Itami
Itami (Japanese: 伊丹市; -shi) is a city located in Hyogo, Japan.
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 192,289 and a population density of 7,706.97 persons per km². The total area is 24.95 km².
The center of Itami became a wealthy town by the middle of Sengoku period. It was named Itami-go(town of Itami) and known as the only Japanese town within a castle (usually Japanese castles were located far from domestic areas). Itami-go was a part of Castle Arioka which Araki Murashige ruled under Oda Nobunaga. After the rebellion and defeat of Araki, the castle was destroyed.
The current city was founded on November 10, 1940. Large portions of the city were destroyed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, but were quickly rebuilt.
Most of Osaka International Airport is located in Itami (hence the common name "Itami Airport"): it is Osaka's primary domestic airport, although all international flights and many domestic flights moved to Kansai International Airport in 1994. Despite the airport's association with Itami, the terminal complex is actually located in the neighboring city of Toyonaka, and the Itami city center is only connected to the airport by a long underground tunnel that passes beneath the runway and tarmac.
The city is also famous for Koyaike Park, which features a large model of the Japanese archipelago set in a circular pond. The park is a common sight for passengers on flights into Itami Airport. Moreover Itami is one of important sake production city in Japan. Some historians claimed Itami was the first place of the production way of seishu, clear sake was invented.
Itami is located on the Hankyu Railway Itami Line and the JR Takarazuka Line (Fukuchiyama Main Line).
