Tamba, Hyōgo Prefecture, Kansai Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tanba is a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The modern city of Tamba was established in 2004, from the merger of all six towns of the former Hikami District: Aogaki, Ichijima, Kaibara, Kasuga, Sannan, and Hikami.

Geography Tamba is located in an inland basin at an average elevation of 100 meters above sea level in the eastern part of the prefecture. It is located in the mountains between the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan. The uppermost stream of the Kako River system and the uppermost stream of the Yura River system, flow through the city, which has the lowest central watershed in Japan except for Hokkaido. The 35 degree east longitude meridian passes through the city.

Neighboring municipalities Hyōgo Prefecture • Tamba-Sasayama • Nishiwaki • Asago • Taka; Kyoto Prefecture • Fukuchiyama.

History The area of Tamba was part of ancient Tanba Province, and corresponds almost exactly with ancient Hikami District. Numerous burial mounds from the Kofun period are located in the area. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by Akai Naomasa, nicknamed the "Red Demon of Tanba" from his stronghold at Kuroi Castle. The area was conquered by Akechi Mitsuhide under Oda Nobunaga, but Kuroi Castle did not fall until three years after Akai's death. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, Kaibara Domain was established for a cadet branch of the Oda clan. Following the Meiji restoration, the area became part of "Toyooka Prefecture" in 1871 before merging with Hyōgo Prefecture in 1876, and being organized into various villages and towns with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The modern city of Tamba was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of all six towns of the former Hikami District: Aogaki, Ichijima, Kaibara, Kasuga, Sannan, and Hikami. Tamba is a very small city with Hikami as the biggest of the six original towns.

Government Tamba has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Tamba contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Tamba has mostly a rural economy based on agriculture and forestry. The area is especially noted for its production of black soybeans.

Education Tamba has 22 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail JR West – Fukuchiyama Line • Shimotaki - Tanikawa - Kaibara - Iso - Kuroi - Ichijima - Tamba-Takeda

JR West – Kakogawa Line • Kugemura - Tanikawa.

Highways • Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway • National Route 175 • National Route 176 • National Route 427 • National Route 429 • National Route 483.

Local attractions • Kuroi Castle ruins, National Historic Site and one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles. • Kaibara Domain Jin'ya site, National Historic Site • Kaibara Hachiman Jinja