Ichinomiya, Aichi facts for kids

This page is about the city. For the town, see Ichinomiya, Aichi (town).

Quick facts for kids

Ichinomiya

一宮市

Twin Arch 138, Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival, Bisyu Woven fabric factory, Myōkō-ji temple, and Masumida Shrine

Flag	Coat of arms

Location of Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture

Ichinomiya

Location in Japan

Country

Japan

Region

Chūbu (Tōkai)

Prefecture

Aichi

First official recorded

60 AD

City Settled

September 1, 1921

Area

• Total

113.82 km² (43.95 sq mi)

Population

(October 1, 2019)

• Total

379,654

• Density

3,335.56/km² (8,639.1/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)

– Tree

Round-Leaf Holly

– Flower

Chinese bellflower

Phone number

0586-28-8100

Address

2-5-6 Honmachi, Ichinomiya-shi, Aichi-ken 491-8501

Ichinomiya (一宮市, Ichinomiya-shi) is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is sometimes called Owarichinomiya. This helps avoid confusion with other places that have the same name.

As of 2019, about 379,654 people live in Ichinomiya. The city covers an area of 113.82 square kilometers.

Geography

Ichinomiya is located in the western part of Aichi Prefecture. It shares a border with Gifu Prefecture to the west. Two important rivers, the Kiso River and the Gojō River, flow through the city.

Climate

Ichinomiya has a climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The average temperature each year is about 15.6 °C. September is usually the wettest month. The warmest month is August, with temperatures around 28.1 °C. January is the coldest month, with temperatures around 4.2 °C.

Population Growth

The number of people living in Ichinomiya has grown steadily over the last 70 years.

Neighboring Cities and Towns

Ichinomiya is surrounded by several other cities and towns:

In Aichi Prefecture: Kōnan, Iwakura, Inazawa, Kitanagoya, Kiyosu
In Gifu Prefecture: Hashima, Kakamigahara, Kasamatsu, Ginan

City Views

Skyline of Ichinomiya City
Skyline of Owari-Ichinomiya
138 Tower Park
Downtown of Ichinomiya

History

City Name Meaning

The name "Ichinomiya" literally means "the first shrine" of a province.

Early History

For the old Owari Province, the "first shrine" was Masumida Shrine. This shrine dates back to the Nara period, which was a long time ago. It was near the provincial capital in what is now Inazawa.

Middle Ages to Edo Period

Ichinomiya grew as a monzen-machi, which means a town that developed around a temple or shrine. This happened from the Heian period onwards. During the Edo period, it was part of the lands controlled by the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Modern History

In the early Meiji period, the town of Ichinomiya was officially created on April 1, 1889. It became a full city on September 1, 1921.

Over the years, Ichinomiya grew by joining with nearby villages and towns. For example, in 1940, it added Haguri and Nishinari villages. In 1955, it expanded even more by adding eight other places.

On April 1, 2002, Ichinomiya was named a "special city." This gave it more power to manage its own local affairs. Then, on April 1, 2005, it grew again by joining with the city of Bisai and the town of Kisogawa. This made Ichinomiya the fourth largest city in Aichi Prefecture.

Finally, on April 1, 2021, Ichinomiya became a "core city," which gave it even more local control.

Public Services

Police and Fire

Ichinomiya has its own police station, part of the Aichi Prefectural Police. It also has its own fire department.

Post Office and Library

The city has a main post office called Ichinomiya Post Office. There is also the Ichinomiya City Library, where you can find many books.

Ichinomiya Police Station
Ichinomiya Fire Department
Ichinomiya Municipal Hospital
Ichinomiya Post Office
Ichinomiya City Library

International and National Connections

Sister Cities

Ichinomiya has special connections with other cities, called "sister cities" or "friendship cities." These connections help promote cultural exchange and friendship.

Friendship city: Treviso in Veneto, Italy (since January 30, 2013)

Disaster Alliance Cities

Ichinomiya also has agreements with other cities to help each other in case of natural disasters.

Takaoka in Toyama Prefecture (since October 31, 2007)
Seki in Gifu Prefecture (since 2011)

Economy

Ichinomiya Chamber of Commerce & Industory

Downtown of Ichinomiya

Ichinomiya CBD

Ichinomiya was once famous for making textiles (fabrics). Today, it is a regional business hub. Its economy includes both manufacturing and farming.

Farming and Animal Raising

Farmers in Ichinomiya grow crops like dry daikon (a type of radish), Allium fistulosum (a type of onion), and rice. There is also Poultry farming, which means raising chickens for eggs or meat.

Manufacturing

The Eisaku Noro Company, which makes colorful yarns for crafts and machines, is based here.

Shopping and Businesses

Kanesue, a company, has its main office in Ichinomiya. There are also several shopping centers:

APiTA Ichinomiya (TelassWalk Ichinomiya)
Æon mall Kisogawa
Kanesue
Meitetsu Department Store Ichinomiya

Chiaki Paddy field
Bisyu Woven fabric factory
Shopping streets
Kanesue
TelassWalk Ichinomiya

Companies in Ichinomiya

Several companies have their main offices in Ichinomiya, including:

Ichibanya
Kanesue
Konami Amusement
Japan Ecosystem

Education

Shubun University

Universities and Colleges

Ichinomiya is home to:

Shubun University
Aichi Kiwami College of Nursing
Ichinomiya Kenshin College

Schools

The city government runs 42 public elementary schools and 19 public middle schools. The Aichi Prefectural Board of Education operates 10 public high schools. There is also one private middle school and two private high schools. The prefecture also has two special education schools for students with disabilities.

Transportation

Around Owari-Ichinomiya Station

The Kilometre Zero of Ichinomiya

Trains

Ichinomiya has several train lines that connect it to other parts of Japan.

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central)
- Tōkaidō Line: This line has stations like Owari-Ichinomiya and Kisogawa.
Meitetsu
- Nagoya Main Line: Key stations include Meitetsu-Ichinomiya.
- Bisai Line: This line also has Meitetsu-Ichinomiya and Nishi-Ichinomiya stations.

Roads

Major roads pass through Ichinomiya, making it easy to travel by car.

Expressways:
- Meishin Expressway (E1)
- Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway (E41)
- Nagoya Expressway (Route 16)
National Routes:
- Route 22
- Route 155

River Travel

You can also travel by Water taxi on the Kiso River with the Nishinakano tosen service.

Owari-Ichinomiya
Meitetsu-Ichinomiya
Kisogawa Bridge
Ichinomiya IC
Nishinakano tosen

Local Attractions

Masumida Shrine

Myōkō-ji

Nekojima Site

Castles

You can visit the sites of old castles in Ichinomiya:

Ichinomiya Castle
Kuroda Castle
Ōno Castle

Ichinomiya Castle
Kuroda Castle
Ōno Castle

Buddhist Temples

There are several beautiful Buddhist temples in the city:

Houren-ji
Myōkō-ji
Sebe Saihō-ji

Houren-ji
Houren-ji (Yamauchi Kazutoyo)
Myōkō-ji
Sebe Saihō-ji

Shinto Shrines

You can also visit Shinto shrines, which are places of worship in Japan:

Azai shrine
Ifuribe shrine
Iwato shrine
Masumida Shrine
Owari Ōmiwa Shrine

Azai jinja
Ifuribe jinja
Iwato jinja
Masumida jinja
Owari Ōmiwa Shrine

Archaeological Sites

These sites show us about the past:

Mitsui Inariyama kofun (an ancient burial mound)
Nekojima Site

Mitsui Inariyama kofun

Parks

Ichinomiya has many parks where you can relax and play:

138 Tower Park
Asano Park
Azaiyama Park
Umegae Park

138 Towr Park
Asano Park
Azaiyama Park
Umegae Park

Culture

Festivals

One of the most famous events is the Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival. This festival celebrates a traditional Japanese story.

Ichinomiya Tanabata Festival

Sports Teams

Ichinomiya is home to several sports teams, mostly women's teams:

Aichi Dione: A women's baseball team that plays in the Japan Women's Baseball League.
Dream Citrine: A women's softball team in the Japan Softball League (JSL).
Futsal Clube UNIAO Ladies: A women's futsal (indoor soccer) team.
TOKAI NEXUS: Another women's baseball team.

Kōmyoji Park Stadium
Hirashima Park Baseball Playing Grounds
Ichinomiya Municipal Gymnasium (DIADORA Arena)

Notable People from Ichinomiya

Many interesting people come from Ichinomiya, including:

Ichikawa Fusae, a politician
Masaaki Kanda, a politician
Shinichi Kondoh, a retired baseball player
Yukiko Okada, a singer
Haruka Tomatsu, a voice actress
Rie Kitahara, an actress and former idol
Jōji Matsuoka, a movie director
Nao Hibino, a tennis player