Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Itano (板野町, Itano-chō) is a town located in Itano District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 June 2022, the town had an estimated population density of 360 persons per km². The total area of the town is 36.22 square km (13.98 sq mi).

Geography Itano is located in north-eastern Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. The northern part of the town is occupied by the Sanuki Mountains, and the southern part is the delta area of the Yoshino River. The Japan Median Tectonic Line fault zone, which is an active fault, runs from east to west at the boundary between the mountains and the plains.

Neighbouring municipalities Kagawa Prefecture • Higashikagawa; Tokushima Prefecture • Aizumi • Kamiita • Naruto.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Itano has remained relatively stable for the past 60 years.

History As with all of Tokushima Prefecture, the area of Itano was part of ancient Awa Province. The village of Itanishi (板西村) was established within Itano District, Tokushima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889. It was raised to town status on July 29, 1908. Itanishi merged with neighboring villages of Matsusaka and Sakae on February 11, 1911 and was renamed Itano.

Government Itano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Itano, together with the other municipalities of Itano District, contributes four members to the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tokushima 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Itano has primarily an agricultural economy, with rice and carrots as the main crops.

Education Itano has three public elementary schools and one public middle schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Tokushima Prefectural Department of Education. The Tokushima College of Technology is located in Itano.

Transport: Rail Shikoku Railway Company – Kōtoku Line • Awa-Kawabata - Itano - Awa-Ōmiya.

Transport: Road • Takamatsu Expressway.

Local attractions • Dainichi-ji, 4th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage • Jizō-ji, 5th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage • Konsen-ji, 3rd temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage • Tokushima Prefectural Buried Cultural Properties Research Centre.