Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Azumino (安曇野市, Azumino-shi) is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2019, the city had an estimated population density of 290 persons per km². Its total area is 331.78 square km (128.10 sq mi).

Etymology Azumino is a combination of two words, "Azumi" and "no". "Azumi" comes from the Azumi people, who are said to have moved to the "no" (plain) in ancient times. The Azumi people originally lived in northern Kyushu, and were famed for their skills in fishing and navigation. "The Azumi people" can be translated as "the people who live on the sea". The reason why the seafaring people migrated to this mountainous region is a mystery.

Geography Azumino is located in the Azumino Plateau on the north-western end of the Matsumoto Basin, between mountain ranges to the west and east. The range of mountains on the western border is known as the Northern Alps (Hida Mountains) and is popular among hikers all over Japan. To the south is the city of Matsumoto, Nagano prefecture's second largest city. To the north lies the city of Ōmachi, and north of Ōmachi is the village of Hakuba. Hakuba was the site of many of the ski events during the 1998 Winter Olympic Games. Mount Jōnen at 2,857 metres (9,373 ft) is the highest elevation in the city.

Surrounding municipalities Nagano Prefecture ◦ Matsumoto ◦ Ōmachi ◦ Ikeda ◦ Matsukawa ◦ Chikuhoku ◦ Ikusaka.

History The area of present-day Azumino was part of ancient Shinano Province. The area was part of the holdings of Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The modern city of Azumino was established on October 1, 2005, by the merger of the town of Akashina (from Higashichikuma District), the towns of Hotaka and Toyoshina, and the villages of Horigane and Misato (all from Minamiazumi District).

Government Azumino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Education Azumino has ten public elementary schools and seven public middle schools. The city has four public high schools operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail • East Japan Railway Company - Ōito Line ◦ Azusabashi - Hitoichiba - Nakagaya - Minami-Toyoshina - Toyoshina - Hakuyachō - Hotaka - Ariake - Azumi-Oiwake • East Japan Railway Company - Shinonoi Line ◦ Tazawa - Akashina

Transport: Road • Nagano Expressway • National Route 19 • National Route 143 • National Route 147 • National Route 304.

Local attractions • Azumino is home to the world's largest wasabi farm, Daio Wasabi Farm. • Jōkyō Gimin Memorial Museum • Hotaka Jinja • Mount Jōnen • Mount Chō.