Iizuna

Iizuna is located in northern Nagano Prefecture. It is 13.9 km from east to west and 15.6 km in the south north. The Yaja River that flows from the Mount Reisenji forms the western border of the town which is located on its river terrace. The Torii River flows through the center of town. The Madarao River flows from Shinano, and flows on the north side of this town. It joins the Chikuma River via the Nakano city in the east.

Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Iizuna was relatively stable throughout the late 20th century but has declined in recent decades.

The area of present-day Iizuna was part of ancient Shinano Province. During the Edo period, Mure developed as a post station on the Hokkoku Kaidō highway.

The modern town was created through a merger of the villages of Samizu and Mure on October 1, 2005. Its name comes from Mount Iizuna which dominates the town's western sky.

The economy of Iizuna is agricultural, primarily rice cultivation and horticulture.

Iizuna has four public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one high school operated the Nagano Prefectural Board of Education.

• Iizuna is notable for being home to The Spiral, Asia's only permanent bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track. This track was a venue for the 1998 Winter Olympic Games.

• Media related to Iizuna, Nagano at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)