Tamba (丹波市, Tanba-shi) is a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2022^[update], the city had an estimated population of 62,152 in 26090 households and a population density of 130 persons per km².^[1] The total area of the city is 493.21 square kilometres (190.43 sq mi).^[2]

Quick Facts 丹波市, Country ...

Tamba 丹波市
City
Miwakare Park Mt Myokenzan Nishiwaki Kaibara Jin'ya Former Hikami-gun Upper Elementary School Kozen-ji
Flag Chapter
Location of Tamba in Hyōgo Prefecture
Tamba Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°11′N 135°2′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo
Kaibara Town settled	April 1, 1889
Hikami Town settled	July 23, 1955
Both town merged and city settled	November 1, 2004
Government
• Mayor	Tokihiko Hayashi (since December 2020)
Area
• Total	493.21 km2 (190.43 sq mi)
Population  (March 31, 2022)
• Total	62,152
• Density	130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1 Kōga, Narimatsu, Hikami-chō, Tamba-shi, Hyōgo-ken 669-3692
Climate	Cfa
Website	www.city.tamba.hyogo.jp
Symbols
Flower	Erythronium japonicum
Tree	Acer

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Tamba is located in an inland basin at an average elevation of 100 meters above sea level in the eastern part of the prefecture. It is located in the mountains between the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan. The uppermost stream of the Kako River system and the uppermost stream of the Yura River system, flow through the city, which has the lowest central watershed in Japan except for Hokkaido. The 35 degree east longitude meridian passes through the city.

The area of Tamba was part of ancient Tanba Province, and corresponds almost exactly with ancient Hikami District. Numerous burial mounds from the Kofun period are located in the area. During the Sengoku period, the area was dominated by Akai Naomasa, nicknamed the "Red Demon of Tanba" from his stronghold at Kuroi Castle. The area was conquered by Akechi Mitsuhide under Oda Nobunaga, but Kuroi Castle did not fall until three years after Akai's death. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, Kaibara Domain was established for a cadet branch of the Oda clan. Following the Meiji restoration, the area became part of "Toyooka Prefecture" in 1871 before merging with Hyōgo Prefecture in 1876, and being organized into various villages and towns with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The modern city of Tamba was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of all six towns of the former Hikami District: Aogaki, Ichijima, Kaibara, Kasuga, Sannan, and Hikami.^{[citation needed]} Tamba is a very small city with Hikami as the biggest of the six original towns.

Tamba has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Tamba contributes one member to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Hyōgo 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Tamba has mostly a rural economy based on agriculture and forestry. The area is especially noted for its production of black soybeans.

Tamba has 22 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

• - Auburn, Washington, United States, friendship city since August 11, 1968
• - Kent, Washington, United States, friendship city since November 24, 1969

• Lady Kasuga, wet nurse of Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu
• Takijirō Ōnishi, World War II IJN admiral, "the father of the kamikaze"
• Kiichi Arita, politician and cabinet minister
• Den Kenjirō, 8th Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan

• Tamba city hall Kaibara branch (former Kaibara town hall)
• Hyozu Jinja in Tamba
• Stone wall of a Yagura Tower Kuroi Castle