is a city located in northwestern Okayama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 27,106 in 12,626 households. and a population density of 34 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is

Geography

Niimi is located on a karst plateau in the Chugoku Mountains in northeast Okayama Prefecture. More than 85% of the city area is mountainous, with Mount Hanami being the highest peak at 1188 meters. Due to the rugged terrain, there are many waterfalls, dams, hot springs and multiple limestone caves in the city. The main urban area is located on the upper reaches of the Takahashi River (.

thumb|none|Aerial photograph of Niimi city center

thumb|Niimi City Office

Neighboring municipalities

Hiroshima Prefecture

  • Shōbara

Okayama Prefecture

  • Maniwa
  • Shinjō
  • Takahashi

Tottori Prefecture

  • Hino
  • Nichinan

Climate

Niimi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Niimi is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around .

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Niimi in 2020 was 28,079 people.

History

Niimi was part of ancient Bitchū Province and was divided between Aga District and Tetsuta District by the Takahashi River. It appears in documentary records as early as the Heian period (794–1185) when a shōen manorial estate called Niimi-shō occupied much of the area of present-day Niimi. In the middle of the Kamakura period, the Niimi clan, served as jito of northern Bitchū and built a castle at Niimi as their residence. After that, the area became the territory of Tō-ji temple in Kyoto and later was under the control of the Amago clan during the Sengoku period. During the early Edo Period, it was part of the holdings of Bitchū-Matsuyama Domain and developed as an important center of inland trade, due to its connection by the Takahashi River with the jōkamachi of Matsuyama. forestry, and tourism. Yamasa Company, Ltd., a producer of pachinko slot machines, is headquartered in the city. Farms in Niimi produce grapes, chestnuts, peaches, and Japanese pears.

Education

The city is served by Niimi Kōritsu Tanki Daigaku, known in English as Niimi College. Niimi has 17 public elementary schools and seven public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Okayama Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school, and the prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

Niimi is an important railway center.

  • Sidney, British Columbia, Canada since 2008.
  • Xinyang, People's Republic of China since 1992.

Local attractions

Niimi is known for its limestone caves.