- Ainan, Ehime
Infobox City Japan
Name = Ainan
JapaneseName = 愛南町
Map
Region =Shikoku
Prefecture = Ehime
District = Minamiuwa
Area_km2 = 239.58
Population = 27,466
PopDate = August, 2006
Density_km2 = 49.05
Coords = coord|32|58|N|132|35|E|region:JP_type:city
Flower = nihongo|Akebonoazalea |曙躑躅|Akebono tsusuji
Tree = nihongo|"Quercus phillyraeoides"|姥目樫|Ubamegashi
Bird = nihongo|Japanese White-eye |目白|Mejiro
Symbol
SymbolDescription =
Mayor =
CityHallPostalCode = 798-4196
CityHallAddress = 2420 Kō, Jōhen, Ainan-chō, Minamiuwa-gun, Ehime-ken
CityHallPhone = (0895) 72-1211
CityHallLink = [http://www.town.ainan.ehime.jp/ Town of Ainan] |nihongo|Ainan|愛南町|Ainan-chō is a large town made up of smaller village suburbs in southern Ehime Prefecture, on the island ofShikoku inJapan .On
October 1 ,2004 all the former towns of Minamiuwa (Jōhen, Mishō, Nishiumi, Uchiumi, and Ipponmatsu) merged together to form a larger town, Ainan.Ainan is known for its fishing and agriculture industries which produce a variety of products, including
bonito ,red snapper ,squid , andmikan oranges. In addition,Kanjizaiji is located in Ainan. Kanjizaiji is a Shingon Buddhist temple and one of the 88 temples on theShikoku Pilgrimage .Geography and Climate
. As a result, winters in Ainan are relatively mild. It's rare to see snow in most parts of the town, though flurries may be seen several times a year. The rainy season runs from June to July, with some yearly variation. The rest of summer is hot and humid, with infrequent rain showers.
The Sozu river runs though Ainan and is often a site for fishing, bike rides, and picnics for the local residents.
Due to its rural location, Ainan is home to several nature parks and offers scuba diving and glass-bottom boat rides to nearby Kashima island. However, there are no train lines that run to the city, making it a difficult place for tourists to visit.
Festivals
, and Aki Matsuri.
During the Obon festival, Japan's equivalent of
All Souls' Day , family members from all over Japan return to their family homes in Ainan to remember the souls of the dead. The festival is celebrated all over town, from the larger parts of Misho to the smallest villages in Nishiumi. In the evening, torches and lanterns can be seen along the seashore where the towns are gathering.Aki Matsuri (fall festival) is a major event throughout the town. Townspeople gather and celebrate by drinking and watching
mikoshi , heavy portable shrines which are carried by townsmen. Ainan's fall festivals often feature an ushi-oni, or cow demon, a large float which is pitted against other mikoshi in shrine fights.Travel
Travel to Ainan is hindered by the lack of train lines, though Johen bus center offers express buses to Uwajima and Matsuyama. The nearest trains lines are to the north, in Uwajima, or to the south, in Sukumo. For travel to further destinations, Johen bus center offers a limited selection of overnight buses to Osaka and Tokyo.
In addition, Ainan can be reached by Japanese route 56, which runs around the island of
Shikoku and through the cities of Matsuyama and Kochi.External links
* [http://www.town.ainan.ehime.jp/ Ainan official website] in Japanese
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