Hitama

Hitama [来満；ひたま] is a city located in southern Tomono Prefecture. As of 2022, it had a population of around 227,000. The city is known primarily for being the home of the prestigious Shinbon University. It is sometimes nicknamed 'City of Threads' (seki no hari) due to its history as a textiles producer.
During the medieval period, the area of present-day Hitama contained two koman towns on the Nishi-jōryō, a subroute to the Nishi no Nari (Salt Road) which provided a shortcut from the present-day Kōfu capital Minami. This made the area prosperous and a centre of trade and commerce for the west Sanzama region.
Hitama is located south of the prefectural capital, Tōwara, in a low fertile region known as the Tōwara Valley. The Kinozata River runs northward through the centre of the city. Hitama is known for its high levels of rainfall and snowfall during the spring and winter, which can often cause the Kinozata to flood during these seasons.
== Economy ==
The northern part of Hitama is characterized by its farms, most of which produce tea and rice. The city is a major transportation hub in the Tōwara region. Hitama's leading industry is manufacturing, centered in the southeast part of the city. Textile production, the region's oldest industry, is still a large part of the economy.
== Local attractions ==
* Tanizake Temple
* Asuyama Castle ruins
* Hitama Amphibian Centre
* Ama Historical Site
* Kayami Manor, a ruined 16th-century mansion