Nishinomiya
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Nishinomiya
西宮市 | |
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 Shukugawa Park in spring | |
 Flag  Chapter | |
 Location of Nishinomiya in Hyōgo | |
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  Nishinomiya Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 34°44′15.35″N 135°20′29.63″E / 34.7375972°N 135.3415639°ECoordinates: 34°44′15.35″N 135°20′29.63″E / 34.7375972°N 135.3415639°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kansai |
| Prefecture | Hyōgo |
| First official recorded | 199 AD |
| City Settled | April 1, 1925 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ishii Toshiro |
| Area | |
| • Total | 99.96 km2 (38.59 sq mi) |
| Population (May 1, 2016) | |
| • Total | 488,335 |
| • Density | 4,885/km2 (12,650/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 10-3 Rokutanji-chō, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyōgo-ken 662-8567 |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Sakura |
| Tree | Camphor Laurel |
Nishinomiya (西宮市, Nishinomiya-shi) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, between the cities of Amagasaki and Ashiya. On April 1, 2005, the city of Nishinomiya celebrated its 80th anniversary.
Nishinomiya is best known as the home of Kōshien Stadium, where the Hanshin Tigers baseball team plays home games and where Japan's annual high school baseball championship is held. It is also the location of Kwansei Gakuin University, a private university founded by American missionaries in the nineteenth century. Nishinomiya is an important commercial and shipping city in the Kansai region with the third largest population in Hyōgo Prefecture.
As of October 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 483,598 and a population density of 4,800 persons per km2. The total area is 99.96 km2.
Topography[]
Nishinomiya City is located in the south-east of Hyōgo Prefecture between the cities of Kobe and Osaka. It is bordered by Osaka Bay to the south, the cities of Amagasaki, Itami and Takarazuka along the Mukogawa and Nigawa rivers to the east and by a part of the Rokko Mountains and Kobe City to the north. The city can be divided into two areas: a mountainous area in the north and a coastal plain in the south. Situated in the middle is Mount Kabuto (309 meters), a landmark of the city.
Neighboring municipalities[]
- Hyōgo Prefecture
History[]
- April 1, 1924: Opening of Kōshien Stadium
- April 1925: Nishinomiya Town became a municipal organization.
- April 1933: Nishinomiya merged with Imazu Town, Shiba Village and Taisha Village.
- February 1941: Nishinomiya merged with Koto Village.
- May 1942: Nishinomiya merged with Kawaragi Village.
- April 1951: Nishinomiya merged with Naruo Village, Yamaguchi Village and Shiose Village.
- January 17, 1995: Great Hanshin earthquake disaster. Nishinomiya City received widespread damage.
Economy[]
Furuno, a global electronics company, whose main products include marine electronics and medical equipment, has its headquarters in the city.[1]
Agriculture[]
Since most of the farmland is in the urban district, Nishinomiya agriculture is in a difficult situation; it worsens every year. Efforts are being made to improve farming[citation needed] to make it profitable by growing such marketable products as soft vegetables for the big markets of Osaka and Kobe. Other efforts include effective land use by growing crops in greenhouses using hydroponic techniques and development of techniques for safe products.
Residential districts[]
Nishinomiya is situated between the major cities of Kobe and Osaka. Luxury neighborhoods are common in this city, especially in areas near Ashiya. Some of the shopping malls in Nishinomiya are the Lalaport Koshien and the Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens.
Universities and colleges[]
- Konan University Nishinomiya Campus "Konan Cube"
- Kwansei Gakuin University
- Otemae University
- Kobe College (Women's university)
- Seiwa College and Junior College
- Hyogo College Of Medicine
- Mukogawa Women's University and Junior College
- Shukugawa Gakuin Junior College
- Koshien Junior College
High schools[]
- Hōtoku Gakuen High School, with a prominent baseball team
Culture[]
- Hirota Shrine - Hirota Shrine was called Nishi no miya ("the West Shrine") by aristocrats in Kyoto. That is the origin of the city name.[2]
- Hyogo Performing Arts Center
- Kannō-ji
- Koshikiiwa Shrine
- Nishinomiya Shrine
- Mondo-yakujin (Tōkō-ji)
- Much of Grave of the Fireflies is set in Nishinomiya.[3][4]
- Nishinomiya is the setting for the popular light novel, manga, and anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.[5]
Points of interest[]
Sister and friendship cities[]
- Sister cities
Spokane since September 1961 (U.S., Washington)
- Friendship cities
Notable people[]
- Mana Ashida – teen actress
- Aimyon – singer-songwriter
- Nagaru Tanigawa – author of the light novel series Haruhi Suzumiya
- Yuichiro Nagashima – kickboxer
- Ryūsui Seiryōin – novelist
- Hiro Matsushita – Businessman, former driver in Champ Car series. Chairman of Swift Engineering &
- Hōsei Yamasaki – comedian
- Eizo Sakamoto – heavy metal musician
- Kaoru – lead guitarist of Dir En Grey
- Yuya Matsushita – singer and actor
- Mina – American-born Japanese singer based in South Korea, member of Twice
- Akira Tozawa – professional wrestler
- Rika Kihira – figure skater
- Daisuke Inoue - inventor of the karaoke machine
Gallery[]
Nishinomiya cityscape
References[]
- ^ "Company Outline." Furuno. Retrieved on 2015-03-26.
- ^ Hirota Shino Shirine. "HIROTA SHINTO SHRINE". Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Ryuusenkaku. "Cherry Blossoms Spots in Nishinomiya / Ashiya". Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Online Ghibli. "Grave of the Fireflies: Review/Synopsis". Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ asahi.com (2010-07-08). "Anime's high school fends off fan invasions". Archived from the original on 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nishinomiya. |
Nishinomiya travel guide from Wikivoyage
Geographic data related to Nishinomiya at OpenStreetMap- Nishinomiya City official website (in Japanese)
- Hyogo Performing Arts Center
Geographic data related to 
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- Nishinomiya
- Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture
- Port settlements in Japan
- Populated coastal places in Japan