Mimasaka City, which was established in 2005 through the merger of surrounding municipalities, borders parts of Hyogo and Tottori prefectures. The Chugoku Expressway runs through the center of town, providing excellent transportation links to Keihan and Osaka. In the future, it will be connected to the Tottori Expressway, which will hopefully further revitalize the region. While it is highly convenient and highly rated by many as a great place to live, it is also dotted with numerous natural conservation areas. The economy is developing primarily around agriculture and forestry, which take advantage of the natural environment, and tourism, which takes advantage of the hot springs. The city is attractive in many ways, and is characterized by a very well-balanced overall region.