Nishiizu, Shizuoka

Nishiizu 西伊豆町
—  Town  —
Location of Nishiizu in Shizuoka
Nishiizu
Coordinates: 34°46′N 138°47′E / 34.767°N 138.783°E / 34.767; 138.783Coordinates: 34°46′N 138°47′E / 34.767°N 138.783°E / 34.767; 138.783
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Shizuoka
Area
– Total	105.52 km2 (40.7 sq mi)
Population (February 2009)
– Total	9,720
– Density	92.1/km2 (238.5/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Phone number	0558-55-0211
Website	Town of Higashiizu

Nishiizu (西伊豆町, Nishiizu-chō^?) is a town located in Kamo District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 9,720 and a density of 92.1 persons per km². The total area is 105.52 km².

Geography

Sandwiched between the Amagi Mountains to the west and Suruga Bay on the Pacific Ocean to the west, Nishiizu has a hill hinterland and a rocky, indented coast. The area has numerous hot springs. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. Parts of the town are within the borders of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park,

Neighboring municipalities

• Izu
• Kawazu
• Matsuzaki

History

During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Nishiizu consisted of seven villages within ancient Naka District. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into three villages (Nishina, Tago, and Ugusu), which became part of Kamo District from 1896. A fourth village, Arari, was created out of Ugusu the same year.

The town of Nishiizu was founded on March 31, 1956 through the merger of Tago and Nishina and in September of the same year, Ugusu and Arari villages were rejoined to form Kamo. Kamo was merged into Nishiizu on April 1, 2005.

Economy

The economy of Nishiizu is dominated by tourism centered on the hot spring resort industry, and by commercial fishing.

Transportation

Nishiizu is served by Japan National Route 136 highway, but has no train service.

Gallery

• 

  The "Golden Promontory" in Nishiizu, near Ugusu

• 

  Ugusu Bay, with stone quarry area

External links

• Nishiizu official website (Japanese)