Minamiizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Minamiizu (南伊豆町, Minamiizu-chō) is a town located at the southern tip of Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the town had an estimated population density of 74 persons per km². The total area of the town is 110.58 square km (42.70 sq mi)

Geography Minamiizu occupies the southern tip of Izu Peninsula, a hilly region with an indented ria coastline facing the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean. The area has numerous hot springs. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. Parts of the town are within the borders of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and the historic Irōzaki Lighthouse is located at the tip of Cape Irōzaki, to the south of town.

Neighboring municipalities Shizuoka Prefecture • Shimoda • Matsuzaki.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Minamiizu has been in decline over the past 60 years.

History During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Minamiizu Town consisted of 25 villages. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into six villages (Minamizaka, Minaminaka, Minamikami, Mizaka, Mihama and Chikuma) within Kamo District. The town of Minamiizu was formed in July 1955 through the merger of these six villages.

Around March 31, 2010, the city of Shimoda and three municipalities in Kamo District (Kawazu, Matsuzaki, and Minamiizu) were scheduled to merge. However, the merger backed out.

Economy Tourism based on water sports and the hot spring industry, commercial fishing and farming are mainstays of the local economy.

Education Minamiizu has three public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail Minamiizu does not have any passenger railway service

Transport: Road • National Route 136.