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 the city is highly rated by many for its convenient location and ease of living, it is also dotted with numerous natural conservation areas. The city's main industries are agriculture and forestry, which take advantage of the natural environment, and tourism, which takes advantage of its hot springs, and the economy is developing primarily around these two. The city is attractive in many ways, and is characterized by a very well-balanced overall region.