universities and colleges

Local attractions

Inuyama Castle

The most famous attraction is Inuyama Castle on a 40-meter rise overlooking the Kiso River. This Japanese castle was designated as a Japanese national treasure in 1935 and again in 1952. The castle in its current form was built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, uncle of the great warlord Oda Nobunaga. The castle is the only privately owned castle in Japan, and has remained unchanged since it was built, making it the oldest original wooden castle in Japan.

Jo-an tea house, a national treasure

Other sights

Meiji Mura

Another famous attraction is the Urakuen tea garden used for tea ceremonies. This garden contains the Jo-an tea house, built in 1618 by Oda Uraku (1547–1621), younger brother of Oda Nobunaga. Tea master Oda Uraku was a student of the famous tea master Sen no Rikyū. While the Joan tea house was originally built in Kyoto, it was moved to its current location in 1972. The building is considered one of the finest examples of tea house architecture.

The Kiso River also has some very picturesque rapids upstream of Inuyama Castle. These rapids and the rock formations are called the Nihon Rhine after the Rhine river in Germany, and boat tours are available. Cormorant fishing on the Kiso River is also done, although nowadays almost exclusively for tourists.

Near Inuyama is the Meiji Mura open-air architectural museum for preserving and exhibiting structures of the Meiji (1867–1912) and Taishō (1913–1926) eras. As of 2005, 67 historical buildings are preserved on an area of 1,000,000 m2. The most famous one is the main entrance and lobby of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1923.

Another former open-air museum near Inuyama is also an amusement park called Little World Museum of Man. This anthropological museum contained a large number of buildings built according to the native style of over 22 countries.

Another amusement park is the Japan Monkey Park, with different species of monkeys and other entertainment.

Inuyama is also the site of the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University,[1] one of the world's foremost centers for research in non-human primate biology and behavior. The chimpanzee Ai and her son Ayumu live there.

Inuyama ware

Inuyama ware is a type of Japanese pottery made in the town in a number of kilns.

Sister cities

Noted people from Inuyama

References

  1. ↑ Monkeys use trees as catapults in escape from Kyoto Uni's primate research centre, 7 July 2010 , The Courier-Mail, Queensland Newspapers.
  2. ↑ "US-Japan Sister Cities by State". Asia Matters for America. Honolulu, HI: East-West Center. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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