Welcome to the Niimi Tourism Association’s Official Website! When people think of Niimi, they most likely think of snow, delicious Chiyagyu beef and relaxing onsen (hot spring baths) and the natural splendor of the Ikura-do and Maki-do Caves. But Niimi has a whole bunch more to offer!
Delicious food! Great sightseeing! Wonderful souvenirs!
There’s a lot for you to discover in Niimi!
Come to Niimi to experience sights and flavors that will last a lifetime!
Niimi City is home to about 30,000 people. It is located in the northwestern edge of Okayama Prefecture in the headstream area of the Takahashi River. It is contiguous with Maniwa City in the east, Takahashi City in the south, Hino County, Tottori Prefecture in the north, and Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture in the west.
Under the ancient political system (ritsuryo system) in place between the 7th and 12th centuries, Aga County was located on the east side of the Takahashi River and Tetta County was on the west side. Both prospered through the manufacture of tatara steel utilizing iron sands until the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
At the end of the Heian Period (794-1192), more and more regions were included in the private manors (shoen) that were exempt from tax. Niiminosho and Nagatomiho were two of these. Many documents related to Niiminosho are housed at Toji Temple in Kyoto.
In the Edo Period (1603-1867), what is now the Niimi City area was separated into the Niimi Domain, which was established by the transfer of Seki Bizen-no Kami Nagaharu, the first lord, the Matsuyama Domain in Takahashi, and the shogunal demesne (tenryo) directly ruled by the Edo Shogunate.
In response to the abolition of the feudal domain system and the establishment of prefectures in 1871, the Niimi Domain became Niimi Prefecture; and the other areas were included in Kurashiki Prefecture. As a result of later changes, Niimi Prefecture merged with Okayama Prefecture in 1875. The municipality system was implemented nationwide in 1889, and Aga County (excluding Hokubo Town at that time) and Tetta County merged into Atetsu County in 1900. Through further changes, including a large merger in the Showa Period (around 1955), the area has been separated into Niimi City, Osa Town, Shingo Town, Tetta Town, and Tessei Town, which have built their own histories over 50 years.
On March 31, 2005, Niimi City, Osa Town, Shingo Town, Tetta Town, and Tessei Town were merged into a new Niimi City.
