View source for Iwamuro, Niigata

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Iwamuro
| official_name = 
| native_name = {{nobold|岩室村}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = Former municipality
| other_name = 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = 弥彦山（新潟県）.JPG
| imagesize = 
| image_caption = Iwamuro onsens beneath the 634m-high Yahiko Mountain in Niigata, Japan
| image_flag = Flag of Iwamuro, Niigata (1965–2005).svg
| image_seal = Emblem of Iwamuro, Niigata (1965–2005).svg
| seal_type = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = Amalgamation Niigata-en.jpg
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Iwamuro in [[Niigata Prefecture]]
| pushpin_map = 
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = 
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Hokuriku region|Hokuriku]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Niigata Prefecture]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Nishikanbara District, Niigata|Nishikanbara District]]
<!-- established -->
| established_title = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date = 
| extinct_title = Merged
| extinct_date = March 21, 2005<br />(now part of [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]])
| founder = 
| named_for = 
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| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat = 
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| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = 
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
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| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 36.11
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total = 9,865
| population_as_of = 2005
| population_density_km2 = 
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
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| postal_code_type = 
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| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
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}}
{{nihongo|'''Iwamuro'''|岩室村|Iwamuro-mura}} was a [[List of villages in Japan|village]] located in [[Nishikanbara District, Niigata|Nishikanbara District]], [[Niigata Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. The area is famous for [[onsen]] near [[Yahiko, Niigata|Yahiko mountain]]. Farming remains the predominant industry in the area. It is served by [[Japan National Route 116|National Route 116]] and Niigata Route 55.

On April 1, 2007, Iwamuro became part of [[Nishikan-ku, Niigata|Nishikan-ku ward]] (西蒲区, Nishikan-ku?) of [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata city]].

==History==
Iwamuro, which means 'stone' and 'room' in [[kanji]], lies at the foot of {{nihongo|[[Mount Yahiko|Yahiko Mountain]]|弥彦山|Yahiko yama}}. It was originally surrounded by [[Niigata, Niigata#Geography|lagoons and marshes]] before major irrigation work was undertaken in the late 19th and early 20th century. Nevertheless, people have been coming to the area since the [[Edo]] period to bathe in naturally-created [[Geothermal activity|geothermal]] waters. Currently there are more than 20 [[onsen]]s which range in price from cheap (500 yen) to expensive (+20,000 yen). Iwamuro's fame stems from its waters 'perceived' healing properties. An [[apocryphal|apocryphal tale]] tells of a farmer's wife who found a goose with a broken leg. She put it in a hot [[sulphur]]-smelling pool near her home. The goose's leg got better. The farmer and his wife then became very rich by opening the first onsen in Iwamuro.

Behind Yahiko mountain lies the fishing village of {{nihongo|Maze|間瀬}}. During the [[Meiji period]] copper mining flourished in the foothills north west of Maze. At its peak, 60 tons of copper were being extracted each month. Output decreased in the 1920s but in 1943, mining was temporarily revived. Work ended at the end of the [[Pacific War|war]].

During the period of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], Maze was one of the ferry points to the banishment island of [[Sado, Niigata|Sado]]. A small watch tower was sited just of north of the village. [[Samurai]] were tasked with guarding the shore and questioning all who landed from boats. South of the harbour is Maze Beach, which is popular with surfers. North of the village is the [[Nihonkai Maze Circuit]] which holds regular weekend meetings throughout the summer months, attracting sports car drivers from across Japan.

==Geography==
The sulphurous waters in Iwamuro rise from depths of up to {{convert|2|mi}}. They have an average surface temperature of 24.3&nbsp;°C and are highly saturated in mineral salts. Iwamuro lies on a [[Fault (geology)|fault zone]] between Yahiko mountain and the bedrock beneath the Niigata Plain.  In 2006, due to the number of onsens in the area, additional bore holes were drilled to a depth of {{convert|0.75|mi}}.

[[Paddy field#Japan|Rice farming]] is predominant throughout the area although there are several dairy and pig-rearing farms. As the village is on the Niigata plain, the rich [[Alluvium|soil]] deposited by the [[Shinano River|Shinano]] and [[Agano River]] make it ideal for agriculture.

==Demographics==
As of 2005, the village had an estimated [[population]] of 9,917 and a [[population density|density]] of 274.63 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. Its total area was 36.11&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.

On March 21, 2005, Iwamuro, along with the cities of [[Niitsu, Niigata|Niitsu]], [[Shirone, Niigata|Shirone]] and [[Toyosaka, Niigata|Toyosaka]], the towns of [[Kameda, Niigata|Kameda]], [[Kosudo, Niigata|Kosudo]] and [[Yokogoshi, Niigata|Yokogoshi]] (all from [[Nakakanbara District, Niigata|Nakakanbara District]]), the town of [[Nishikawa, Niigata|Nishikawa]], and the villages of [[Ajikata, Niigata|Ajikata]], [[Katahigashi, Niigata|Katahigashi]], [[Nakanokuchi, Niigata|Nakanokuchi]] and [[Tsukigata, Niigata|Tsukigata]] (all from [[Nishikanbara District, Niigata|Nishikanbara District]]), was merged into the expanded city of [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]].

Since Iwamuro became part of {{nihongo|[[Nishikan-ku, Niigata|Nishikan-ku ward]]|西蒲区|Nishikan-ku}} there have been several changes in the area. For instance local government services have moved to [[Maki, Niigata (Kanbara)|Maki]], Iwamuro's farming cooperative opened a new rice storage centre centralising grain collection for the entire area In April 2008 after closing six independent silos and the fishing cooperatives of Maze and Niigata city have both merged, although the fish market and boat repair yard both remain open.

Iwamuro also has two independent [[sake]] makers both located in the heart of the old district at Iwamuro-onsen. Products are sold locally and are of a higher quality than commercially-made rice wine.
There are two [[Elementary schools in Japan|elementary schools]] and one [[Secondary education in Japan|Junior High School]] within Iwamuro.

Iwamuro, as an area, incorporates more than 20 hamlets, villages and townships:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
*Hiso
*Sakai
*Hashimoto
*Iwamuro-onsen
*Ishize
*Kubota
*Saragase
*Kanaike
{{col-break}}
*Minami-yachi
*Kitano
*Shitatori
*Nishinagashima
*Tokozone
*Araya
*Oburajima
*Takabatake
{{col-break}}
*Nishifunakoshi
*Katakami
*Nishinaka
*Natsui
*Wano
*Maze
*Kami-Wano
{{col-end}}

==See also==
* [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata City]]
* [[Nishikan-ku, Niigata]]
* [[Maki, Niigata (Nishikanbara)]]
* [[Iwamuro Station]]

==External links==
* [http://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/ Niigata official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.city.niigata.lg.jp/nishikan/ Niigata Nishikan-ku website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ikhasp6IIw 岩室甚句(新潟民謡)] [[Enka|Iwamuro Folk Song]]
* [http://www.iwamurokankou.com/ Iwamuro Onsen Information page] {{in lang|ja}}

{{coord|37|44|15.00|N|138|50|20.68|E|scale:100000_region:JP|display=title}}

{{Dissolved municipalities of Niigata Prefecture}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dissolved municipalities of Niigata Prefecture]]