Nobeoka, Miyazaki

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For the harvestman genus, see Nobeoka (harvestman).

**Nobeoka**
**延岡市**
Nobeoka's location in Miyazaki, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Miyazaki
Physical characteristics
Area	867.97 km² (335.13 sq mi)
Population (as of January 2008)
Total	132,480
Density	153 /km² (396 /sq mi)
Location	32°35′N, 131°40′E
Symbols
Tree	Round Leaf Holly (Ilex rotunda)
Flower	Canna
Flowering tree	Wisteria
Flag
Nobeoka Government Office
Mayor	Masaharu Sudō
Address	〒882-8686 2-1 Higashihonkōji, Nobeoka-shi, Miyazaki-ken
Phone number	0982-34-2111
Official website: Nobeoka City

Nobeoka (延岡市, Nobeoka-shi^?) is the northernmost city located in Miyazaki, Japan.

1 Population
2 History
3 Climate
4 Economy
5 Transportation
6 External links

[edit] Population

As of the January 1, 2008 merger, the city has an estimated population of 132,480 and a population density of 153 persons per km². The total area is 867.97 km².

[edit] History

The city was founded on February 11, 1933 after Nobeoka gained city status.
On February 20, 2006 Nobeoka absorbed the towns of Kitaura and Kitakata from Higashiusuki District.
On March 31, 2007, the town of Kitagawa merged into the city.

[edit] Climate

The climate of Nobeoka is hot and humid in the summer (above 30 °C) and is somewhat cold in the winter with temperatures dropping to around freezing (0 °C). Snowfall can be seen in the winter months, but does not accumulate because of coastal warming effects.

[edit] Economy

The city's economy depends strongly on the company Asahi Kasei, a producer of synthetic and industrial fibers.

It is known regionally for its Ayu fish.

Recently a new type of onion has been developed that can be harvested very early in the year (around February) due to Miyazaki and Nobeoka's relatively warm winter climate. It is known for its mildness and is put raw in salads. Many products, including an onion jam and onion salad dressing, have been produced to promote the onion by local agricultural boards.

[edit] Transportation

Nobeoka is the terminal station for trains that run the length of the prefecture (although some trains do continue up into Oita prefecture). It used to be the terminal station for the privately owned takachiho line, which ran towards Kumamoto prefecture from the northeast to the northwest of the prefecture. This line was closed after a typhoon in 2005, and has not been reopened.

Miyazaki is not currently serviced by an expressway, but there are vague plans of building a freeway from Miyazaki city up to Nobeoka. This would bring Nobeoka to within a one-hour drive of Miyazaki city. The cost, however, of building an expressway has been criticized has not being recoverable by the relatively small population that it would serve. Nobeoka does have its own municipal bus service with routes to most destinations in the city.