Numazu, Shizuoka
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture
, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population
of 205,636 and a population density
of 1,100 persons per km². The total area was 187.11 km².
, which is a leisure destination known for its numerous hot springs
. Mount Fuji
, Japan's tallest mountain, may also be seen from Numazu on clear days. Numazu is located 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) west of Tokyo
and is on the Tōkaidō Main Line
, the main railway line from Osaka
to Tokyo. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current
, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. The Kano River
runs through the middle of the city.
records as the original provincial capital of Suruga Province
before the separation of Izu Province
from Suruga in 680, and subsequent transfer of the provincial capital to the banks of the Abe River
in what is now Shizuoka city
. During the early part of the Tokugawa shogunate
, Numazu was ruled as part of Odawara Domain
, but with the construction of Numazu Castle
in 1777, it became the separate Numazu Domain
. Numazu prospered in the Edo period
from its location on the Tōkaidō
, with Numazu-juku
and Hara-juku
as two of the 53 post stations
.
After the Meiji Restoration
, Numazu Station
was opened on the Tōkaidō Main Line
on February 1, 1889. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
in 1889, the area was reorganized into Numazu Town within Suntō District, Shizuoka
From its seaside location, Numazu gained a reputation as a health resort, which was further enhanced by its selection as the location of a villa for Emperor Meiji
in 1893. The area become popular with other members of the nobility
, statesmen (including Inoue Kaoru
) and writers. Numazu town expanded in 1923 by merger with Yanagihara village, becoming Numazu City on July 1, 1923.
Central Numazu was destroyed by a fire in 1926. In 1944, the city further expanded through merger with neighboring Katahama, Kanaoka, Ooka and Shizuura villages. The city was a target for American air raid
s in World War II
, and was largely destroyed by bombing on July 17, 1945
.
In 1955, the villages of Ashitaka, Oohira, Uchiura, and Nishiura merged with Numazu, and in 1968 Hara Town also merged with Numazu. In the year 2000, Numazu was designated a by the central government. In April 2005, the village of Heda
merged with Numazu. In 2007, Numazu hosted the 29th World Skills
International Championship.
. Numazu produces more dried horse mackerel
than any other region in Japan. The city accounts for about half of Japan's total production. Agriculture is dominated by production of oranges
and green tea
, with Brussels sprouts, dairy products and rice as secondary products. Numazu is the location of the head office of Suruga Bank, Shizuoka Chuo Bank and Numazu Shinkin Bank.
, which are major tourist attractions. The harbour area has seafood restaurants and features an anti-tsunami
barrier with an observation floor on top that offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding area. There is a shopping street not too far from the train station.
Numazu has the longest coastline of any municipality in the prefecture. The Senbonhama ("Thousand Tree Beach") seaside is considered one of the best places to view Osezaki, Nihondaira
, or the southern Japan Alps against the background of Sembonmatsubara and Mount Fuji. Two aquariums are located in Numazu, Mito Sea Paradise and Awashima Marine Park.
, USA (since 1963) - Yueyang
, Hunan
, China (since 1985) - Ueda, Nagano, Japan
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 205,636 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 1,100 persons per km². The total area was 187.11 km².
Geography
Numazu is at the northern end of the Izu PeninsulaIzu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
, which is a leisure destination known for its numerous hot springs
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
. Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
, Japan's tallest mountain, may also be seen from Numazu on clear days. Numazu is located 130 kilometres (80.8 mi) west of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and is on the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
, the main railway line from Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
to Tokyo. Warmed by the Kuroshio Current
Kuroshio Current
The Kuroshio is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre...
, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. The Kano River
Kano River
The is a 1st class river in Shizuoka Prefecture of cenral Japan. It is 46 km long and has a watershed of 853 km².The Kano River rises from Mount Amagi in central Izu Peninsula and follows a generally northern path into Suruga Bay at Numazu. The Izu Peninsula is characterized by heavy...
runs through the middle of the city.
Neighboring municipalities
- MishimaMishima, Shizuokais a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 112,078 and a population density of 1,800 persons per km². The total area is 62.13 km²...
- FujiFuji, Shizuokais a city in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. Fuji is the 3rd largest city in terms of population in Shizuoka Prefecture, trailing Hamamatsu and Shizuoka. As of February 2010, the city has an estimated population of 254,113 and a population density of 1040 persons per km²...
- IzuIzu, Shizuokais a city located in central Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 35,397 and the density of 97.3 persons per km². The total area as 363.97 km².-Geography:...
- IzunokuniIzunokuni, Shizuokais a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 49,381 and a population density of 521 persons per km². The total area was 94.71 km².-Geography:...
- ShimizuShimizu, Shizuokais a town located in Suntō District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 32,205and a density of 3,640 persons per km². The total area is 8.84 km².-Geography:...
- NagaizumiNagaizumi, Shizuokais a town located in Suntō District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 39,865 and a density of 1,500 persons per km². The total area is 26.51 km².-Geography:...
- KannamiKannami, Shizuokais a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of February 2010, the town has an estimated population of 39,126 and a density of 601 persons per km². The total area is 65.13 km².-Geography:...
History
Numazu is an ancient settlement, mentioned in Nara periodNara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
records as the original provincial capital of Suruga Province
Suruga Province
was an old province in the area that is today the central part of Shizuoka prefecture. It was sometimes called . Suruga bordered on Izu, Kai, Sagami, Shinano, and Tōtōmi provinces; and had access to the Pacific Ocean through Suruga Bay.-History:...
before the separation of Izu Province
Izu Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Shizuoka Prefecture. Izu bordered on Sagami and Suruga Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .The mainland portion of Izu Province, comprising the Izu Peninsula is today the eastern portion of Shizuoka Prefecture and the Izu Islands are now part of...
from Suruga in 680, and subsequent transfer of the provincial capital to the banks of the Abe River
Abe River
The is a river in Shizuoka Prefecture of central Japan. It is long and has a watershed of .The river rises from Akaishi Mountains which stretch over the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures, and flows into Suruga Bay in the Pacific Ocean)...
in what is now Shizuoka city
Shizuoka, Shizuoka
is the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and the prefecture's second-largest city in terms of both population and area. It became one of Japan's 19 "designated cities" in 2005.-Geography:...
. During the early part of the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
, Numazu was ruled as part of Odawara Domain
Odawara Domain
was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in western Sagami Province. It was centered on Odawara Castle in what is now the city of Odawara.-History:...
, but with the construction of Numazu Castle
Numazu Castle
was a Japanese castle located in the city of Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was a hirayama-jō, a castle built on a plains rather than a hill or mountain...
in 1777, it became the separate Numazu Domain
Numazu Domain
' was a Japanese feudal domain of the Edo period, located in Suruga Province. Numazu was a Fudai domain. It was centered on what is now the city of Numazu, Shizuoka.-History:...
. Numazu prospered in the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
from its location on the Tōkaidō
Tokaido (road)
The ' was the most important of the Five Routes of the Edo period, connecting Edo to Kyoto in Japan. Unlike the inland and less heavily travelled Nakasendō, the Tōkaidō travelled along the sea coast of eastern Honshū, hence the route's name....
, with Numazu-juku
Numazu-juku
was the twelfth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-History:Numazu was the eastern-most post station within Suruga Province, and was the castle town of the daimyo of Numazu Domain...
and Hara-juku
Hara-juku (Tokaido)
was the thirteenth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
as two of the 53 post stations
Shukuba
were post stations during the Edo period in Japan, generally located on one of the Edo Five Routes or one of its sub-routes. They were also called shukueki . These post stations were places where travelers could rest on their journey around the nation...
.
After the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
, Numazu Station
Numazu Station
is an interchange railway station on the Tōkaidō Main Line of Central Japan Railway Company in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The station is 126.2 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station.- Station history:...
was opened on the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
on February 1, 1889. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
in 1889, the area was reorganized into Numazu Town within Suntō District, Shizuoka
Sunto District, Shizuoka
is a district located in Shizuoka, Japan. The area is part of former Suruga Province.As of 2009, the district has an estimated population of 93,038 and a density of 543 persons per km². The total area is 171.48 km².-Towns and villages:...
From its seaside location, Numazu gained a reputation as a health resort, which was further enhanced by its selection as the location of a villa for Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
in 1893. The area become popular with other members of the nobility
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan that existed between 1869 and 1947.-Origins:Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the ancient court nobility of Kyoto regained some of its lost status...
, statesmen (including Inoue Kaoru
Inoue Kaoru
Count , GCMG was a member of the Meiji oligarchy during the Meiji period Empire of Japan. As one of the senior statesman in Japan during that period, he had a tremendous influence on the selection of the nation's leaders and formation of its policies.-Early years:...
) and writers. Numazu town expanded in 1923 by merger with Yanagihara village, becoming Numazu City on July 1, 1923.
Central Numazu was destroyed by a fire in 1926. In 1944, the city further expanded through merger with neighboring Katahama, Kanaoka, Ooka and Shizuura villages. The city was a target for American air raid
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
s in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was largely destroyed by bombing on July 17, 1945
Bombing of Numazu in World War II
The was part of the strategic bombing campaign waged by the United States of America against military and civilian targets and population centers during the Japan home islands campaign in the closing states of World War II.-Background:...
.
In 1955, the villages of Ashitaka, Oohira, Uchiura, and Nishiura merged with Numazu, and in 1968 Hara Town also merged with Numazu. In the year 2000, Numazu was designated a by the central government. In April 2005, the village of Heda
Heda, Shizuoka
was a village located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan on the Suruga Bay coast of Izu Peninsula. Stunning views of Mount Fuji can be seen from the village, which is a popular resort....
merged with Numazu. In 2007, Numazu hosted the 29th World Skills
World Skills
WorldSkills is the largest skills competition, jobs and careers event in the world. It is a competition for youth from 17 to 22 years to demonstrate their excellence in skilled professions. The competition, held in a member country every two years, is promoted and managed by WorldSkills...
International Championship.
Economy
Numazu is an industrial city and regional financial center, and its port is a major center of Shizuoka prefecture's fishery industryCommercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
. Numazu produces more dried horse mackerel
Horse mackerel
A horse mackerel is a large fish, such as the tuna, and the scad or saurel of the Pacific coast:*Australian bonito *various Jack mackerels*Pilot fish...
than any other region in Japan. The city accounts for about half of Japan's total production. Agriculture is dominated by production of oranges
Mikan
The satsuma is a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant of Japanese origin introduced to the West.In Japan, it is known as mikan or formally unshu mikan . In China, it is known as Wenzhou migan . The Japanese name is a result of the local reading of the same characters used in the Chinese...
and green tea
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
, with Brussels sprouts, dairy products and rice as secondary products. Numazu is the location of the head office of Suruga Bank, Shizuoka Chuo Bank and Numazu Shinkin Bank.
Rail
- JR CentralCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
- Tokaido Main LineTokaido Main LineThe is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
- - -
- JR CentralCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
- Gotemba Line- -
Sightseeing
Numazu is a gateway to Mount Fuji, Hakone, and Izu PeninsulaIzu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
, which are major tourist attractions. The harbour area has seafood restaurants and features an anti-tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
barrier with an observation floor on top that offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding area. There is a shopping street not too far from the train station.
Numazu has the longest coastline of any municipality in the prefecture. The Senbonhama ("Thousand Tree Beach") seaside is considered one of the best places to view Osezaki, Nihondaira
Nihondaira
is a scenic area located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Japan.At the centre of Shizuoka city, from the altitude of 308 m, Nihondaira is famous for the view of Mt. Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, the Japanese Southern Alps, Shimizu Port, and Suruga Bay. It was selected as one of the top 100 sightseeing spots of...
, or the southern Japan Alps against the background of Sembonmatsubara and Mount Fuji. Two aquariums are located in Numazu, Mito Sea Paradise and Awashima Marine Park.
Sister city relations
- Kalamazoo, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, USA (since 1963) - Yueyang
Yueyang
Yueyang is a prefecture-level city at the northeastern corner of Hunan province, South Central China, on the southern shores of Dongting Lake.The Yueyang metropolitan area occupies 14,896 km². and the city proper occupies 304 km²...
, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
, China (since 1985) - Ueda, Nagano, Japan
Notable natives
- Tsunejiro TomitaTsunejiro Tomita, born , was the earliest disciple of judo. His name appears in the first line of the enrollment book of the Kōdōkan. Tomita, together with Saigō Shirō, became first in history of judo to be awarded black belt grade by the founder of judo Kanō Jigorō, who established the ranking system...
(1865 – 1937) - the earliest disciple of judoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an... - Yasushi InoueYasushi InoueYasushi Inoue was a Japanese writer whose range of genres included poetry, essays, short fiction, and novels...
- novelist - Nobutaka MachimuraNobutaka Machimurais a Japanese politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan and a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He was Chief Cabinet Secretary in the government of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda from 2007 to 2008.- Career :...
- politician - Shinji OnoShinji Onois a Japanese football player, who plays as a midfielder for Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan.Known as Tensai, Japanese for "Genius", from his youth days, Ono is one of the biggest stars in Asian football, known for his vision, technique and superb passing...
- professional soccer player - Masakuni YamamotoMasakuni YamamotoMasakuni Yamamoto is a Japanese former football player and is currently a commentator of football match program of NHK...
- professional soccer player - Kento SugiyamaKento Sugiyamais a retired Japanese professional baseball player from Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan. He played for the Seibu Lions, Hanshin Tigers, Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes, and Yokohama BayStars during his 10-year career in the Japanese professional leagues....
- professional baseball player - Kyoko IwasakiKyoko Iwasakiis a retired swimmer from Japan. She won the gold medal in the 200 metres breaststroke at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. She was at age of 14 years and 6 days when she got the medal.- External links :*...
- Olympic medalist swimmer - Koji MurofushiKoji Murofushiis a Japanese hammer thrower. He has been among the world elite since the 2001 World Championships, where he won the silver medal. He was olympic champion during the Athens Olympics. In 2011, He was crowned world champion.-Career:...
- Olympic medalist in hammer-throw - Yamada NagamasaYamada Nagamasawas a Japanese adventurer who gained considerable influence in Ayutthaya kingdom at the beginning of the 17th century and became the governor of the Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand....
- Sengoku periodSengoku periodThe or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
merchant-adventurer - Norio OhgaNorio Ohga, otherwise spelled Norio Oga, was the former president and chairman of Sony Corporation, credited with spurring the development of the compact disc as a commercially viable audio format.-Early career:...
- former CEO of Sony - Tomoyoshi MurayamaTomoyoshi Murayamawas a Japanese artist, playwright and drama producer active during the Showa period of Japan.-Early life:Murayama was born in the Kanda Suehiro district of Tokyo. His father, who was a medic in the Imperial Japanese Navy, died when he was nine years old. His mother became a fervent Christian after...
- artist and playwright - Masato HaradaMasato HaradaMasato Harada is a Japanese film director, critic, and sometimes an actor; he is best known to Western audiences as Omura in The Last Samurai and as Mr Mita in Fearless...
- movie director