is a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 42,139 in 19144 households, and a population density of 75 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .

Geography Kobayashi is located in the southwestern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, about 60 kilometers west-northwest of the prefectural capital at Miyazaki. It borders Kumamoto Prefecture to the northeast, and Kagoshima Prefecture to the southwestern. Kobayashi is the largest municipality in the Nishimoro region, and as it is located almost in the center of the Nishimoro region, it plays a central role in industry and economy. The southwestern part of the city lies in the northeastern part of the Kirishima Mountain Range, including Mt. Karakuni (1,700 meters), Mt. Shinmoedake (1421 meters), Mt. Imori (1,344 meters), Mt. Nakadake (1,332 meters), Mt. Yadake (1,132 meters), and Mt. Takachiho (1,132 meters). Ohataike, a crater lake, is included in the city limits. The Ikoma Plateau (elevation 540 meters) is located at the northern foot of the Kirishima Mountain Range. In the central and southern part of the city, the Kobayashi Basin is formed by the collapse of a caldera, and the northern part of the Kobayashi Basin contains the central urban area of the city, and because of the volcanic nature of the geography, there are many hot springs. The Iwase River flows from east to west through the Kobayashi Basin.

Neighboring municipalities Kagoshima Prefecture Kirishima Kumamoto Prefecture Asagiri Taragi Miyazaki Prefecture Aya Ebino Miyakonojō Miyazaki Nishimera Takaharu

Climate Kobayashi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot, humid summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Kobayashi is . The average annual rainfall is with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Kobayashi was on 2 August 2026; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 25 January 2016.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kobayashi in 2020 is 43,670 people. Kobayashi has been conducting censuses since 1920.

History The area of Kobayashi was part of ancient Hyūga Province and was called "Hinamori" (夷守) in the Nara period as it was the location of a military settlement on the frontier of the Yamato Kingdom against the Hayato people further south. Miyama Castle was completed around the time of the Genpei War at the end of the Heian period, and the area came to be called "Miyama". In the Sengoku period, after considerable turmoil, the area came under the control of the Itō clan. The Itō were defeated by the Shimazu clan of Satsuma Province in 1572, who established a stronghold at Kobayashi Castle. The jōkamachi which developed around this castle became the core of modern Kobayashi. The Shimazu continued to rule the area as part of Satsuma Domain to the end of the Edo Period. In 1871, with the abolition of the han system, the area was incorporated into Kagoshima Prefecture, but was later transferred to Miyazaki Prefecture. The village of Kobayashi was established on May 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to town status on December 25, 1912, and to city status on April 1, 1950.

On March 20, 2006, the village of Suki (from Nishimorokata District) was merged into Kobayashi, roughly doubling the city's size.

On March 23, 2010, the town of Nojiri (also from Nishimorokata District) was also merged into Kobayashi.

Government Kobayashi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 19 members. Kobayashi, together with the town of Takaharu, contributes two members to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Kobayashi is based on agriculture and forestry, as well as seasonal tourism. Kobayashi is famous for producing pears.

Education Kobayashi has 14 public elementary schools and ten public junior high schools operated by the city, and two public high schools operated by the Miyazaki Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school.

Transportation Railways JR Kyushu - Kitto Line

Highways Higashikyushu Expressway

Local attractions Inyoseki A fertility shrine a which people pray to conceive children. The site has a natural rock formation that resembles a phallus.

Ikoma Plateau At an elevation of , the plateau offers a view of the city from its magnificent flower garden with the Kirishima Mountain Range at its back. October is Cosmos season while April/May feature Icelandic poppies.

Idenoyama Park Home of the Firefly Festival every May. Features a freshwater aquarium, restaurants specializing in carp dishes, and beautiful lakefront scenery.

Idenoyama Spring Water (Japan's 100 remarkable waters)

Idenoyama mountain freshwater fish aquarium

Idenoyama Park is located in south west from center of Kobayashi city. This park has a pond where the water source is from Idenoyama mountain, and its spring water is selected as Japan's 100 remarkable waters. This is the home place of the Firefly Festival every May. Features a freshwater aquarium, restaurants specializing in carp dishes, and a beautiful lakefront scenery.

Overview of Idenoyama Park

One of the spring waters of the Kirishima Mountains, abundant water flow of 1 ton per second flows into the largest reservoir in Kobayashi, Idenoyama Pond. Idenoyama Pond was created by the Satsuma Domain in 1614 for irrigation water, and around this area a large number of flora and fauna inhabit. In late May to early June, it is a great habitat of Genji fireflies. There is a promenade so you can walk by the pond and enjoy the fireflies dancing. At the adjacent Miyazaki Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station Kobayashi Branch, sturgeon has been successfully hatched using spring water, and its caviar has been commercialized in cooperation with the private sector. There is a restaurant where you can taste river fish such as carp, trout, and sturgeon.

Mythology

The inhabitants, who lived in the mountains of Kuma-gun in Higo, Kurino, Yokokawa, Hyokiyama, and Soo-gun in Osumi, defeated the court and did not donate their annual tribute to the court. Emperor Keiko visited the Kyushu region to subdue them. He departed from Kyoto, passed through Nagato and Toyokuni, then at Hyuga, he established Takaya-no-miya (near Saito) to fight the Kumaso. On his way back to Kyoto, he stopped by Hinamori, nearby Kobayashi city. At that time, the hills surrounding the Mt. Idenoyama were said to have housed the royal family, and there was a beautiful lady called Izumihime. Izumihime poured tea made with the spring water from Idenoyama to the Emperor. The cup of tea made him comforted and healed the tiredness of the battle. The emperor and Izumihime grew warm affection one day. The time of return came and the Emperor departed for Kyoto. It is said that she mourned herself in the pond and turned into a snake as a guardian angel. Even now, the Benzaiten Festival is held every April to celebrate Mizugami-sama, and there is still a stone that is connected to the grave of Izumihime next to the cemetery in Oidemizu district. Excerpt of the legendary "Izumihime Monogatari"

Inyoseki Rock

Inyoseki is a couple rock in the Homanose river which is located in east part of Kobayashi city. You can find them in the downstream of Sannomiyakyo Gorge. The volcanic activity that was activated about 1.8 million years ago, deposited a large amount of volcanic ash and lava, which was formed by erosion by rivers. There is a 17.5-meter-high phallic-shaped yang stone (male stone), and beside it is a 5.5-meter-periphery-shaped gylinite (female stone). Since ancient times, it has been worshiped as the god of marriage, child treasure and prayer for safe delivery. However, it became widely known as a sightseeing spot after a new road was constructed in 1917 (until then, there was no other way to the ridge). In 1950, Kobayashi Municipal "Hamanoseso Ryokan" was opened, and since then, the "Inyoseki Festival" is held every September. In April 1929, Noguchi Ujo, a poet, visited this Inyoseki and composed a poem, which is on a monument erected in 1951.

Kirishima Mountain Kirishimayama Mountain is a collective term for volcanic groups near the border between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures in southern Kyushu. Also called Kirishima Volcanoes, they form a mountain mass between and around the highest peak of Karakuni-dake (1,700m above sea level) and the sacred peak of Takachiho-no-Mine (1,574m above sea level). It is an active volcano that repeats eruptions since its history was recorded (volcanic activation is ranked B by the Japan Meteorological Agency), and active volcanic activity has continued particularly at Shinmoe-dake and Ohachi. Those mountains have been selected as volcanoes that need to be monitored and an observation system for volcanic disaster prevention by the Volcanic Eruption Prediction Council has been established.

History

According to the Kojiki, this mountain was the place of Tenson-korin; a couple of gods, Izanagi (male) and Izanami (female) descended from Takama-no-Hara, heaven, to Takachiho-no-Mine. There is a halberd placed upside down on the peak of Takachiho-no-Mine, this is called Ama-no-Sakahoko, or the halberd of the heaven. It is said, that Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto placed the Ama-no-Sakahoko on the peak of Takachiho-no-Mine, and mixed the earth to create the country. The origin of "Kirishima" is based on the theory that, if you look into this area from afar, Kirishima Mountain range looks like an island floating in the sea of fog. Or, it is said that when the Tenson-Korin, the fog was very thick and they could hardly see surroundings. As soon as they sowed the rice ears brought from Takama-no-Hara, the fog soon cleared. Or, there is also a theory that the volcanic plume was regarded as fog.

Folklore

People say that a hermit lives in the Kirishima. Below are The Seven Wonders of Kirishima:

Makazu-no-Tane, or seeds without sowing rice may grow on the mountains. This is attributed to the species brought from Takama-no-Hara, or heaven, when the Tenson-Korin; two gods descendant to Kirishima mountain in ancient times. Moji Iwa, or character rock on the west side of Kirishima Shrine, there is a large rock of 10 cubic meters. You will find some Sanskrit characters are engraved on the inside despite the small gaps that are difficult to reach. Kame Ishi, or turtle rock on the old approach to Kirishima Shrine, there is a rock that looks exactly like a turtle. It is said, that a turtle that has broken his promise to God and was then turned into a rock. Kazaana, or wind hole. There is a rock with a hole where the wind blows out on the old approach to Kirishima Shrine. Mitarashigawa, or Mitarashi river. A river that dries out in winter and a lot of water comes out around May. It is said, that it contains the water of Manai brought from Takama-no-Hara when Tenson-Korin, or when the gods descended. Ryodogawa, or Ryodo river. A river that flows only from June to September. The river flows twice at intervals of several days and is called the Ryodo, meaning twice river. Kagura at midnight. When Kirishima Jingu was relocated to its current location, many people are said to have heard Kagura, sounds that should not be heard at midnight. Originally, Kagura involved songs and dances that were dedicated to the deities.

Ito-zuka