Tatsuno City is located in the southwestern part of Hyogo Prefecture, surrounded by mountains to the north, the Seto Inland Sea to the south, and the Ibo River running north and south. It is a relatively new city, formed in 2005 by the merger of one city and three towns. It once flourished as a castle town of the Tatsuno Domain, with a stipend of 53,000 koku, and still retains traces of that time, earning it the nickname "Little Kyoto of Harima." The climate is mild and mild throughout the year, typical of the Seto Inland Sea, with little rainfall. A key transportation hub since ancient times, the area remains a center of transportation today. Furthermore, as part of the Harima Science Garden City, research and development into next-generation synchrotron radiation sources is underway, and the town is home to a concentration of academic research institutions. Development is underway with the aim of becoming an international science garden city.