Minobu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Minobu (身延町) is a town located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Minobu is in south-central Yamanashi Prefecture. As of 1 June 2019, the town had an estimated population density of 39 persons per km². The total area of the town is 302.00 square km (116.60 sq mi).

Geography Minobu is in south-central Yamanashi Prefecture. The Fuji River passes through the town, which is dominated by the sacred Mount Minobu. It also shares Lake Motosu with neighbouring Fujikawaguchiko.

Neighboring municipalities Yamanashi Prefecture • Kōfu • Nanbu • Ichikawamisato • Hayakawa • Fujikawa • Fujikawaguchiko; Shizuoka Prefecture • Aoi-ku, Shizuoka • Fujinomiya.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Minobu has declined substantially over the past 70 years.

History Minobu developed from the Kamakura period as a temple town outside the gates of the important Buddhist temple of Kuon-ji, one of the primary head temples of the Nichiren Shū.

During the reform of the early Meiji period on April 1, 1889, Minamikoma District within Yamanashi Prefecture was created and organized into 22 villages. Minobu village was raised to town status on January 1, 1931. On February 11, 1955 the town expanded by annexing three neighboring villages. On September 13, 2004, Minobu absorbed the towns of Nakatomi, also from Minamikoma District, and Shimobe, from Nishiyatsushiro District.

Education • Minobusan University • Minobu has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has two public high schools operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education and one private high school.

Transport: Rail • Central Japan Railway Company - Minobu Line • Kai-Ōshima - Minobu - Shionosawa - Hadakajima - Shimobe-onsen - Kai-Tokiwa - Ichinose - Kunado.

Transport: Road • National Route 51 • National Route 300.

Local attractions • Kuon-ji – Buddhist temple which is the supreme head temple of Nichiren sect • Nakayama Kinzan, ruins of a Sengoku period gold mine and National Historic Site