Chigasaki 茅ヶ崎市 | |
|---|---|
| Chigasaki City | |
 Chigasaki City Hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Chigasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture | |
  Chigasaki | |
| Coordinates:35°20′N139°24′E / 35.333°N 139.400°E /35.333; 139.400 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Kanagawa |
| Area | |
• Total | 35.71 km2 (13.79 sq mi) |
| Population (June 1, 2021) | |
• Total | 242,798 |
| • Density | 6,799/km2 (17,610/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Symbols | |
| • Tree | Acacia |
| • Flower | Rhododendron |
| • Bird | Great tit |
| Phone number | 0467-82-1111 |
| Address | 1-1 Chigasaki 1-chome, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 253-8686 |
| Website | Official website |
Chigasaki (茅ヶ崎市,Chigasaki-shi) is acity located inKanagawa Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 June 2021[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 242,798 and apopulation density of 6800 people per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 35.71 square kilometres (13.79 sq mi).
The city is located on the eastern bank of theSagami River in south-central Kanagawa Prefecture, facingSagami Bay on thePacific Ocean to the south. TheHikiji River flows through part of the city.
Kanagawa Prefecture
The city has ahumid subtropical climate (KöppenCfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chigasaki is 15.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1872 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.4 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of the city grew rapidly during the late 20th century and has grown at a slower rate in the 21st.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 50,112 | — |
| 1960 | 68,054 | +35.8% |
| 1970 | 129,621 | +90.5% |
| 1980 | 171,016 | +31.9% |
| 1990 | 201,675 | +17.9% |
| 2000 | 220,809 | +9.5% |
| 2010 | 235,081 | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 242,389 | +3.1% |
The city has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The area was largely pasture and farmland well into theEdo period. TheTōkaidō connectingEdo withKyoto passed through what is now Chigasaki, without apost station. A large part of the area was thetenryō territory inSagami Province controlled directly by theTokugawa Shogunate through the Edo period, though other parts were administered by small clans including theŌoka clan, which is renowned for its descendantŌoka Tadasuke. After the start of theMeiji period, theTōkaidō Main Line railway connectedChigasaki Station withTokyo andOsaka in 1898, which spurred the development of the area. Chigasaki village inKōza District, Kanagawa Prefecture became Chigasaki town in 1908. In 1921, theSagami Line railway connected Chigasaki withHashimoto to the north. Chigasaki became acity on October 1, 1947. On April 1, 2003, the population of Chigasaki exceeded 200,000 and it became aspecial city with increased local autonomy. On October 24, 2014, Chigasaki agreed withHonolulu to establish thesister city relationship.[4]
The city has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 28 members. Chigasaki contributes three members to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kanagawa 15th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
The city is largely abedroom community for Tokyo andYokohama, and has been noted as a seaside resort community since the Meiji period. Tourism and summer leisure activities remain important to the local economy.
Companies headquartered in Chigasaki include:
The city has nineteen elementary schools and thirteen middle schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education, and the prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped. There is one private elementary, middle school and high school in the city.Bunkyo University has a campus located in the city.
Ken-Ō Expressway
Shin-Shōnan Bypass
National Route 1, toTokyo orKyoto
National Route 134, toYokosuka viaKamakura orHiratsuka
National Route 468
The shoreline from Chigasaki to Kamakura is called the "Shōnan area". A popular swimming destination, Chigasaki is well known as the birthplace of Japanesesurfing. A shop called "Goddess," located only about 20 meters from the shoreline, claims to be the firstsurfboard shop in Japan. Bicycles with metal fittings for holding surfboards are prominent in the area. A section of the beach in Chigasaki is called "Southern Beach," inspired by theSouthern All Stars, a famousJ-pop singing group whose lead vocalistKeisuke Kuwata hails from Chigasaki. The symbol of Southern Beach isEboshi-iwa, a large hat-shaped rock that is visible from the coast.
The city is known for being the center of Japanese Hawaiian culture with many tropical and Hawaiian stores located mainly in the southern side of the town. Fridays in Chigasaki was called "Aloha Friday" in which consumers were able to have discounts in many stores and taxis. Salesclerks and city officers are encouraged to work wearingaloha shirts as a part ofCool Biz campaign to promote its Hawaiian culture every summer since 2003.[5]
In contrast to the popularity as a modernized resort in south, north part of the city still retains some historical heritages.Ōoka Echizen festival is held in the family temple of the Ōoka clan (bodaiji) "Jōkenji" on May.
Okazaki, Aichi, Japan, since July 1, 1983
Honolulu, United States, since October 25, 2014
Geographic data related toChigasaki atOpenStreetMap| Yokohama |
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