Asago, Hyōgo Prefecture, Kansai Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Asago is a city located in northern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The modern city of Asago was established in 2005, from the merger of the former town of Asago absorbing the towns of Ikuno, Santō and Wadayama.

Geography Asago is located in the north of Hyōgo Prefecture. It is located in the east of Chūgoku Mountains, and the mountains and forests were occupy 93％ of the town. The Maruyama flows from south to north in the town. The Tataragi Dam was built across the Tataragi stream, a tributary of the Maruyama.

Neighbouring municipalities Hyōgo Prefecture • Kamikawa • Shisō • Taka • Tanba • Toyooka • Yabu; Kyoto Prefecture • Fukuchiyama.

History The area of Asago was in ancient Tajima Province and is the location of many burial mounds from the Kofun period. These include the Chasuriyama Kofun in Wadayama, one of the largest enpun (円墳)-style elliptical burial mounds in the Kansai region. The Ikuno Silver Mine opened in 807 in the early Heian period and mining continue through the Edo Period. During the Sengoku period the area was under the control of the Yamana clan, the shugo of Tajima Province and Takeda Castle was the stronghold their retainers, the Otagaki clan. Following the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, the area was mostly tenryō territory under direct control of the shogunate due to the importance of the silver mine, with some small areas undertone control of Toyooka Domain or Izushi Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was under"Toyooka Prefecture" until incorporated into Hyōgo Prefecture in 1876. The town of Ikuno and the villages of Yamaguchi and Akagawa were created with the establishment of the modern municipalities on April 1, 1889. Asago was founded on March 31, 1954, from the merger of the former villages of Yamaguchi and Nakagawa. By 2004, the town had an estimated population of 7,465 and a density of 57.33 persons per km². The total area was 130.20 km². On April 1, 2005, Asago absorbed the towns of Ikuno, Santō and Wadayama (all from Asago District) to create the city of Asago.

Government Asago has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Asago contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Asago has mostly a rural economy based on agriculture and commerce. Local industries include food processing, metal products, electrical machinery, and non-ferrous metals.

Education Asago has seven public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There is also one private middle school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail JR West – San'in Main Line • Yanase - Wadayama; JR West – Bantan Line • Ikuno - Nii - Aokura - Takeda - Wadayama

Transport: Road • Kitakinki-Toyooka Expressway • Bantan Renraku Road • National Route 9 • National Route 312 • National Route 427 • National Route 429.

Local attractions • Ikuno Ginzan Silver Mine • Kuchiganaya area; ◦ Tanyo Museum; ◦ Ikuno Shoin • Asago Art Village • Takeda Castle • Tataragi Dam • Kurokawa Dam • Ikuno Dam.