Ikeda, Gifu Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Ikeda (池田町, Ikeda-chō) is a town located in Ibi District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2018, the town had an estimated population density of 620 persons per km². The total area of the town was 38.80 square km (14.98 sq mi).

Geography Ikeda is located in south-western Gifu Prefecture. The Ibi River flows through the town, which is hilly to mountainous in the west, including Mount Ikeda on the border with the neighbouring town of Ibigawa. Parts of the town are within the borders of the Ibi-Sekigahara-Yōrō Quasi-National Park.

Neighbouring municipalities • Gifu Prefecture • Ōgaki • Ibigawa • Ōno • Gōdo • Tarui.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Ikeda has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History The area around Ibigawa was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, it was part of Ikeda District and was divided between territory controlled by Ōgaki Domain and tenryō holdings directly controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate. During the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reforms, the area was organised into Ibi District, Gifu Prefecture. The village of Ikeda was formed on July 1, 1897, with the merger of the villages of Ikeno, Ueda, Shimohigashino, Sunabata, Rokunoi, and Sugino. Ikega merged with neighbouring Rokugō and Hongō in 1950 and was raised to town status on May 1, 1954. Ikeda annexed neighbouring Yahata and Miaji on April 1, 1955.

Education Ikeda has five public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail • Yōrō Railway Yōrō Line • Ikeno - Kita-Ikeno - Mino-Hongō

Transport: Road National Route 417

Local attractions • Mount Ikeda.