Inabe, Mie Prefecture, Kansai Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Inabe (いなべ市, Inabe-shi) is a city located in Mie Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2021, the city had an estimated population density of 200 persons per km². The total area of the city is 219.58 square km (84.78 sq mi).

Geography Inabe is located in the far north-eastern tip of the Kii Peninsula, and the far north-western corner of Mie Prefecture, along the border with Gifu and Shiga prefectures. The Inabe River flows through the city center.

Neighboring municipalities Mie Prefecture ◦ Yokkaichi ◦ Kuwana ◦ Tōin ◦ Komono; • Gifu Prefecture ◦ Ōgaki ◦ Kaizu ◦ Yōrō; • Shiga Prefecture ◦ Higashiōmi ◦ Taga

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Inabe has remained relatively steady over the past 30 years.

History The area of modern Inabe was part of ancient Ise Province was mostly under the control of Kuwana Domain in then Edo period. With the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the village of Ageki was established within Inabe District, Mie. Ageki was raised to town status on March 10, 1929 and merged with the neighboring villages of Toyashiro and Yamasato on April 1, 1955 to form the town of Hokusei. The city of Inabe was established on December 1, 2003, from the merger of the former town of Hokusei with neighboring Inabe, Daian, and Fujiwara.

Government Inabe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Inabe, together with the town of Tōin, contributes two members to the Mie Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Mie 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Inabe is a regional commercial centre and has a mixed industrial and agricultural economy. Toyota Motor, Denso and other automobile-related industries form a strong component of the local economy.

Education Inabe has 11 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Mie Prefectural Department of Education.

Transport: Rail Sangi Railway – Sangi Line • Umedoi – Daian - Misato – Nyūgawa – Ise-Hatta - Higashi-Fujiwara – Nishi-Nojiri – Nishi-Fujiwara; Sangi Railway – Hokusei Line • Ōizumi – Sohara - Ohda – Ageki.

Transport: Road • National Route 306 • National Route 365 • National Route 421.

Local attractions • Freight Railway Museum.