Bōsō Hill Range
Encyclopedia
The is a mountain range
on the Bōsō Peninsula
of Chiba Prefecture
, Japan
. The highest point in the Bōsō Mountain Range is at Mount Atago
, with an altitude of 408.2 m (1,339 ft). The hill range runs from roughly in a line from Mobara
or Ōamishirasato
to Kisarazu
, but is not formally defined. It is an important part of the Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park
.
. The hill range also has noted forests of oaks
, chestnut
, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria
), and various species of evergreen
. The hill area around Tateyama
is noted for its forests of castanopsis
trees, a genus of evergreens
belonging to the beech family
.
is home to Jōmon period
remains. Kofun
tumuli were built across the entire hill range in the Kofun
period, but Futtsu
and Ichihara
have especially rich examples of tumuli. Under the Taika Reform
of 645, during the Asuka period
, the hill range became part of three provinces, Shimōsa Province to the north, Kazusa Province
in the middle part of the range, and Awa Province
to the south. The hill range is noted for its richness of castles built during the Sengoku period
as part of medieval conflicts.
. The Bōsō Hill Range provided a natural fortification against air attack of Tokyo during World War II
, when the 252 Air Group
of the Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN) built the Mobara Air Field in 1941 in Mobara. After the war land reform
was carried out in the region. The eastern part of the hill range saw major economic development as part of the greater Metropolitan Tokyo region.
production in the past. The hill range is still home to many dairy
farms. Numerous golf courses
were developed in the hill region, and recreational facilities continue to be developed in the area. The hill range is popular as a hiking
destination.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
on the Bōsō Peninsula
Boso Peninsula
thumb|Locationthumb|Landsat image with high-resolution data from Space Shuttle is a peninsula in Chiba prefecture on Honshū, the largest island of Japan. It forms the eastern edge of Tokyo Bay, separating it from the Pacific Ocean....
of Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The highest point in the Bōsō Mountain Range is at Mount Atago
Mount Atago
is a 924m mountain in the northwestern part of Ukyo-ku, in the city of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan....
, with an altitude of 408.2 m (1,339 ft). The hill range runs from roughly in a line from Mobara
Mobara, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city has an estimated population of 92,449 and a population density of 924 persons per km². The total area is 100.01 km².-Geography:...
or Ōamishirasato
Oamishirasato, Chiba
is a town located in Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 50,303 and a population density of 866 persons per km². The total area was 58.06 km²...
to Kisarazu
Kisarazu, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of September 2010, Kisarazu has an estimated population of 126,906 and a density of 915 persons per km². The total area was 138.73 km²....
, but is not formally defined. It is an important part of the Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park
Minami Bōsō Quasi-National Park
is a quasi-national park in the Kantō region of Honshū in Japan. It is rated a protected landscape according to the IUCN. The park includes numerous widely separated portions of the coastal areas of southern Bōsō Peninsula, ranging from Cape Futtsu on Tokyo Bay to the west, to Cape Inubō facing...
.
Geography
The Bōsō Hill Range is still extensively wooded. The area from the Yōrō Ravine to Mount Seichō is noted for its forests of live oakLive oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
. The hill range also has noted forests of oaks
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
, Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria
Cryptomeria is a monotypic genus of conifer in the cypress family Cupressaceae formerly belonging to the family Taxodiaceae; it includes only one species, Cryptomeria japonica . It is endemic to Japan, where it is known as Sugi...
), and various species of evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
. The hill area around Tateyama
Tateyama, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city had an estimated population of 49,315 and the population density of 447 persons per km². The total area was 110.21 km²...
is noted for its forests of castanopsis
Castanopsis
Castanopsis is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the beech family, Fagaceae. The genus contains about 120 species, which are today restricted to tropical and subtropical eastern Asia. A total of 58 species are native to China, with 30 endemic; the other species occur further south, through...
trees, a genus of evergreens
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
belonging to the beech family
Fagaceae
The family Fagaceae, or beech family, comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like nuts. Fagaceous leaves are often...
.
Premodern history
The Bōsō Hill Range was settled from the earliest periods of Japanese history. The Yōrō Ravine in present-day Ōtaki, ChibaOtaki
Otaki may refer to:*Ōtaki , a parliamentary electorate in New Zealand*Otaki, New Zealand, a town in New Zealand*Otaki River, a river in New Zealand*Ōtaki, Chiba, a town in Japan*Ōtaki, Saitama, a former village in Japan...
is home to Jōmon period
Jomon period
The is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC to 300 BC.The term jōmon means "cord-patterned" in Japanese. This refers to the pottery style characteristic of the Jōmon culture, and which has markings made using sticks with cords wrapped around them...
remains. Kofun
Kofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
tumuli were built across the entire hill range in the Kofun
Kofun
Kofun are megalithic tombs or tumuli in Japan, constructed between the early 3rd century and early 7th century. They gave their name to the Kofun period . Many of the Kofun have a distinctive keyhole-shaped mound , unique to ancient Japan...
period, but Futtsu
Futtsu, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city had an estimated population of 47,705 and the population density of 232 persons per km²...
and Ichihara
Ichihara, Chiba
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 279,080, with a population density of 758 persons per km². The total area of Ichihara was 368.20 km²...
have especially rich examples of tumuli. Under the Taika Reform
Taika Reform
The ' were a set of doctrines established by Emperor Kōtoku in the year 645. They were written shortly after the death of Prince Shōtoku, and the defeat of the Soga clan , uniting Japan. Crown Prince Naka no Ōe , Nakatomi no Kamatari, and Emperor Kōtoku jointly embarked on the details of the Reforms...
of 645, during the Asuka period
Asuka period
The , was a period in the history of Japan lasting from 538 to 710 , although its beginning could be said to overlap with the preceding Kofun period...
, the hill range became part of three provinces, Shimōsa Province to the north, Kazusa Province
Kazusa Province
was a province of Japan in the area of modern Chiba Prefecture. It lies on in the middle of the Bōsō Peninsula , whose name takes its first kanji from the name of Awa Province and its second from Kazusa and Shimōsa Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was or .Kazusa is classified as one of the...
in the middle part of the range, and Awa Province
Awa Province
Awa Province may refer to:* Awa Province in modern-day Chiba Prefecture* Awa Province in modern-day Tokushima Prefecture...
to the south. The hill range is noted for its richness of castles built during the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The 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...
as part of medieval conflicts.
Modern history
The provinces endured until Chiba Prefecture was established at the end of the 19th century in the Meiji periodMeiji 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 :...
. The Bōsō Hill Range provided a natural fortification against air attack of Tokyo during 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...
, when the 252 Air Group
252 Air Group
was a fighter aircraft unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The unit's name is translated into English as the "252 Air Group" instead of "252nd Air Group" because each numeral in the unit's name was a discrete identifier of information pertaining to the...
of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
(IJN) built the Mobara Air Field in 1941 in Mobara. After the war land reform
Land reform
[Image:Jakarta farmers protest23.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Farmers protesting for Land Reform in Indonesia]Land reform involves the changing of laws, regulations or customs regarding land ownership. Land reform may consist of a government-initiated or government-backed property redistribution,...
was carried out in the region. The eastern part of the hill range saw major economic development as part of the greater Metropolitan Tokyo region.
Economy
The hill range was known for charcoalCharcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
production in the past. The hill range is still home to many dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
farms. Numerous golf courses
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
were developed in the hill region, and recreational facilities continue to be developed in the area. The hill range is popular as a hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
destination.
Important mountains
| Mountain | Japanese name | Altitude | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Atago Mount Atago (Minamibōsō, Chiba) is a mountain on the border of the cities of Minamibōsō and Kamogawa in Chiba Prefecture, Japan with an altitude of . It is the highest point in Chiba Prefecture. Mount Atago is at the west of the Minaoka Mountain District of the Bōsō Hill Range. The kanji for Mount Atago, 愛 and 宕, mean 'love' and... |
愛宕山 | 408.2 m (1,339 ft) | Minamibōsō Minamiboso, Chiba is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010 data, the city had an estimated population of 42,035 and a population density of 183 persons per km²... |
| Mount Seichō | 清澄山 | 377 m (1,237 ft) | Kamogawa Kamogawa, Chiba is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 35,257 and a population density of 184 persons per km². The total area was 191.30 km²... |
| Mount Iyogatake | 伊予ヶ岳 | 337 m (1,106 ft) | Minamibōsō |
| Mount Tomi | 富山 | 350 m (1,148 ft) | Minamibōsō |
| Mount Takagoya | 高宕山 | 330 m (1,083 ft) | Kimitsu Kimitsu, Chiba is a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of September 2010, the city had an estimated population of 88,661 and a population density of 278 persons per km². The total area was 318.83 km².-Geography:... and Futtsu Futtsu, Chiba is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of September 2010, the city had an estimated population of 47,705 and the population density of 232 persons per km²... |
| Mount Nokogiri Mount Nokogiri (Chiba) is a low mountain on the Bōsō Peninsula on Honshu, Japan. It lies on the southern border of the city of Futtsu and the town Kyonan in Awa District in Chiba Prefecture.The mountain runs east to west, having the characteristic sawtoothed profile of a .... |
鋸山 | 329 m (1,079 ft) | Kyonan Kyonan, Chiba is a town located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010 data, the town had an estimated population of 8,922 and a density of 198 persons per km². The total area was 45.16 km².-Geography:... and Futtsu, Chiba>Futtsu |
| Mount Saga | 嵯峨山 | 315 m (1,033 ft) | Kyonan and Futtsu, Chiba|Futtsu |
| Mount Mitsuishi | 三石山 | 282 m (925 ft) | Kimitsu |
| Mount Otozure | 音信山 | 186 m (610 ft) | Ichihara Ichihara, Chiba is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 279,080, with a population density of 758 persons per km². The total area of Ichihara was 368.20 km²... |
| Mount Mifune | 三舟山 | 138.7 m (455 ft) | Kimitsu and Futtsu, Chiba|Futtsu |