Onjuku 御宿町 | |
|---|---|
 Beach at Onjuku | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Onjuku in Chiba Prefecture | |
  Onjuku | |
| Coordinates:35°11′29.4″N140°20′55.7″E / 35.191500°N 140.348806°E /35.191500; 140.348806 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Chiba |
| District | Isumi District |
| Area | |
• Total | 24.86 km2 (9.60 sq mi) |
| Population (November 30, 2018) | |
• Total | 7,523 |
| • Density | 300/km2 (780/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| - Tree | Oleander |
| Phone number | 0470-68-2511 |
| Address | 1522 Saga, Onjuku-machi, Chiba-ken 299-5192 |
| Website | Official website |
Onjuku (御宿町,Onjuku-machi) is atown located inChiba,Japan. As of 30 November 2018[update], the town had an estimatedpopulation of 7,523 in 3683 households and apopulation density of 300 persons per km2.[1] The total area o the town is 24.86 square kilometres (9.60 sq mi). The name of the town is made of twokanji characters: the first御 meaning "honorable", and the second宿 meaning "residence".
Onjuku is located on the east coast of southern Chiba Prefecture in approximately the center of the outer coast of theBōsō Peninsula. The landscape consists of rolling, sandy hills of theBōsō Hill Range, and the town is noted for its beach resorts. Its broad beaches are protected as part of theMinami Bōsō Quasi-National Park. The town is about 50 kilometers from the prefectural capital atChiba, and 70 to 80 kilometers from central Tokyo. Onjuku faces Ajiro Bay, which has two functional ports: the Port of Iwawada to the north, and the Port of Onjuku to the south. One small river, the Kiyomizu River, flows through the town to Ajiro Bay.
Chiba Prefecture
Onjuku has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Onjuku is 15.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1904 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.8 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Onjuku has been gradually decreasing over the past 70 years.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 10,277 | — |
| 1960 | 9,273 | −9.8% |
| 1970 | 8,475 | −8.6% |
| 1980 | 8,486 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 7,939 | −6.4% |
| 2000 | 8,019 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 7,738 | −3.5% |
| 2020 | 6,874 | −11.2% |
Onjuku is part of ancientKazusa Province. The pines and sand of Ajiro Bay in Onjuku were referenced in a poem byHōjō Tokiyori (1227–1263), aKamakura-period administrator.
Onjuku, from theMuromachi to theEdo period, was divided into a complex mixture of administrative areas. Much of the town wastenryō territory ruled by varioushatamoto on behalf of the Shōgun. The town was typically associated with administrators from theŌtaki andIwatsuki domains. In theEdo period a prominent “rokusai’ichi” (六斎市) market, or open-air market held on fixed days six times a month, developed in Onjuku.
In 1609 aSpanish galleon, theSan Francisco, ran aground near Onjuku. The captain and 300 survivors were cared for by the town, and later, the sailors were given a ship by theTokugawa shogunate to return toMexico. One of the survivors wasGovernor General of the PhilippinesRodrigo de Vivero, who was subsequently granted an audience withshōgunTokugawa Ieyasu.[4] In 1928 a tower was built in Onjuku to commemorate the landing of Rodrigo and friendly relations between Mexico, Spain, and Japan. It has since been designated a Prefectural Historic Monument (県指定史跡 (ken shitei shiseki)), and is surrounded by an extensive garden complex.
The village of Onjuku was created on April 1, 1889, with the earlyMeiji period establishment of the municipalities system, and was elevated to town status on April 1, 1914. The town expanded through annexation of areas of the neighboring villages of Fuse and Namihana on March 1, 1955.
Onjuku has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral town council of 12 members. Onjuku, together with the city of Isumi contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part ofChiba 11th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
The economy of Onjuku is dominated by summer tourism andcommercial fishing; agriculture plays a relatively small role in the economy compared to nearby municipalities. Commercial coastal and off-shore fishing operations are active, withsquid andbonito being the most important catches.Ama, or traditional women divers, gatherabalone,turban shell (sazae), andspiny lobster, all important parts of the traditional Japanese diet.
The sandy beaches of Onjuku are the representative swimming areas of the Sotobōsō Coast and attract numerous tourists during the summer months. Tourism in the town began in the Meiji period, and development of the tourism industry continues. Numerous guests houses,ryokan (traditional Japanese inns), and hotels have developed in the area.
Onjuku has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town also has one private elementary school and one private high school.
Due to the infrastructure and sandy beach with good surf conditions, the locality holds the yearly nationalsurf carnival of theJapan Lifesaving Association, in whichsurf lifesavers gather from all clubs over the country. In 2013, the worldwide 2013 International Surf Rescue Challenge is held here.
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