city, western Tottori ken (prefecture), western Honshu, Japan. It is located on the delta of the Hino River, which forms the Yonago Plain. The city occupies the base of a sandspit called Yumiga Beach, which extends from the mouth of the river northwest into the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Yonago was originally a fishing village called Kano. With the construction of Yonago Castle (1601), it grew into a regional centre of transport and commerce. The city is now a major industrial site, producing pulp, processed foods, iron and steel, and textiles. Yonago is also a gateway to the Daisen-Oki National Park, which consists of several units located east and north of the city. Pop. (2005 prelim.) 149,575.