Aira, Japan
姶良市
Aira is a town of 76,348 people in Kagoshima, Japan, founded in March 23, 2010.
Why visit Aira
Townapedia lists 34 museums and landmarks, 146 parks and trails, 43 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 14 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Mt. Iimori, Mt. Nagao, 精矛神社 and 西郷公園.
Weather in Aira
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Aira
Aira (姶良市, Aira-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ä́ì.ɾä̀, ä̀í.ɾä́(.ɕì)]) is a city located in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It is located west of Kirishima and north of Kagoshima. As of 29 February 2024, the city had an estimated population of 78,104 in 38912 households, and a population density of 340 persons per km². The total area of the city is 231.25 km2 (89.29 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Aira, Kagoshima (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do14
2 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks34
22 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds146
.jpg){kind=link}
134 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes43
31 more on the map.
History
The area of Aira was part of ancient Ōsumi Province, and there is evidence of continuous habitation since the Japanese Paleolithic period. The area was a stronghold of the Hayato people, many of whom had migrated to this location after being forced out of their territories in central Kyushu, and was one of the sites of the Hayato Rebellion of 720. In the Heian period, the area came under the control of the Okura clan, who claimed descent from Emperor Ling of Han, whose descendants fled to Japan. The region was contested in the Nanboku-chō period, gradually coming under control of the Shimazu clan in the 15th century. During the Edo Period the area was under the control of Kagoshima Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the villages of Chōsa, Kajiki, Kamō, Mizobe, Shigetomi and Yamada were established in Aira District on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. Kajiki gained town status on June 1, 1912 followed by Kamō on November 1, 1928. Kajiki was bombed twice in World War II, killing 43 people, including 14 students from the former Kajiki Junior High School (currently Kagoshima Prefectural Kajiki High School). The town of Aira was established on January 1, 1955 by the merger of the town of Chōsa and village of Shigetomi. Aira, Kajiki, and Kamō merged to form the city of Aira on March 23, 2010.
From the History section of Aira, Kagoshima on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship41
Shopping22
Gas and EV charging21
Schools, colleges and libraries63
Healthcare28
Map of Aira
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kagoshima Airport (KOJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 km away.
- Kajiki 8 km southeast, about 8 min by car
- Kirishima 17 km east, about 17 min by car
- Kagoshima 23 km south, about 23 min by car
- Ijūin 25 km southwest, about 25 min by car
- Sendai 28 km west, about 28 min by car
- Kushikino 31 km west, about 31 min by car
- Tarumizu 34 km south, about 34 min by car
- Izumi 40 km northwest, about 40 min by car
- Kobayashi 44 km northeast, about 44 min by car
- Miyakonojō 45 km east, about 45 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aira Plain, Ray_go, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Terashi, Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-5401, Japan - panoramio, SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Terashi, Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-5401, Japan - panoramio (1), SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kamouhachiman-jinja, Aira 02, Higa4, CC0
- Kamouhachiman-jinja, Aira 01, Higa4, CC0
- Kamoucho Kamigyutoku, Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-5302, Japan - panoramio, SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kamoucho Kamigyutoku, Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-5302, Japan - panoramio (1), SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- E3KYUSHU-EXP Sakurajima SIC Aira Kagoshima, Mizushimasea, CC BY-SA 4.0
- IkedaPan Aira Kagoshima, Mizushimasea, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Aira Kensho Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mifune elementary school, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira-Kitayama elementary school, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kajiki junior high school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira-Yamada junior high school frontview, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira-Yamada elementary school, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chosa junior high school frontview, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Aira Chosa Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kuwashihoko shrine, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hanao Shrine Honden 2020, 2020-05-23, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kamo hachiman shrine, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kagoshima Miya Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Hospital Organization Minamikyushu-hospital, Waka77, CC0
- Aira Hospital, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Front shrine of Hiramatsu shrine, Tam0031, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kajiki Elementary school, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 3.0
- なぎさ小学校, Cronies 37, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 長野滝 薩摩川内市入来町浦之名, あじさか, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 岩瀬戸の滝 20260101, あじさか, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 姶良町寺師 - panoramio, SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 臥竜梅 - panoramio, SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 溝辺 空港道路 - panoramio, SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 寺師 - panoramio, SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 川 - panoramio (1), SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 小川 - panoramio (3), SATcatype, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kamō no Kusu 03, Higa4, CC0
- Kamō no Kusu 05, Higa4, CC0
- Kamō no Kusu 04, Higa4, CC0
- Kamō no Kusu 02, Higa4, CC0
- Kamō no Kusu 01, Higa4, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built November 5, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.