Nirayama, Shizuoka

Nirayama
韮山町
Former municipality
Flag of Nirayama
Official seal of Nirayama
Nirayama is located in Japan
Nirayama
Nirayama
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°03′12″N 138°56′44″E / 35.05326°N 138.94552°E / 35.05326; 138.94552
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu (Tōkai)
PrefectureShizuoka Prefecture
DistrictTagata
MergedApril 1, 2005
(now part of Izunokuni)
Area
 • Total34.63 km2 (13.37 sq mi)
Population
 (March 1, 2005)
 • Total19,602
 • Density566/km2 (1,470/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)

Nirayama (韮山町, Nirayama-chō) was a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

As of March 1, 2005, the town had an estimated population of 19,602 and a density of 566 persons per km2. The total area was 34.63 km2.

On April 1, 2005, Nirayama, along with the towns of Izunagaoka and Ōhito (all from Tagata District), was merged to create the city of Izunokuni and thus it no longer exists as an independent municipality.

During the Kamakura and Muromachi period, Niirayama was the site of a castle belonging to the Hōjō clan, and the later Hōjō clan. During the Edo period, it was the location of the daikansho offices of the Tokugawa shogunate controlling Izu Province.

Known for its strawberry crop, Nirayama sees many visitors from bigger cities (such as Tokyo) coming for seasonal picking and the views of Mount Fuji.