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Nagahama
Nagahama; 長浜市
	The street to Daitsu-ji temple
	; Flag
	; Flag
	Location of Nagahama in Shiga
	; Nagahama
	Coordinates: 35°23′N 136°17′E / 35.383°N 136.283°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Shiga
	Government
- Mayor	Nobuya Kawashima
	Area
- Total	149.57 km2 (57.7 sq mi)
Population; (2006)	84,410
- Density	1,381.6/km2 (3,578.3/sq mi)
Website	City of Nagahama
Phone number	0749-62-4111
	Address 12-34 Takada-chō, Nagahama-shi, Shiga-ken; 526-8501

Nagahama Castle

Nagahama (長浜市, Nagahama-shi^?) is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The city center was developed and renamed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi when Hideyoshi moved his center of administration from Odani Castle. Kunitomo (国友), the northeast area of Nagahama, had been known to productions of arquebus and guns since 1544.

On February 13, 2006, the towns of Azai and Biwa from Higashiazai District merged with the city to create the current city of Nagahama, which replaced all municipal organizations—including the old city of Nagahama itself. The current city is now historically located within both Sakata and Higashiazai Districts.

[edit] The naming

Nagahama used to be known as Imahama (今濱), but Toyotomi Hideyoshi renamed it Nagahama for Oda Nobunaga.

[edit] History

[edit] New city of Nagahama

On February 13, 2006, the towns of Azai and Biwa from Higashiazai District merged with the city to create the current city of Nagahama.

A planned merger of municipalities will be implemented around March 31, 2010; several municipalities are merging into the city of Nagahama. Kohoku and Torahime in Higashiazai District and Kinomoto, Nishiazai, Takatsuki, and Yogo in Ika District and will merge into Nagahama. This will result in the dissolution of the Higashiazai and Ika districts. ^[1]

[edit] Former city of Nagahama

This section talks about the city of Nagahama as it existed until February 12, 2006.

[edit] Municipal Timeline

On April 1, 1943, the town of Nagahama from Sakata District merged with other 6 towns to gain city status. The current Nagahama City Hall was used as their city hall.

[edit] Population Count (final)

The last population count was held on December 1, 2005 and the city had the population of 63,057. The total area was 45.50km². As a result of the city's annexation of Azai and Biwa in 2006, the total population stands at 84,410 as of 2006.

[edit] Sightseeing

Attractions to be found in the city include:

Nagahama Castle
Kurokabe Square (aka "Black Wall Square")
The Old Nagahama Station Museum, built in 1882 and the oldest preserved railroad station in Japan.
The Nagahama Roman Beer Brewery.
Nagahama Flintlock Gun Museum
Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine
Shana-in Temple
Soji-ji Temple
Jinsho-ji Temple
Chizen-in Temple
Hōkoku Shrine (Nagahama)
Tonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet Troupe