uncovered here are recognized as Important Cultural Properties in Japan. Later history The land of modern-day Yurihama became part of Hōki Province in 645, as a result of the Taika reforms. Sometime after this, Shitori Shrine near Lake Tōgō was made ichinomiya of the province. Artifacts excavated from the shrine's Sutra mound date to the year 1103, and are collectively designated as a National Treasure. Throughout the Sengoku Period, control of the region changed several times. In 1366, Ueshi Castle (ja) was built by the founder of the Nanjō clan in the south of modern-day Yurihama. The castle and surrounding areas were an important part of the eastern Hōki during this period, facing invasions by the Amago clan from the neighboring Izumo, among others. The castle frequently changed ownership for nearly 300 years before being abandoned in 1600 around the end of the Sengoku Period. Its ruins lay on a hill in Yurihama, and the area is now designated as a Prefectural Historic Site. As with all of Hōki Province, the area was part of the holdings of a branch of the Ikeda clan, daimyō of Tottori Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organized into villages within Tōhaku District, Tottori Prefecture on April 1, 1896. Yurihama was created on October 1, 2004, after a merger of the towns of Hawai and Tōgō, and the village of Tomari. Etymology The name “Yurihama” (湯梨浜) highlights three features of the town. The first kanji character, 湯 (yu), means “hot water” and refers to the hot springs around Lake Tōgō. The second character, 梨 (ri), means “pear”, for the Nashi pears grown in the area. The last character, 浜 (hama), means “beach” and refers to Yurihama's sandy beaches. Government Yurihama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Yurihama, collectively with the other municipalities of Tōhaku District, contributes three members to the Tottori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tottori 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy The economy of Yurihama is based agriculture and commercial fishing. A large volume of Nashi pears and other agricultural products are produced in Yurihama; in 2006, it was one of the top ten largest exporters of pears in Japan. Education Yurihama has three public elementary schools and