Kobayashi, Miyazaki

Kobayashi
小林市
City

Cosmos in Ikoma Plateau

Location of Kobayashi in Miyazaki Prefecture
Kobayashi

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 31°59′40″N 130°57′6″E / 31.99444°N 130.95167°E / 31.99444; 130.95167Coordinates: 31°59′40″N 130°57′6″E / 31.99444°N 130.95167°E / 31.99444; 130.95167
Country Japan
Region Kyushu
Prefecture Miyazaki Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Masahiro Higo (since April 2010)
Area
 • Total 563.09 km2 (217.41 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2011)
 • Total 47,328
 • Density 84/km2 (220/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Cherry blossom, Abies firma
 • Flower Cosmos
 • Bird Treron Sieboldii
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address Hosono 300, Kobayashi City, Miyazaki Prefecture (宮崎県小林市細野300番地)
886-8501
Website www.city.kobayashi.lg.jp

Kobayashi (小林市 Kobayashi-shi) is a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1950.

As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 47,328, with 19,924 households and a population density of 80.45 persons per km². The total area is 563.09 km². Like the city of Miyakonojō, Kobayashi is suffering from a declining population.

Mergers

On March 20, 2006, the village of Suki (from Nishimorokata District) was merged into Kobayashi, roughly doubling the city's size.

On March 23, 2010, the town of Nojiri (also from Nishimorokata District) was also merged into Kobayashi.[1]

Products

Kobayashi is famous for producing pears.

Places of interest

Inyoseki
A fertility shrine a which people pray to conceive children. The site has a natural rock formation that resembles a phallus.
Ikoma Plateau
At an elevation of 540 m (1,770 ft), the plateau offers a view of the city from its magnificent flower garden with the Kirishima Mountain Range at its back. October is Cosmos season while April/May feature Icelandic poppies.
Idenoyama Park
Home of the Firefly Festival every May. Features a freshwater aquarium, restaurants specializing in carp dishes, and beautiful lakefront scenery.
Sannomiya Gorge
Featuring a cliff which is 32 m (105 ft) high and stretching 60 m (200 ft) wide.
Suki Suspension Bridge and Mamako Falls
Crossing the bridge leads to a view of this waterfall cluster. The falls are named after a legend which tells of a cruel stepmother who took her six-year-old stepdaughter to the falls to murder her. However, the child had tied their sashes together without the stepmother realizing, and when the stepmother pushed the girl over, they both fell to their deaths.

Festivals

Sakura Festival: Late March-Early April. Features flower viewing and local events in locations all over Kobayashi.

Firefly Festival at Idenoyama Park: Late May-Late June

Water Festival: First Saturday of August

Suki City Fireforks Festival: Mid-August

Suki Chestnut Festival: Late September

Inyoseki Festival: Late September

Harvest Festival: Early November

Autumn Festival: Late November

Winter Festival: Late November/Early December. Features annual Christmas Lights Display at Kobayashi Station. The lights were designed by students of the local technical school, now Kobayashi Shuho High School.

Nearby cities

Schools

Kobayashi has eight middle schools and ten elementary schools after the inclusion of Suki and Uchiyama's middles and elementary schools. It has three high schools after the combination of Kobayashi Commercial and Kobayashi Technical high school in 2010.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.kokudo.or.jp/new/cities/sub/kyusyu/45.htm
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