Kirishima, Kagoshima

This article is about a current city. For a former town, see Kirishima, Kagoshima (town).

Kirishima (霧島市, Kirishima-shi) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

Kirishima has the second largest population of the cities in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is a crossroads for commerce between Kagoshima and Miyazaki Prefectures. It is also the home of the Kagoshima Airport, the terminus for the JR Hisatsu line, and is served by two major expressways. The former Kokubu-Hayato area was designated as a "Technopolis" as high tech industries such as Sony and Kyocera opened facilities in the city.

As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 124,763 with 58,159 households and a population density of 207 persons per km². The total area is 603.18 km².

The modern city of Kirishima was established on November 7, 2005, from the merger of the city of Kokubu, and the towns of Fukuyama, Hayato, Kirishima (former), Makizono, Mizobe and Yokogawa (all from Aira District).

The Uenohara site dates from the Jōmon period. Shrines include Kirishima-Jingū.

Topography

• Mountains
  • Mount Kirishima (see List of volcanoes in Japan)
  • Takachiho no-mine
  • Shinmoedake
  • Karakuni dake
  • Eboshi dake
• National park
  • Kirishima-Yaku National Park
• Plain: Kokubu heiya

An image taken from the International Space Station showing Kirishima and its surroundings on January 10, 2013

Neighboring municipalities

• Kagoshima Prefecture
  • Aira
  • Kanoya
  • Satsumasendai
  • Soo
  • Tarumizu
  • Satsuma District
• Miyazaki Prefecture
  • Miyakonojo
  • Kobayashi
  • Ebino
  • Nishimorokata District

Economy

Japan Air Commuter headquarters

Japan Air Commuter has its headquarters in Kirishima.

Transportation

Railways

Both lines are operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu)

• Nippō Main Line
• Hisatsu Line

Highways

• National Route 10
• National Route 220
• National Route 223
• National Route 504
• Kyushu Expressway
• Higashi Kyushu Expressway

Bus

• Kagoshima Kotsu
• Iwasaki Bus Network
• Nangoku Kotsu

Airport

Kagoshima Airport in City of Kirishima

Education

• Shigakukan University

See also

• Matsushita Museum of Art

External links

• Kirishima City official website (in Japanese)
• Kagoshima Prefectural Visitors Bureau official website (in English)
• Wikitravel - Kirishima
• Geographic data related to Kirishima, Kagoshima at OpenStreetMap