Mishima, Shizuoka

is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. The city was founded on April 29, 1941. Its population has expanded since the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line made it possible to commute into Tokyo.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 111,484 and a density of 1,793.21 persons per km². The total area is 62.17 km².

Novelist Kimitake Hiraoka adopted his penname Yukio Mishima after the city.

Overview

Mishima is the temple town of and it is through the shrine and Rakujuen, a park central to the image of Mishima, that the city's calm nature can be seen.

Mishima has three sister cities:

• New Plymouth, New Zealand
• Pasadena, California, United States
• Lishui, China

Transport

Mishima Station is on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (JR Central), Tōkaidō Main Line (JR Central) and Sunzu Line (Izu-Hakone Railway Co.,Ltd.).

Education

The College of International Relations for Nihon University is located in Mishima. It provides opportunities for international students to live in Mishima and explore Japanese culture.

Culture

The Mishima summer festival takes place from August 15 to 17 every year, under the auspices of Mishima, in and around the Mishima Taisha shrine, as well as near the Mishima JR station. Mikoshi are carried through the streets and the taiko are played.

External links

• Mishima official website in Japanese