Nishinoomote City

Nishinoomote (西之表市 Nishinoomote-shi) is a city (dark pink on the map) located on the island of Tanegashima, in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2013, the city has an estimated population of 16,418 and a population density of 79.8 persons per km². The total area is 205.75 km².  Nishinoomote, located on the northern portion of Tanegashima, is bordered by the East China Sea to the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east, and by the Osumi Strait separating Tanegashima from the Kyushu mainland. The city also includes the offshore island of Mageshima within its borders.

Nishinoomote has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with long, hot, humid summers and mild winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, with particularly heavy rainfall in May, June, August and September. The area is subject to frequent typhoons.

Kitatane Village was established on April 1, 1889. It was elevated to town status on April 1, 1926 and renamed Nishinoomote. Towards the end of World War II, the town was garrisoned by a 12,000-man force from the Imperial Japanese Army and was thus subjected to bombing by the United States Navy in 1945. As with all of the Amami Islands, the town came under the administration of the United States from July 1, 1946 to December 25, 1953. It was elevated to city status on October 1, 1958.

Nishinoomote Port is a regional transportation hub, with frequent ferry service to Kagoshima, Tokyo, Kobe, and Osaka, as well as Okinawa and the other Osumi islands.
Nishinoomote City Districts

Nishinoomote city encompasses seven separate districts including: Anjo, Anno, Genna, Iseki, Kunigami, Nishinoomote, and Sumiyoshi. The districts are listed in alphabetical order and the maps show the district boundaries.
Anjo District

The Anjo district covers a southeastern section of Nishinoomote city extending to the east coast of Tanegashima.
Anno District

The Anno district covers an eastern section of Nishinoomote city extending to the east coast of Tanegashima.
Genna District

The Genna district covers an eastern section of Nishinoomote city extending to the east coast of Tanegashima.
Iseki District

The Iseki district covers a northwest section of Nishinoomote city extending to the east coast of Tanegashima.
Kunigami District

The Kunigami district covers the northernmost section of Nishinoomote city extending from the west coast to the east coast and including the northern tip of Tanegashima.
Nishinoomote District

The Nishinoomote district covers the entire area of Nishinoomote city. This includes all the smaller individual districts which make up the Nishinoomote district.
Sumiyoshi District

The Sumiyoshi district covers a southwest section of Nishinoomote city extending to the west coast of Tanegashima.
Nishinoomote City Information
Geographic Coordinates: 30°41′N 131°01′E

Country: Japan

Region: Kyushu (Ōsumi Islands)

Prefecture: Kagoshima Prefecture

Area Total: 205.75 km2 (79.44 sq mi)

Population (June 1, 2013) Total: 16,418

Population (June 1, 2013) Density Total: 79.8/km2 (207/sq mi)

Time zone: Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Tree: Akō (Ficus superba Miq. var. japonica Miq.)

Flower: Lilium longiflorum

Flowering Tree: Chinese hibiscus

Insect: Great Orange Tip

Phone number: 0997-22-1111

Address: 7612 Nishinoomote, Nishinoomote-shi, Kagoshima-ken 891-3193
 
Sister cities
Japan - Isa, Kagoshima, since November 10, 1962
Japan - Sakai, Osaka, since October 18, 1986
Japan - Nagahama, Shiga, since October 8, 1987
Portugal - Vila do Bispo, Portugal, since October 1, 1993 (in recognition of the fact that it was Fernão Mendes Pinto, a Portuguese explorer, who claimed to be the first European to set foot on Japan, and did so on Tanegashima in 1543.)
 
Additional Information