Iiyama

Iiyama is a city in the mountainous far north of Nagano Prefecture in Japan, bordering Niigata Prefecture. The Chikuma River, the longest river in Japan, runs through the middle of the city and becomes known as the Shinano River once it crosses into Niigata. Winters are severe, with heavy snow that places the whole city in the snow country of Japan, and the city markets itself as Japan's Hometown and the Little Kyoto of Snow Country. In the Edo period the town grew around Iiyama Castle, held by a branch of the Honda clan. The city was created in 1954 by merging the town of Iiyama with neighbouring villages and was enlarged in 1955. Its economy is mainly agricultural, producing rice, asparagus, mushrooms and potatoes, with Buddhist altars, skis and electronics manufactured locally, and ski resorts and hot springs bring seasonal tourism. About 20,000 people lived there in 2019.