is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 37,143 in 17,175 households and a population density of 160 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is , making it the fifth largest city in Chiba Prefecture in terms of area.
Minamibà Âsà  is an area of historical relics and shrines. The city's slogan is ãÂÂã²ã¨ãÂȋÂÂãÂÂãÂȋ¿ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂå°åÂÂã§åµãÂÂé åÂÂã®é·ãÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ¿ç·ÂãÂÂ, which translates to "People, Dreams, Future. A Village With Locally Grown Appeal, Minamibà Âsà Â." Minamibà Âsà  is known for flowers, uchiwa fans (), loquat fruit, whaling (), and surfing. It is currently tied in first place for the city with the most roadside stations selling locally produced goods in Japan.
Minamibà Âsà  is in the southern portion of Chiba Prefecture, near the southern tip of the Bà Âsà  Peninsula. It is surrounded by water on three sides facing the Pacific Ocean to the east and south, and the entrance to Tokyo Bay on the west. Minamibà Âsà  city has several mountain ranges over 300 meters high such as Mount Atago and Mount Tomi. Minamibà Âsà  City surrounds Tateyama on the north, east, and south. The land in Minamibà Âsà  is broken up as follows: 30.43% mountains/forest land, 13.23% rice paddies, 8.81% crop land, 6.25% open fields, 4.61% residential land.
Chiba Prefecture
The Minamibà Âsà  area has a warm, maritime climate with hot summers and mild winters due to the Kuroshio Current. The average temperature is 16.22 degrees Celsius, with the average high and low temperatures at 34.34 degrees Celsius and -4.16 degrees Celsius respectively. The hottest months are from June to September, and the coldest months are from January to March. Minamibà Âsà  City receives an average of 1767.15 mm of rainfall annually.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Minamibà Âsà  has been decreasing over the past 70 years. Minamibà Âsà Â's cityscape is characterized by low-rise residential buildings dispersed throughout the various flat areas in town; the Chikura area, in east, is the town's most populous locality. As of 2007, 10.3% of the population was 0âÂÂ14 years old, 56.1% of the population was between 15âÂÂ64 years old, and 33.6% of the population was 65 and older.
The area of present-day Minamibà Âsà  was part of ancient Awa Province, dominated by the Satomi clan during the Sengoku period, and mostly tenryà  territory controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, with portions under the control of various minor feudal domains. The area was divided into numerous towns and villages in the Meiji period, all within Awa District of Chiba Prefecture.
The modern city of Minamibà Âsà  was formed from the merger on March 20, 2006 of the towns of Chikura, Maruyama, Shirahama, Tomiura, Tomiyama and Wada, and the village of Miyoshi (all from Awa District).
Minamibà Âsà  has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Minamibà Âsà  contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Minamibà Âsà  serves as a commercial center for the surrounding region of southern Chiba Prefecture. The primary industry is commercial fishing and agriculture (horticulture and flowers). The tourist industry is a growing component of the local economy, with attractions being the areas beaches and hot spring resorts. In 2008, about 4.5 million tourists visited Minamibà Âsà  City. Due to its close proximity to Tokyo and Chiba City, many people visit Minamibà Âsà  on day trips. Of those 4.5 million tourists in 2008, almost 3.9 million of them were visiting on a day trip. Of the working population, about 60% own various private businesses such as small shops restaurants or medical practices, 25% work in Farming Fishing and Forestry, and 17% work in Manufacturing and Construction.
Minamibà Âsà  has eight public elementary schools and six public junior high schools schools operated by the Minamiboso City Board of Education, and one public high school operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education.
The prefectural high school is Awa Takushin High School ().
There is a municipal combined elementary and junior high school, Tomiyama Elementary and Junior High School a.k.a. Tomiyama Gakuen School (Ã¥ÂÂæ¿ç·Âå¸Âç«Âå¯Âå±±å¦åÂÂ).
Municipal junior high schools:
Municipal elementary schools:
Former schools:
JR East â Uchibà  Line
The stations in parentheses are located in the neighboring Tateyama city.
There are city buses that travel through three areas:
From Tokyo:
Minamibà Âsà  City is located within 100 km of Tokyo, and can be reached in 95 minutes by car through use of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line.
From Chiba:
It takes about 70 minutes from Chiba City to Minamibà Âsà  by the Tateyama Expressway.
From Haneda Airport:
Minamibà Âsà  City is about 80 minutes by car or highway bus from Haneda Airport
Highway Buses run by Keisei(), Nitto Transportation (æÂ¥æ±交éÂÂ), and Tateyama Nitto Bus () companies are available to and from Chiba Station.
JR BusesãÂÂ() are available to and from Tokyo Station.
From Chiba Station:
From Tokyo Station: There are bus stops at:
The Tokyo-Wan Ferry is available to cross the Tokyo Bay from the Port of Kanaya in Futtsu, Chiba to the Port of Yokosuka.
The area of Wadaura in Wada is famous for whaling, and is one of two areas in Japan where whaling is permitted. As of November 7, 2012, a roadside station opened up in Wadaura in order to promote whale and other local cuisine such as namero and sanga (), and Boshu Lobster, and there are 21 restaurants in Wada that serve whale. Tomiura is famous for loquat fruits and also has a roadside station promoting the sales of products containing loquat. The area of Iwai in Tomiura is famous for abalone. Being surrounded by water on three sides, the entirety of Minamibà Âsà  is famous for the aforementioned seafood as well as sushi and sashimi. Another famous thing in the area being flowers, edible flower dishes are well known in Minamibà Âsà  city.
As of November 7, 2012, Minamibà Âsà  City has eight roadside stations promoting local produce and goods. It is currently tied with Takayama, Gifu for having the most roadside stations in the country.ãÂÂThe roadside stations include: