Tamano, Okayama Prefecture, Chūgoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tamano is a city located in southern Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The city was officially founded in 1940. The JR Uno Line connects it to Okayama. Before the Great Seto Bridge was opened, there was a train ferry between Uno Port in Tamano and Takamatsu on Shikoku. Then, Tamano was the major entrance to Shikoku. Today there still exist many ferry lines between Uno port and Takamatsu, and also the islands of Shōdoshima and Naoshima.

Its major industry is ship construction and metal refining, another important industry being fishing. One of the largest shipbuilding yards in Japan, operated by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, is located in Tamano.

Geography Tamano is located in southern Okayama Prefecture. It faces the Seto Inland Sea to the south, and parts of the city are within the borders of the Setonaikai National Park.

Adjoining municipalities Okayama Prefecture • Okayama • Kurashiki.

History The Tamano area is part of ancient Bizen Province. During the Edo Period, it was part of the holdings of Okayama Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Kojima District, Okayama with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The city of Tamano was officially founded on August 3, 1940 by the merger of the towns of Uno and Hibi.

Government Tamano has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 19 members. Tamano contributes two members to the Okayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Okayama 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Tamano has a mixed economy of heavy industry, commercial fishing and agriculture. Shipbuilding and metal refining are major industries, with one of the largest shipbuilding yards in Japan, operated by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, is located in Tamano. Other industries include textiles, chemicals, oil refining and salt production.

Education Tamano has 14 public elementary schools, seven public junior high schools and two public high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Okayama prefectural Board of Education.

Transport The JR Uno Line connects it to Okayama. Before the Great Seto Bridge was opened, there was a train ferry between Uno Port in Tamano and Takamatsu on Shikoku. Then, Tamano was the major entrance to Shikoku. Today there still exist many ferry lines between Uno port and Takamatsu, and also the islands of Shōdoshima and Naoshima.

Transport: Rail JR West (JR West) - Uno Line • Tsuneyama - Hachihama - Bizen-Tai - Uno.

Transport: Road • National Route 30 • National Route 430.