Fujisawa, Kanagawa
Encyclopedia
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 Kanagawa
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, 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...
. As of 2010, the city had 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 407,731 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 5,870 people per km². The total area is 69.51 km²
Geography
Fujisawa is located in the central part of the Kanagawa Prefecture. It faces Sagami BaySagami Bay
Sagami Bay , also known as the Sagami Gulf or Sagami Sea, lies south of Kanagawa Prefecture in Honshū, central Japan, contained within the scope of the Miura Peninsula, in Kanagawa, to the east, the Izu Peninsula, in Shizuoka Prefecture, to the west, and the Shōnan coastline to the north, while the...
of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The northern part of the city is situated on the Sagamino plateau while the southern part is on the Shonan Dunes. Fujisawa has three major topographical features: the island of Enoshima
Enoshima
is a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge...
to the south connected to the Katase
Katase
Katase is a village in Alajõe Parish, Ida-Viru County, in northeastern Estonia. It's located on the northern shore of Lake Peipus. Katase has a population of 75 .Katase was first mentioned in 1419....
shoreline area by a road bridge, and two rivers, the Hikichigawa (引地川) and the Sakaigawa (境川), which run north-south. The Hikichigawa can be traced from an area now designated as a nature reserve park in Yamato City, and flows directly along the boundary of the joint US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
Atsugi Naval Air Base, and the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Camp Zama
Camp Zama
is a United States Army post located in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about southwest of Tokyo.Camp Zama is home to the U.S. Army Japan /I Corps , the U.S. Army Japan Aviation Detachment "Ninjas" , the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade, the Japan Engineer...
. The Sakaigawa runs directly from the mountains between Machida
Machida, Tokyo
is a city located in the western part of the greater metropolis of Tokyo, Japan. The city was founded on February 1, 1958.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 424,669 and a population density of 5,928.65 persons per km². The total area is 71.63 km²...
and Hachioji
Hachioji, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the...
, and for quite some distance forms the border between the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and Kanagawa Prefecture, but from Machida City centre the river can be directly followed by a foot and cycle path all the way to Fujisawa City centre, a distance of approximately 35 kilometers. Another cycle path runs along the Shonan Coastal path, from the Sagami River, Hiratsuka, to the Enoshima Bridge, Fujisawa.
Surrounding municipalities
- YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
- KamakuraKamakura, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
- YamatoYamato, Kanagawais a city located in central Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 225,866 and a density of 8,320 persons per km². The total area was 27.06 km².-Surrounding municipalities:*Zama*Fujisawa*Ebina*Sagamihara*Ayase...
- EbinaEbina, Kanagawais a city located in central Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town has an estimated population of 127,062 and a density of 4,800 persons per km². The total area is 26.48 km².-Geography:...
- AyaseAyase, Kanagawais a city in central Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is on the east bank of the Sagami River and is bordered by Yamato, Fujisawa and Ebina cities. It should not be confused with a neighborhood of the same name in Adachi, Tokyo. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 82,738 and a...
- SamukawaSamukawa, Kanagawais a town located in Kōza District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 47,739 and a density of 3,560 persons per km². The total area was 13.42 km².-Geography:...
- ChigasakiChigasaki, Kanagawais a city located in central, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 234,400 and a density of 6,540 persons per km²...
History
The area around present-day Fujisawa city has been inhabited for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found stone tools and shell middens from the Japanese PaleolithicJapanese Paleolithic
The began around 50,000 to 30,000 BC, when the earliest stone tool implements have been found, and continued to around 14,000 BC, at the end of the last ice age, which corresponds to the beginning of the Mesolithic Jōmon period...
period and ceramic shards from the Jomon 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...
, and graves from the Kofun period
Kofun period
The is an era in the history of Japan from around 250 to 538. It follows the Yayoi period. The word kofun is Japanese for the type of burial mounds dating from this era. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes referred to collectively as the Yamato period...
at numerous locations in the area. The area is mention in the Nara period
Nara 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...
Nihon Shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
chronicles. By the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
, central Sagami Province
Sagami Province
was an old province in the area that is today the central and western Kanagawa prefecture. It was sometimes called . Sagami bordered on Izu, Musashi, Suruga provinces; and had access to the Pacific Ocean through Sagami Bay...
was divided into shoen
Shoen
A was a field or manor in Japan. The Japanese term comes from the Tang dynasty Chinese term zhuangyuan.Shōen, from about the 8th to the late 15th century, describes any of the private, tax-free, often autonomous estates or manors whose rise undermined the political and economic power of the...
controlled by the Muroaoka, Oe, and other local warlords. During the Kamakura period
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
, Fujisawa was the setting for a number of battles to overthrown the Kamakura shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
as mentioned in the late 14th century Taiheiki
Taiheiki
The is a Japanese historical epic , written in the late 14th century. It deals primarily with the Nanboku-chō, the period of war between the Northern Court of Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and the Southern Court of Emperor Go-Daigo in Yoshino....
. During the Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
, Fujisawa developed around Yugyo-ji, a Buddhist temple, which was established in 1325.
With 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....
, Fujisawa prospered as Fujisawa-shuku
Fujisawa-shuku
was the sixth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in the present-day city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.-History:Fujisawa-shuku was established as a post station on the Tōkaidō in 1601, but did not become the sixth post station until Totsuka-juku was later established...
, a post station
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...
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....
highway connecting Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
with Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
built a palace in Fujisawa as a rest stop between Edo and Sunpu.
Following 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...
, the area was divided into numerous villages within Koza District
Koza District, Kanagawa
is an administrative district of Japan located in central Kanagawa Prefecture. It currently consists of only one town, Samukawa.- History :Kōza District was one of the ancient subdivisions of Sagami Province, extending from Sagami Bay north to the border of Musashi Province between the Sagami River...
and Kamakura District in Kanagawa Prefecture. The Koza District office was located in Fujisawa from 1878. The area developed rapidly after the opening of Fujisawa Station
Fujisawa Station
is a major railway station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. It is served by the Tōkaidō Main Line, Odakyu Enoshima Line, and the Enoshima Electric Railway. Clustered around the station are large department stores and office buildings, forming the center of the city...
of 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...
in 1887.
During the cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, Fujisawaosaka town (Koza District) and Fujisawaotomi town (Kamakura District) were created through the merger of numerous local hamlets. 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...
visited Fujisawa in 1891 to watch military maneuvers, and the IJA 49th Infantry Regiment under the IJA 1st Division was stationed in Fujisawa from 1907. During the same year, Fujisawaosaka town annexed Fujisawaotomi town, and expanded further in 1908 by annexing neighboring Kugenuma village, and Meiji village, renaming itself Fujisawa town.
The Great Kantō earthquake
1923 Great Kanto earthquake
The struck the Kantō plain on the Japanese main island of Honshū at 11:58:44 am JST on September 1, 1923. Varied accounts hold that the duration of the earthquake was between 4 and 10 minutes...
of 1923 caused severe damage to Fujisawa, with some 4000 houses destroyed. An 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...
Artillery School was established in Tsujido in 1926.
Fujisawa town was elevated in status to Fujisawa city on October 1, 1940. Fujisawa expanded by annexing Muraoka village in 1941, Mutsuai village in 1942, Katase town in 1947 and Goshomi, Chogo, Takakura, Endo villages in 1955. In 1964, Fujisawa hosted the yachting events of the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
.
In recent years, the opening of new train stations and rail lines have benefitted areas of the city such as Shonandai, in the more northerly plateau area of the city, which has seen an influx of students for Keio
Keio
was a after Genji and before Meiji. The period spanned the years from April 1865 to September 1868. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
and Bunkyo universities. The coastal plain has also seen increased population, with ever more dense housing, attracted by the mild maritime climate, proximity to good beaches, and the various traits of a 'Shonan
Shonan
is the name of a region along the coast of Sagami Bay in central Japan. Centered on Enoshima, an island about 50 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, the Shōnan region stretches from Ōiso in the west to Hayama in the east, including Chigasaki, Kamakura and Hiratsuka...
lifestyle', often characterized by surfing, a relaxed beachside manner.
These improved transport links, such as the Yokohama Subway line and express train services on the Odakyu line, have made Fujisawa an increasingly attractive and cost-effective commuter suburb for 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 Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
.
Economy
Fujisawa has a mixed economy with a strong industrial base. IsuzuIsuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
retains a large truck factory near Shonandai, Kobe Steel
Kobe Steel
, operating worldwide under the brand Kobelco, is a major Japanese steel manufacturer headquartered in Chuo-ku, Kobe. Kobe Steel also has a stake in Osaka Titanium Technologies.It was formed on September 1, 1905...
has a factory in the east of the city, as does NSK
NSK
The acronym NSK has several meanings:* NSK , a Romanian electronic music band co-formed by Electric Brother* Neue Slowenische Kunst, a Slovenian art collective* Japan Sumo Association, Nihon Sumo Kyokai...
Microprecision, a maker of bearings and precision parts. Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
operates the Shonan Technology Center in Fujisawa. Also, plating
Plating
Plating is a surface covering in which a metal is deposited on a conductive surface. Plating has been done for hundreds of years, but it is also critical for modern technology...
equipment, ozone water purification and exhaust gas
Exhaust gas
Exhaust gas or flue gas is emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline/petrol, diesel fuel, fuel oil or coal. According to the type of engine, it is discharged into the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe, flue gas stack or propelling nozzle.It often disperses...
arrester equipment product company of Ebara is plant located on Fujisawa. and However, in recent years, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Panasonic
Panasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
, and other companies have closed factories in Fujisawa as part of broader restructuring programmes.
Fujisawa has extensive commercial shopping facilities and has the largest commercial city centre on the Shonan coast. Fujisawa is also a bedroom community for Yokohama and Tokyo.
Railway
- JR EastEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
- Tōkaidō 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...
, Shōnan-Shinjuku LineShonan-Shinjuku LineThe is a passenger railway service in Japan which commenced in December 2001. The line has no dedicated track as services run through shared sections along the Ryōmō Line, Takasaki Line, Utsunomiya Line, Yamanote Freight Line, Yokosuka Line, and Tōkaidō Main Line...
} -
- Odakyu Electric RailwayOdakyu Electric Railway, or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone....
– Odakyū Enoshima Line
} - - - - - - - -
- Enoshima Electric RailwayEnoshima Electric RailwayThe connects Kamakura Station in Kamakura, with Fujisawa Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Stations en route include Hase Station, the stop closest to Kōtoku-in, the temple with the colossal outdoor statue of Amida Buddha. It is fully owned by the Odakyu Group of companies.- Train...
}
- Sagami RailwaySagami RailwayThe , or , is a railway company operating three lines in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It ranks among the "big 15" major railways in Japan.- Overview :Sagami Railway is one of the core companies of the Sotetsu group...
- IzuminoSagami Railway Izumino LineThe is a railroad owned by Sagami Railway . It runs from Futamatagawa in Yokohama to Shōnandai in Fujisawa. Rapid services stop at every station on this line. Most trains run to Yokohama on the Main Line.-History:...
}
- Yokohama Municipal SubwayYokohama Municipal Subwayis the metro network in the city of Yokohama, Japan, south of Tokyo In Kanagawa pref. It is operated by Yokohama City Transportation Bureau, and is operated as two lines, though 3 continuous lines exist.-Lines:Line 1 and 3 are operated as a single line...
– Blue LineBlue Line (Yokohama)The is a line in the Yokohama Municipal Subway system of Yokohama, Japan, operated by Yokohama City Transportation Bureau. Line 3 runs from Azamino to Kannai, and Line 1 runs from Kannai to Shōnandai. All the trains join these two lines.-History:...
}
- Shonan MonorailShonan MonorailThe is a suspended SAFEGE monorail located in the cities of Kamakura and Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by the , the line opened March 7, 1970, and was the first monorail of its kind in Japan....
}
Highway
- Shinshōnan BypassShinshonan BypassThe is a 4-laned toll road in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and managed by Central Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:Officially the road is designated as a bypass for National Route 1...
- Japan National Route 1
- Japan National Route 134Japan National Route 134National Route 134 is a national highway connecting the city of Yokosuka and the town of Ōiso in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan....
- Route 467 (Japan)Route 467 (Japan)National Route 467 is a national highway of Japan connecting Yamato, Kanagawa and Fujisawa, Kanagawa in Japan, with a total length of 21.6 km ....
Education
Fujisawa has the usual range of city and prefectural schools, including Shonan High School, one of the leading high schools in Kanagawa with present Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro as one example graduate, as well as a number of similar private institutions.There are four university campuses in Fujisawa; prestigious Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
's Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) with three faculties and a graduate school in Endo, Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
's School of Natural Science at Mutsuai, and Tama University
Tama University
is a private university in Tama, Tokyo, Japan, established in 1989.-External links:*...
's Global Studies Faculty near Shonandai, all in the northern part of the city, and the Shonan Institute of Technology
Shonan Institute of Technology
is a private university in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1961. Two years later it was chartered as a university.-External links:*...
(SIT) in Tsujido Nishikaigan to the south.
Sister city relations
- Miami BeachMiami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(from March 5, 1959) - Matsumoto
Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.-Outline:The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating a new municipal...
, Nagano Prefecture
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, 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...
(from July 29, 1961) - Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(from December 2, 1987) - Boryeong
Boryeong
Boryeong, commonly known as Daecheon, is a city in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. It is located at , on the coast of the Yellow Sea. It lies on the Janghang Line railroad, which connects it to Seoul via the Gyeongbu Line. It is also connected to the Seohaean Expressway...
, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
(from November 15, 2002) - Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
, Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
province, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(from November 5, 1981) (Friendship city)
Local attractions
Fujisawa remains at the centre of the 'Shōnan Lifestyle' image, and its excellent rail and adequate road connections make it a very popular destination for day trippers from all over the Kanto region. Surfing and beach volleyball tournaments in summertime attract visitors, especially younger people, and they are also drawn to the seasonal bars and rest houses that are erected along the beach from Kugenuma Kaigan to EnoshimaEnoshima
is a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge...
Kaigan.
Fujisawa has two major firework displays in the summer, in late July and early August, usually sandwiched in between the similar festivals in Chigasaki, Hiratsuka, Kamakura, and Yokohama
Enoshima island has many attractions, including a botanical gardens, which include Enoshima Lighthouse which is open to visitors and with a height of 119.6 meters above sea level affords an excellent view of the area and, on a clear day, 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...
. There are also a number of famous Shinto shrines, some located in caves on the south side of the island.
Like many places in Japan, Fujisawa has its 'meibutsu' or famous,signature products. One of the most popular seasonal products is shirasu, similar to but much smaller and softer than whitebait
Whitebait
Whitebait is a collective term for the immature fry of fish, typically between 25 and 50 millimetres long. Such young fish often travel together in schools along the coast, and move into estuaries and sometimes up rivers where they can be easily caught with fine meshed fishing nets...
.
Tourist Attractions
- Enoshima IslandEnoshimais a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge...
- Grand Stage Fujisawa
- Shirahata Shrine
- Shirahata Jinja is a Shinto shrine, dedicated to Samukawahiko-no-Mikoto and Minamoto no YoshitsuneMinamoto no Yoshitsunewas a general of the Minamoto clan of Japan in the late Heian and early Kamakura period. Yoshitsune was the ninth son of Minamoto no Yoshitomo, and the third and final son and child that Yoshitomo would father with Tokiwa Gozen. Yoshitsune's older brother Minamoto no Yoritomo founded the Kamakura...
. There are two portable shrines, Yoshitsune and Benkei. Yoshitsune and BenkeiSaito Musashibo Benkei, popularly called Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk who served Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore.-Biography:...
were major Japanese historical figures of the late Heian periodHeian periodThe is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
.- Shojyoko-ji（Yugyo-ji） - Head temple of the Ji-sect of Japanese Buddhism.
- Kugenuma Beach
- The Ruin of Oba Castle
Noted people from Fujisawa
- Rika FujiwaraRika FujiwaraRika Fujiwara is a Japanese professional tennis player. Her best-ever ranking is, singles No. 84 , doubles No. 13...
, professional tennis player - Akira HatanoAkira Hatanois a male Japanese politician.He served as a Minister of Justice and occupied a seat in the House of Councillors.Akira's personal intimacy with Kakuei Tanaka is well-known....
, politician - Motohisa IkedaMotohisa Ikedais a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Fujisawa, Kanagawa and graduate of Waseda University, he worked at the public broadcaster NHK as a reporter from 1964 to 1989...
, politician - Tsubasa Imai, singer, actor
- Chihiro KatoChihiro KatoChihiro Kato is a Japanese volleyball player who plays for JT Marvelous.- Team :*2009-2010 V.Premier League - Runner-Up, with JT Marvelous....
, professional volleyball player - Masahiko Kumagai, professional soccer player
- Takahiro MizushimaTakahiro Mizushimais a Japanese seiyū. He is affiliated with Production baobab. When voicing adult games, he is known as .-TV Anime:Lead roles in bold.* Adam * Amezo * Billy * Bob...
, Seiyu - Masahiro NakaiMasahiro Nakaiis a singer, actor and host for music events and variety shows such as the long-running music show Utaban. He is the leader of the Japanese idol group SMAP.-Early life:...
, singer, actor - Tsuneko NakazatoTsuneko Nakazatowas the pen-name of a novelist in Showa period Japan. Her real name was Nakazato Tsune.-Early life:Nakazato was born in Fujisawa city, Kanagawa prefecture and graduated from the Kanagawa Girls’ Higher School...
, author - Hikaru NishidaHikaru Nishidais a Japanese J-pop singer and actress. She was born in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and made her singing debut with the release of the single Fifteen on April 6, 1988, named after her age at the time....
, singer, actress - Nagisa OshimaNagisa Oshimais a Japanese film director and screenwriter. After graduating from Kyoto University he was hired by Shochiku Ltd. and quickly progressed to directing his own movies, making his debut feature A Town of Love and Hope in 1959....
, film director - Ikuzo SakuraiIkuzo Sakuraiis a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Fujisawa, Kanagawa and graduate of Nihon University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 after serving in the city assembly of Fujisawa...
, politician - Tomoaki SatohTomoaki SatohTomoaki Satoh 佐藤 友亮 is a Japanese professional baseball player. He is currently with the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In 2008, he was selected Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Asia Series....
, professional baseball player - Go SoedaGo SoedaGo Soeda is a male Japanese tennis player. He is currently coached by Davide Sanguinetti.He started playing tennis at the age of 4, and turned professional in April 2003.- Juniors :...
, professional tennis player - Haruka SuenagaHaruka Suenagais a Japanese actress and gravure idol. At a young age, she began making TV appearances on Oha Star and was part of the Oha-Girls. She has done some commercials for Glico...
, gravure model - Kohei SuwamaKohei Suwamais a Japanese professional wrestler also known simply as . He is best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the Voodoo Murders stable, where he is a former two-time All Japan Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion....
, professional wrestler - Saki TakaokaSaki Takaokais a Japanese actress. Yōsuke Yamashita, a jazz pianist is her uncle. She won the award for best actress at the 19th Hochi Film Award for Crest of Betrayal.- Filmography :* cf girl * Swimming Upstream...
, actress - Toshitaka Tsurumi, professional soccer player
External links
- Official website in Japanese, Official website in English