Inuyama (犬山市) is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 73,420 in 31,276 households, and a population density of 980 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 74.90 sqkm. The name of the city literally translates to "Dog Mountain". The name appears in historical records from 1336 AD, but its origin is unknown.

Geography

Inuyama lies along the northwestern edge of Aichi Prefecture, separated from neighboring Gifu Prefecture by the Kiso River.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Inuyama is 15.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1910 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.4 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Inuyama has been increasing over the past 70 years.

Surrounding municipalities

History

Early modern period

The area around Inuyama was settled from prehistoric times. During the Sengoku period, part of the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute was fought in what is now Inuyama, and the Oda clan rebuilt a pre-existing fortification into Inuyama Castle. Under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, Inuyama was ruled as a sub-domain of Owari Domain, entrusted to the Naruse clan, who served as senior retainers of the Nagoya-branch of the Tokugawa clan.

Late modern period

Immediately following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Inuyama was established as an independent feudal han, until the 1871 abolition of the han system. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on October 1, 1889, the town of Inuyama was created.

Contemporary history

Inuyama Castle was designated as a national treasure in 1935 and again in 1952. Inuyama merged with four neighboring villages to form the city of Inuyama on April 1, 1954. In 2016, the Inuyama Festival was proclaimed an Intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Government

Inuyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. The city contributes one member to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi 16th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Sister cities

Inuyama is twinned with:

International

National

Economy

Secondary sector of the economy

Ceramic engineering

Education

University

Colleges

Schools

Inuyama has ten public elementary schools and four public junior high schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railways

Conventional lines

Roads

Japan National Route

Local attractions

Castles

Museums

Natural attractions

Other structures

Culture

Festival

Notable people from Inuyama