Chizu, Tottori Prefecture, Chūgoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Chizu (智頭町, Chizu-chō) is a town located in Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. The total area of the town is 199.18 square km (76.90 sq mi).

Geography Located in the south-eastern part of Tottori Prefecture, mountains and forests occupy 93% of the town area, and it is designated as a heavy snowfall area.

Neighboring municipalities Tottori Prefecture • Tottori • Wakasa • Yazu

Okayama Prefecture • Tsuyama • Mimasaka • Nagi • Nishiawakura.

History Chizu is part of ancient Inaba Province. The temple of Gokuraku-ji was founded in 646 AD. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tottori Domain ruled by a branch of the Ikeda clan from their seat at Tottori Castle. Yazu District, Tottori was established after the Meiji restoration and the village of Chizu was established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1,1889. It was elevated to town status on June 1, 1914. Chizu annexed the neighboring villages of Yamagata, Nagi and Haji on February 20, 1935, Tomizawa on February 26, 1936 and Yamago on June, 1954.

Government Chizu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Chizu, collectively with the other municipalities of Yazu District, contributes two members to the Tottori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tottori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The main industry in the area is logging, woodworking, tourism, and brewing.

Education Chizu has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Tottori Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail JR West - Inbi Line • Chizu - Haji -Nagi

Wakasa Railway - Wakasa Line • Yamasato - Koi-Yamagata - Chizu

Transport: Road • Tottori Expressway • National Route 53 • National Route 373