Gamagōri, Aichi
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Aichi Prefecture
, Japan
. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population
of 81,767 and the population density
of 1,400 persons per km². The total area was 56.81 km².
on the Pacific Ocean
in southeastern Aichi Prefecture. Sheltered by Chita Peninsula
and Atsumi Peninsula
, the climate is mild, and parts of the city is within the borders of the Mikawa Wan Quasi-National Park
.
. The area was divided into several shōen
during the Heian period
, largely under the control of the Udono clan
. During the Edo period
, most of the area was tenryō territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate
through hatamoto
administrators, with portions controlled by Yoshida Domain
and Okazaki Domain
.
After the start of the Meiji period
, Gamagōri Village in Hoi District
, Aichi Prefecture was proclaimed on October 1, 1889. Gamagōri was elevated to town status on October 6, 1891. The area of the town expanded through annexation of the neighboring villages of Toyooka, Kaminogo and Shizusato on July 4, 1906.
The city of Gamagōri was proclaimed on April 1, 1954 when the town of Gamagōri merged with the neighboring town of Miya and village of Shiotsu. The village of Otsuka joined Gamagōri on October 1, 1956, followed by Katahara on April 1, 1962 and Nishiura on April 1, 1963.
}
, New Zealand
since July 27, 1996 – Urasoe, Okinawa
, since November 4, 1981
with numerous scenic offshore islands, Gamagōri is noted for marine sports. There are also several hot spring resorts
within the city limits. The Gamagōri Matsuri, held in late July features a fireworks display, and the local festival of former Miya village held in October features an event where mikoshi
are carried into the sea.
The city is also home to the Lagunasia
amusement park and Spa Nishiura Motor Park
racetrack .
The small fishing community of Nishiura is noted for its onsen
(hot spring resorts), some of which are located near its beach front. The area is famous for the medicinal properties of its water and a number of hotels have sprung up to accommodate the tourists visiting these spas.
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 Aichi Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...
, 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 February 2011, 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 81,767 and the 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 1,400 persons per km². The total area was 56.81 km².
Geography
Gamagōri is situated on the coast of Mikawa BayMikawa Bay
thumb|right|Mikawa Bay Mikawa Bay is a bay to the south of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, surrounded by Chita Peninsula to the west and Atsumi Peninsula to the east and south. Its area is approximately 604 km2...
on 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...
in southeastern Aichi Prefecture. Sheltered by Chita Peninsula
Chita Peninsula
Chita Peninsula is a peninsula to the south of Aichi Prefecture, central Honshū, Japan. It runs approximately north-south. To the west is Ise Bay, while to the east it encloses Mikawa Bay. It faces the Atsumi Peninsula southeast across Mikawa Bay.-External links:...
and Atsumi Peninsula
Atsumi Peninsula
is a peninsula in southeastern Aichi Prefecture, central Honshū, Japan.Atsumi Peninsula is a narrow strip of land running approximately east-west, separating Mikawa Bay from the Philippine Sea to the south. It faces the Chita Peninsula southeast across Mikawa Bay. It has a width ranging from to...
, the climate is mild, and parts of the city is within the borders of the Mikawa Wan Quasi-National Park
Mikawa Wan Quasi-National Park
is a Quasi-National Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is rated a protected landscape according to the IUCN.The park includes the coastal areas of Atsumi Peninsula, the Pacific shoreline of Chita Peninsula as well as islands and portion of the northern shoreline of Mikawa Bay.It was founded on 10...
.
Neighboring municipalities
- OkazakiOkazaki, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the city had an estimated population of 373,339 and a population density of 964 persons per km². The total area was 387.24 km².-Geography:...
- ToyokawaToyokawa, Aichiis a medium-sized city of about 180,000 people located in the eastern part of Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The city, founded on June 1, 1943, originally comprised the three formerly independent Hoi-gun towns of Toyokawa , Ko , Ushikubo , and the village of Yawata...
- KōtaKota, Aichiis a town located in Nukata District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of July 2011, the town had an estimated population of 38,205 and population density of 673 persons per km². The total area was 56.78 km².-Neighboring municipalities:*Okazaki*Gamagōri*Nishio...
- NishioNishio, Aichiis a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city has an estimated population of 165,443 and a population density of 1,030 persons per km². The total area is 160.34 km².-Geography:...
History
Records of place names in present-day Gamagōri have been found from the Nara periodNara 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...
. The area was divided into several shōen
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...
during 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...
, largely under the control of the Udono clan
Udono clan
The was a Japanese clan claiming descent from Fujiwara Sanekata....
. During 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....
, most of the area was tenryō territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
through hatamoto
Hatamoto
A was a samurai in the direct service of the Tokugawa shogunate of feudal Japan. While all three of the shogunates in Japanese history had official retainers, in the two preceding ones, they were referred to as gokenin. However, in the Edo period, hatamoto were the upper vassals of the Tokugawa...
administrators, with portions controlled by Yoshida Domain
Yoshida Domain
was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in eastern Mikawa Province , Japan. It was centered on Yoshida Castle in what is now the city of Toyohashi, Aichi. It was ruled by a number of different fudai daimyō over the course of the Edo period, before finally passing into the hands of the...
and Okazaki Domain
Okazaki Domain
was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, located in eastern Mikawa Province , Japan. It was centered on Okazaki Castle in what is now the city of Okazaki, Aichi...
.
After the start of the Meiji period
Meiji 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 :...
, Gamagōri Village in Hoi District
Hoi District, Aichi
is a former rural district located in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008 , the district had an estimated population of 21,766 and a population density of 2194 persons per km². Its total area was 9.92 km².-History:...
, Aichi Prefecture was proclaimed on October 1, 1889. Gamagōri was elevated to town status on October 6, 1891. The area of the town expanded through annexation of the neighboring villages of Toyooka, Kaminogo and Shizusato on July 4, 1906.
The city of Gamagōri was proclaimed on April 1, 1954 when the town of Gamagōri merged with the neighboring town of Miya and village of Shiotsu. The village of Otsuka joined Gamagōri on October 1, 1956, followed by Katahara on April 1, 1962 and Nishiura on April 1, 1963.
Economy
Gamagōri is a regional commercial center and fishing port, with a mixed economy of light manufacturing and agriculture. Gamagōri is also noted for its production of oranges.Railway
- JR TōkaiCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
– 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...
- Meitetsu – Gamagōri LineMeitetsu Gamagori LineThe is a Japanese railway line located in Aichi Prefecture which connects Kira-Yoshida Station in Nishio, with Gamagōri Station in Gamagōri. It is owned and run by Nagoya Railroad .-Station list:All stations are located in Aichi Prefecture....
}
Highway
- Japan National Route 23Japan National Route 23National Route 23 is a national highway connecting Toyohashi, Aichi and Ise, Mie in Japan.-Route Data:*Length: 175.3 km *Origin: Toyohashi *Terminus: Ise...
- Japan National Route 247
- Japan National Route 248
- Japan National Route 473
Sister city relations
GisborneGisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
since July 27, 1996 – Urasoe, Okinawa
Urasoe, Okinawa
is a city located in Okinawa, Japan. The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south, Ginowan to the north, and Nishihara to the east.Urasoe was the original capital of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan for several centuries until it was supplanted by Shuri in the late 14th or early 15th century...
, since November 4, 1981
Local attractions
As part of Mikawa Wan Quasi-National ParkMikawa Wan Quasi-National Park
is a Quasi-National Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is rated a protected landscape according to the IUCN.The park includes the coastal areas of Atsumi Peninsula, the Pacific shoreline of Chita Peninsula as well as islands and portion of the northern shoreline of Mikawa Bay.It was founded on 10...
with numerous scenic offshore islands, Gamagōri is noted for marine sports. There are also several hot spring resorts
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
within the city limits. The Gamagōri Matsuri, held in late July features a fireworks display, and the local festival of former Miya village held in October features an event where mikoshi
Mikoshi
A is a divine palanquin . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine...
are carried into the sea.
The city is also home to the Lagunasia
Lagunasia
is an amusement park in Gamagōri, Aichi Japan. It is home to the Aqua Wind, Pirates' Blast and Stellar roller coasters. The park was also the first Magiquest live role playing game location outside of the United States.Lagunasia was opened on April 25, 2002...
amusement park and Spa Nishiura Motor Park
Spa Nishiura Motor Park
, also known as SNMP, is a race complex near Gamagōri, Aichi, Japan.-Course outline:Located on the Nishiura peninsula, SNMP circuit has an excellent view of Mikawa Bay...
racetrack .
The small fishing community of Nishiura is noted for its onsen
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
(hot spring resorts), some of which are located near its beach front. The area is famous for the medicinal properties of its water and a number of hotels have sprung up to accommodate the tourists visiting these spas.
Noted people from Gamagōri
- Suzuki MosaburōSuzuki Mosaburowas a Japanese journalist, essayist, and socialist leader.He was born in Gamagori, Aichi Prefecture, to a family descended from medieval hatamoto; however, his father had lost the family's fortune, and as a result Suzuki was forced to work his way through school. He attended Waseda University and...
– politician - Keiichiro HiranoKeiichiro Hiranois a Japanese novelist.Hirano was born in Gamagori, Aichi prefecture, Japan. He published his first novel in 1998 and won the Akutagawa Prize the next year as one of the youngest winners ever . He graduated from the Law Department of Kyoto University in 1999...
– Akutagawa-prize winning novelist - Tamanoumi MasahiroTamanoumi MasahiroTamanoumi Masahiro , was a sumo wrestler, born in Aichi, Japan. He was the sport's 51st yokozuna.-Career:...
– sumo wrestler