Minamibōsō 南房総市 | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from top:Nojimazaki Lighthouse, Toyoura fishing port, Rosemary Park, Haraoka Beach, Shiramazu Flower Park, Shirahama onse,Mount Tomi, Wadaura flow fields | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Minamibōsō in Chiba Prefecture | |
  Minamibōsō | |
| Coordinates:35°02′35.4″N139°50′24″E / 35.043167°N 139.84000°E /35.043167; 139.84000 | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Chiba |
| Established | March 20, 2006 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Yutaka Ishii |
| Area | |
• Total | 230.14 km2 (88.86 sq mi) |
| Population (November 2020) | |
• Total | 37,143 |
| • Density | 161.39/km2 (418.01/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Address | 28 Aoki Tomiura-chō, Minamibōsō-shi, Chiba-ken 299-2492 |
| Website | Official website |
Minamibōsō (南房総市,Minamibōsō-shi) is acity located inChiba Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 November 2020[update], the city had an estimatedpopulation of 37,143 in 17,175 households and apopulation density of 160 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 230.22 square kilometres (88.89 sq mi), making it the fifth largest city in Chiba Prefecture in terms of area.
Minamibōsō is an area of historical relics and shrines.[2] The city's slogan is 「ひと・ゆめ・みらい 地域で創る魅力の郷 南房総」, which translates to "People, Dreams, Future. A Village With Locally Grown Appeal, Minamibōsō." Minamibōsō is known for flowers,uchiwa fans (房州うちわ),loquat fruit,whaling (捕鯨), and surfing. It is currently tied in first place for the city with the mostroadside stations selling locally produced goods in Japan.[3]
Minamibōsō is in the southern portion of Chiba Prefecture, near the southern tip of theBōsō Peninsula. It is surrounded by water on three sides facing thePacific Ocean to the east and south, and the entrance toTokyo Bay on the west. Minamibōsō city has several mountain ranges over 300 meters high such asMount Atago andMount Tomi. Minamibōsō City surroundsTateyama on the north, east, and south. The land in Minamibōsō is broken up as follows: 30.43% mountains/forest land, 13.23% rice paddies, 8.81% crop land, 6.25% open fields, 4.61% residential land.[4]
Chiba Prefecture
The Minamibōsō area has a warm,maritime climate with hot summers and mild winters due to theKuroshio Current.[2] The average temperature is 16.22 degrees Celsius, with the average high and low temperatures at 34.34 degrees Celsius and -4.16 degrees Celsius respectively. The hottest months are from June to September, and the coldest months are from January to March. Minamibōsō City receives an average of 1767.15 mm of rainfall annually.[4]
Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Minamibōsō has been decreasing over the past 70 years. Minamibōsō's cityscape is characterized by low-rise residential buildings dispersed throughout the various flat areas in town; the Chikura area, in east, is the town's most populous locality. As of 2007, 10.3% of the population was 0–14 years old, 56.1% of the population was between 15–64 years old, and 33.6% of the population was 65 and older.[4]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 61,684 | — |
| 1930 | 61,106 | −0.9% |
| 1940 | 58,523 | −4.2% |
| 1950 | 74,213 | +26.8% |
| 1960 | 66,484 | −10.4% |
| 1970 | 58,801 | −11.6% |
| 1980 | 55,652 | −5.4% |
| 1990 | 51,228 | −7.9% |
| 2000 | 47,154 | −8.0% |
| 2010 | 42,104 | −10.7% |
| 2020 | 35,831 | −14.9% |
The area of present-day Minamibōsō was part of ancientAwa Province, dominated by theSatomi clan during theSengoku period, and mostlytenryō territory controlled directly by theTokugawa shogunate, with portions under the control of various minorfeudal domains. The area was divided into numerous towns and villages in theMeiji period, all withinAwa District of Chiba Prefecture.
The modern city of Minamibōsō was formed from the merger on March 20, 2006 of the towns ofChikura,Maruyama,Shirahama,Tomiura,Tomiyama andWada, and the village ofMiyoshi (all fromAwa District).
Minamibōsō has amayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameral city council of 18 members. Minamibōsō contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part ofChiba 12th district of thelower house of theDiet of Japan.
Minamibōsō serves as a commercial center for the surrounding region of southern Chiba Prefecture. The primary industry iscommercial fishing and agriculture (horticulture and flowers). The tourist industry is a growing component of the local economy, with attractions being the areas beaches andhot spring resorts. In 2008, about 4.5 million tourists visited Minamibōsō City. Due to its close proximity to Tokyo and Chiba City, many people visit Minamibōsō on day trips. Of those 4.5 million tourists in 2008, almost 3.9 million of them were visiting on a day trip. Of the working population, about 60% own various private businesses such as small shops restaurants or medical practices, 25% work in Farming Fishing and Forestry, and 17% work in Manufacturing and Construction.[4]
Minamibōsō has eight public elementary schools and six public junior high schools schools operated by the Minamiboso City Board of Education, and one public high school operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education.
The prefectural high school is Awa Takushin High School (JA).
There is a municipal combined elementary and junior high school, Tomiyama Elementary and Junior High School a.k.a. Tomiyama Gakuen School (南房総市立富山学園).[6]
Municipal junior high schools:[7]
Municipal elementary schools:[8]
Former schools:
The stations in parentheses are located in the neighboringTateyama city.
There are city buses that travel through three areas:
From Tokyo:
Minamibōsō City is located within 100 km of Tokyo, and can be reached in 95 minutes by car through use of theTokyo Bay Aqua-Line.
From Chiba:
It takes about 70 minutes fromChiba City to Minamibōsō by theTateyama Expressway.[4]
FromHaneda Airport:
Minamibōsō City is about 80 minutes by car or highway bus fromHaneda Airport[10]
Highway Buses run by Keisei(京成), Nitto Transportation (日東交通), and Tateyama Nitto Bus (館山日東バス) companies are available to and fromChiba Station.
JR Buses (ジェイアールバス関東) are available to and fromTokyo Station.
FromChiba Station:
FromTokyo Station:There are bus stops at:
TheTokyo-Wan Ferry is available to cross theTokyo Bay from the Port of Kanaya inFuttsu, Chiba to thePort of Yokosuka.[13]
The area ofWadaura in Wada is famous for whaling, and is one of two areas in Japan where whaling is permitted. As of November 7, 2012, aroadside station opened up in Wadaura in order to promote whale and other local cuisine such as namero and sanga (なめろう), and Boshu Lobster, and there are 21 restaurants in Wada that serve whale.Tomiura is famous forloquat fruits and also has a roadside station promoting the sales of products containing loquat. The area of Iwai in Tomiura is famous forabalone. Being surrounded by water on three sides, the entirety of Minamibōsō is famous for the aforementioned seafood as well assushi andsashimi. Another famous thing in the area being flowers, edible flower dishes are well known in Minamibōsō city.[14]
As of November 7, 2012, Minamibōsō City has eight roadside stations promoting local produce and goods. It is currently tied withTakayama, Gifu for having the most roadside stations in the country.[15] The roadside stations include:
Ferndale, Washington, United States
Blankenberge, Belgium[19]
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