Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Minami-Alps is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Minami-Alps is Yamanashi Prefecture's third largest city. The city's name was chosen in 2002 from among entries submitted by the general public.

Geography The city is named for its location on the eastern foothills of the "Southern Alps". This mountain range includes Mount Kita, Japan's second-highest mountain, as well as a number of other mountains that top 3,000 meters. The urbanized zones lie along the three rivers running along these mountains: Midai River, Takizawa River, and Tsubo River. The area is noted for growing fruit, especially: cherries, peaches, plums, grapes, pears, persimmons, kiwi, and apples.

Surrounding municipalities •* Yamanashi Prefecture* • Nirasaki, Hokuto, Kai, Chūō, Ichikawamisato, Fujikawa, Hayakawa, Shōwa • Nagano Prefecture • Ina; • Shizuoka Prefecture • Aoi-ku, Shizuoka.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Minami-Alps has recently plateaued after several decades of growth.

History The city of Minami-Alps was established on April 1, 2003, by the merger of the towns of Kōsai, Kushigata, Shirane and Wakakusa, and the villages of Ashiyasu and Hatta (all from Nakakoma District).

Government Minami-Alps has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Economy The economy of Minami-Alps is primarily agricultural, with seasonal tourism and forestry playing secondary roles.

Education • Minami-Alps has 15 public elementary schools, one combined public elementary/middle school and six public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools and one special education school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. • International schools - Alps Gakuen (former Colégio Pitágoras) - Brazilian school

Transport: Rail • Minami-Alps is the only city in Yamanashi which does not have any passenger railway services.

Transport: Road • Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway • National Route 52 • National Route 140.