Iiyama, Nagano
Geography. Iiyama is located in the mountainous far northern portion of Nagano Prefecture, and is bordered by Niigata Prefecture to the north. The area is known for severe winters with heavy snowfall. The Chikuma River (the longest river in Japan) runs through the centre of the area and becomes known as the Shinano River when it passes into Niigata Prefecture. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Iiyama has declined over the past 40 years. Climate. The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification "Dfa ). The average annual temperature in Iiyama is . The average annual rainfall is with January as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . All of the city is considered part of the snow country of Japan, with heavy accumulations of snow in winter. History. The area of present-day Iiyama was part of ancient Shinano Province. The area was part of the holdings of Iiyama Domain during the Edo period, and the core of the city was the jōkamachi" surrounding Iiyama Castle, held by a cadet branch of the  Honda clan. The modern town of Iiyama was established within Shimominochi District, Nagano with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. It was raised to city status on August 1, 1954 by the merger of the town of Iiyama with neighboring villages of Akitsu, Tokiwa, Yanagihara, Tozama, Kijima and Zuiho. The villages of Ōta and Okayama were also annexed in 1955. Government. Iiyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 16 members. Economy. The economy of Iiyama is primarily agricultural with emphasis on rice, asparagus, mushrooms  and potatoes. Manufacturing includes production of "Butsudan", skis and electronics. Seasonal tourism to ski resorts and hot springs also make a major contribution. The TV and electronics manufacturer Iiyama was founded in the city in 1972, although, after a series of mergers, the company is no longer headquartered there. The old office continues to be used as a manufacturing centre for Iiyama's parent company, . Education. Iiyama has seven public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has one public high school operated by the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.