Yazu, Tottori


Yazu is a town located in Yazu District, Tottori Prefecture, Japan.
As of October 1, 2015, the town has a population of 16,985 and a density of. The total area is.
Yazu was formed on March 31, 2005, by the merger of the towns of Funaoka, Hattō and Kōge, all from Yazu District.

Geography

Yazu is located to the far east of Tottori Prefecture. Its highest peak is Ōginosen, which is located on the border of the city of Tottori, the towns of Misasa and Chizu, as well as Shin'onsen in Hyōgo Prefecture. Ōginosen is part of the Daisen Volcanic Belt. The mountain is part of Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park, and has facilities for skiing and camping. The Hattō River, the largest tributary of the Sendai River, flows through Yazu, as does a smaller tributary, the Kisaichi River, which traces its origin to Ōginosen.

Neighbouring municipalities

, founded on April 10, 1969, spans across Hyōgo Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture, and Okayama Prefecture. Much of the area of the town of Yazu is included in the quasi-national park.

Demography

Per Japanese census data, the population of Yazu in recent years is as follows:
19952000200520102015
20,80620,24519,43418,42716,985

Government

Yazu is governed by an 18-person town council, headed by a chairperson and vice-chairperson. Makoto Hiraki has served as mayor of Yazu since the founding of the town in 2005. Yazu maintains a municipal board of education, as well as a police and fire department.