Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Miyoshi (三好市, Miyoshi-shi) is a city located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022, the city had an estimated population density of 33 persons per km². The total area of the city is 721.42 square km (278.54 sq mi).

Geography Miyoshi is located in the western part of Tokushima Prefecture and is the largest municipality on the island of Shikoku, accounting for1/6 of the prefecture's geographic area. However, it is a very mountainous area with only 13% considered habitable. The Shikoku Mountains have many steep slopes and are subject to landslides and rockfalls. Traditional steep slope farming methods the used to prevent soil erosion. The Hashikura Prefectural Natural Park spans the border between Miyoshi and Higashimiyoshi.

Neighbouring municipalities Tokushima Prefecture • Mima • Tsurugi • Higashimiyoshi • Naka; Kagawa Prefecture • Kan'onji • Mitoyo • Mannō; Ehime Prefecture • Shikokuchūō; Kōchi Prefecture • Kami • Ōtoyo, Kōchi.

History As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Miyoshi was part of ancient Awa Province. From the Muromachi period it was the seat of the Miyoshi clan, a once powerful warlord clan who ruled most of Shikoku and parts of Honshu. During the Edo period, the area was part of the holdings of Tokushima Domain ruled by the Hachisuka clan from their seat at Tokushima Castle. Following the Meiji restoration, it was organized into 10 villages within Miyoshi District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, including the villages of Ikeda (池田村), Mino (三野村), Sanmyo (三名村), and Minawa (三縄村). Ikeda was raised to town status on October 1, 1905 and Mino on January 26, 1924. Sanyo and Minawa merged on September 30, 1956 to form the town of Yamashiro.

The city of Miyoshi was established on March 1, 2006, from the merger between the towns of Ikeda, Ikawa, Mino and Yamashiro, (all from Miyoshi District) and the villages of Higashiiyayama and Nishiiyayama from Mima District.

Government Miyoshi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Miyoshi contributes two members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokushima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Miyoshi is strongly dependent on agriculture, forestry and small-scale food processing.

Education Miyoshi has 13 public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Shikoku Railway Company – Tokushima Line • Tsuji - Tsukuda; Shikoku Railway Company – Dosan Line • Tsubojiri - Hashikura - Tsukuda - Awa-Ikeda - Minawa - Iyaguchi - Awa-Kawaguchi - Koboke - Ōboke.

Transport: Road • Tokushima Expressway • National Route 32 • National Route 192 • National Route 319 • National Route 438 • National Route 439.

Local attractions • Unpen-ji, 66th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage • Hashikura Prefectural Natural Park • Iya Valley • Kazura Bridge • Oku Kazura Bridge • Oboke Gorge • Koboke Gorge • Yoshino River.