Hello and welcome to Kakamigahara, Japan. I am mayor Shin MORI. We are a city of 150,000 people. Our city is located roughly in the center of Japan. Our city has the best of both worlds -- modern convenience and industry as well as natural beauty and tradition.

We are bordered on the north by green mountains and on the south by the scenic Kiso River. I like to call Kakamigahara a "park city" because of the abundance of public parks and natual beauty we have here. We have won numerous awards for our "urban-greening" efforts from the prime minister of Japan as well as the LivCom international liveable city competitions in London and Prauge.

Kakamigahara is also a city of history and tradition. Our city is located on the old Nakasendo, one of the oldest trade routes in Japan which connected old Edo to Kyoto. We have many examples of traditional architecture both original and restored such as the Unuma-Juku historical district and the Murakuni-za kabuki theater. Kiso River "Ukai" or cormorant fishing is one of the best venues to see the ancient art in Japan.

We have a history of strength in manufacturing. We are home to the oldest airfield in Japan. We continue to have a healthy economy with our strong presence in the aerospace, automotive, IT industries and more.

We also have excellent access to public transportation. We are a stone's throw to Nagoya, Japan's third largest city and home to Toyota. We enjoy easy access to the shinkansen (bullet train) as well as the national expressway network.

Whether your stay is for business or pleasure, we hope you enjoy your time in one of Japan's most liveable, culturally rich and vibrant cities.