Iizuna



Iizuna (飯綱町) is a town located in the Kamiminochi District of northern Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 11,115 in 4187 households, and a population density of 150 persons per km2. the total area of the town is 75.00 sqkm.

Geography
Iizuna is located in northern Nagano Prefecture. It is 13.9 km from east to west and 15.6 km from north to south. The Yaja River that flows from the Mount Reisenji forms the western border of the town which is located on its river terrace. The Torii River flows through the center of town. The Madarao River from Shinano flows on the north side of this town. It joins the Chikuma River via Nakano City in the east.

Climate
The village has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Iizuna is 11.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1254 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around -1.5 °C.

Surrounding municipalities

 * Nagano Prefecture
 * Nagano
 * Nakano
 * Shinano

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Iizuna was relatively stable throughout the late 20th century but has declined in recent decades.

History
The area of present-day Iizuna was part of ancient Shinano Province. During the Edo period, Mure developed as a post station on the Hokkoku Kaidō highway.

The modern town was created through a merger of the villages of Samizu and Mure on October 1, 2005. Its name comes from Mount Iizuna which dominates the town's western sky.

Economy
The economy of Iizuna is agricultural, primarily rice cultivation and horticulture.

Education
Iizuna has four public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one high school operated the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

High school

 * Nagano Prefectural Hokubu High School.

Junior high school

 * Iizuna Junior High School

Elementary schools

 * Mure Elementary School
 * Samizu Elementary School

Railway

 * Shinano Railway Symbolmark.svg Shinano Railway - Kita-Shinano Line
 * Mure

Highway

 * [[Image:JP Expressway E18.svg|24px|link=|alt=E18]] Jōshin-etsu Expressway

Local attractions

 * Iizuna is notable for being home to The Spiral, Asia's only permanent bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track. This track was a venue for the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.