Mibetsu

Mibetsu [免幵 みべつ] is a city located in far western Mikei Prefecture on the Heisai border. As of 2022, it has a population of around 78,000. 
Mibetsu has historically been an agricultural town, although during the 17th century it began to develop as a hub for the rising merchant class. It is divided by the Meisu River, which flows through the centre of the city, and has traditionally helped to provide plenty of irrigation for rice and potato crops. Mibetsu, much like its neighbours Masaki and Natsuri, was for centuries considered a bread basket of the region. 
== Geography ==
Mibetsu lies in the west of the prefecture, in the foothills of Mount Honzu. To the east, it is bordered by Lake Honzu, and its southern boundary is marked by the Kyūha River. The northern district of the city is the least populated, due to its hilly terrain and lack of arable land. The portion of Mibetsu which lies south of the Meisu River is where the population density is highest, and the home of the majority of its residents. 
== Economy ==
In the past, Mibetsu has relied mainly on agriculture and the rearing of livestock, particularly sheep and cattle. Mining, which once formed a significant percentage of the economy, has largely disappeared with the closure of the last mines in the 1980s.
== Local attractions ==
* Ruins of Iyaba Castle
* Emie Temple
* Mibetsu Wetlands Reserve
* Sanzama Barrier
* Mount Honzu
* Mibetsu Park
* Mibetsu Lantern Festival
* Yamahana Hot Spring