Nishiaizu, Fukushima

Nishiaizu, Fukushima
Nishiaizu
西会津町
—  Town  —
Location of Nishiaizu in Fukushima
Nishiaizu is located in Japan
Nishiaizu
 
Coordinates: 37°35′20″N 139°38′51″E / 37.58889°N 139.6475°E / 37.58889; 139.6475Coordinates: 37°35′20″N 139°38′51″E / 37.58889°N 139.6475°E / 37.58889; 139.6475
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Fukushima
District Yama
Area
 – Total 298.13 km2 (115.1 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 – Total 7,655
 – Density 25.7/km2 (66.5/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Website Town of Nishiaizu

Nishiaizu (西会津町 Nishiaizu-machi?) is a town located in Yama District, Fukushima, Japan. It is known as the "front door" to the Iide Mountains.

The town was founded in 1954 through a merger of smaller villages. In 2006, Nishiaizu residents decided to decline a merger with the city of Kitakata.

As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 7,655. Approximately 66% of the population is over the age of 65.[1] The total area is 298.13 km². 86 percent of the total area is composed of mountains and forests.[2]

Contents

Symbols

The town flower is the otomeyuri, a pink mountain lily. The town tree is the paulownia.[3]

School System

Nishiaizu-machi maintains one middle school and five elementary schools.

  • Nishiaizu Middle School
  • Nozawa Elementary School
  • Onomoto Elementary School
  • Muraoka Elementary School
  • Shingo Elementary School
  • Okugawa Elementary School

The Fukushima Prefectural government maintains Nishiaizu High School.[4]


Transportation

Nishiaizu can be accessed by car via the Ban-etsu Expressway or National Route 49. There is an expressway exit and rest area. Also, there are four train stops along the West Ban'etsu Line of East Japan Railway Company within the town limits. There are buses for travel within the town and highway buses for travel to and from the surrounding areas, such as cities of Aizuwakamatsu and Niigata.

Culture

There is one designated Important Cultural Property in Nishiaizu.

  • Enmanji Kannon-dō, the temple building[5]

In addition, there are several Fukushima Prefectural Important Cultural Properties.

  • At Torioi-Kannon Nyohōji the gate and four wooden statues are Fukushima Prefectural Important Cultural Properties. The temple houses one of the Aizu region's three important statues of Kannon.[6]

References

  1. ^ Fukushima Prefectural Demographics, accessed February 13, 2009 [Japanese].
  2. ^ Nishiaizu official website, accessed February 5, 2009 [Japanese].
  3. ^ [1], Nishiaizu official website.
  4. ^ [2], Nishiaizu official website.
  5. ^ Japan National Cultural Properties database, accessed February 5, 2009. [Japanese]
  6. ^ [3] Torioi-Kannon Nyohōji official website, accessed February 13, 2009. [Japanese]

External links

Media related to Nishiaizu, Fukushima at Wikimedia Commons

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