Aira, Kagoshima

Aira (姶良市, Aira-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It is located west of Kirishima and north of Kagoshima.

This article is about a current city. For a former town, see Aira, Kagoshima (Aira District). For a former town with the same English name in the same prefecture, see Aira, Kagoshima (Kimotsuki District).
Aira

姶良市
City
Aira City Hall
Flag
Emblem
Location of Aira in Kagoshima Prefecture
Aira
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 31°43′42″N 130°37′40″E
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
PrefectureKagoshima Prefecture
Government
 • MayorYoshihiro Sasayama (since April 2010)
Area
 • Total231.32 km2 (89.31 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2016)
 • Total75,665
 • Density323/km2 (840/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address25 Miyajima-cho, Aira-shi, Kagoshima-ken
899-5492
Websitewww.city.aira.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerPrunus jamasakura
TreeCinnamomum camphora

The modern city of Aira was established on March 23, 2010, from the merger of the former town of Aira, absorbing the towns of Kajiki and Kamō (all from Aira District).

As of May 2010, the city has an estimated population of 74,611 and a population density of 323 persons per km². The total area is 231.32 km².

It is accessed with the Kyushu Expressway at interchange 25, the Kajiki Interchange and interchange 26, the Aira Interchange. The expressway passed through Aira, connecting Kagoshima to the west and Kirishima to the North. The interchange was first opened on December 13, 1973. There are five railway stations in the city. From east to west, Kajiki, Kinkō, Chōsa, Aira and Shigetomi stations serve the city. All of these stations belong to Nippō Main Line, and are operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu).

Aira's claim to fame is a stone gate in the village of Yamada which commemorates the victory of the Russo-Japanese War.

The plan for the merger of the three towns was defeated twice. Once in 2005 and again in 2008. These defeats were due to a debt in public finance and the number of seats in the city council. Finally, in 2009, town representatives compromised with these problems and the merger plan was accepted. Aira District will be left with one municipality.[1]

Surronding municipalities
Aira and its surroundings as taken with a Nikon D3S from the International Space Station.[2]

See also

Aira Caldera

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-09-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Sakurajima Volcano, Kyushu, Japan - January 28, 2013
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.