Izu, Shizuoka
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in central Izu Peninsula
in Shizuoka
, Japan
. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population
of 35,397 and the density
of 97.3 persons per km². The total area as 363.97 km².
, and includes most of the Amagi Mountains
. The region is hilly and some 80% of the city area is covered by forest. The Kano River
runs through the city, which has a short coastline to the west on Suruga Bay
of the Pacific Ocean
. The area has numerous hot spring
s. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current
, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
, most of Izu Province
was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate
, although portions near modern Shuzenji were under the control of the Okubo clan
of Ogino-Yamanaka Domain. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period
in 1889, the area was reorganized into several villages under Kimisawa District, Shizuoka Prefecture. Kimisawa District merged with Tagata District
in 1896.
Shuzenji
became a town in 1924, followed by Toi
in 1938, Nakaizu
in 1958, and Amagiyugashima
in 1960. The city of Izu was founded on April 1, 2004 by the merger of Shuzenji, Toi, Nakaizu and Amagiyugashima.
, farming/forestry and commercial fishing
. Izu is noted for its production of wasabi
and shiitake
. During the Edo period, the area was also known for its production of gold and other ores; however, the last commercial mining operations were closed in the 1960s
, Canada
, from August 18, 2005 - Hope, British Columbia
, Canada
, from August 18, 2005 - Minamiminowa, Nagano
, Japan, from February 25, 1991
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 central Izu Peninsula
Izu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
in Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...
, 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 2009, 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 35,397 and the 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 97.3 persons per km². The total area as 363.97 km².
Geography
Izu is located in the north-central portion of Izu PeninsulaIzu Peninsula
The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
, and includes most of the Amagi Mountains
Mount Amagi
is a range of volcanic mountains in central Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, forming the border between Izu City and Higashi-Izu Town. It is also referred to as the ....
. The region is hilly and some 80% of the city area is covered by forest. The Kano River
Kano River
The is a 1st class river in Shizuoka Prefecture of cenral Japan. It is 46 km long and has a watershed of 853 km².The Kano River rises from Mount Amagi in central Izu Peninsula and follows a generally northern path into Suruga Bay at Numazu. The Izu Peninsula is characterized by heavy...
runs through the city, which has a short coastline to the west on Suruga Bay
Suruga Bay
Suruga Bay is a bay on the Pacific coast of Honshū in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is situated north of an imaginary line joining Omaezaki Point and Irōzaki Point at the tip of the Izu Peninsula and surrounded by Honshū to the southwest and west and the Izu Peninsula to the east.-Geology:Suruga...
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 area has numerous hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
s. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current
Kuroshio Current
The Kuroshio is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre...
, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
Surrouding municipalities
- NumazuNumazu, Shizuokais a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 205,636 and a population density of 1,100 persons per km². The total area was 187.11 km².- Geography:...
- IzunokuniIzunokuni, Shizuokais a city located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 49,381 and a population density of 521 persons per km². The total area was 94.71 km².-Geography:...
- ItōIto, Shizuokais a city located on the eastern shore of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 71,400 and the density of 578 persons per km². The total area was...
- HigashiizuHigashiizu, Shizuokais a town located in Kamo District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 14,562 and a density of 187 persons per km². The total area is 77.83 km².-Geography:...
- KawazuKawazu, Shizuokais a town located on the east coast of Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of February 2009, the town has an estimated population of 8,074 and a density of 80.1 persons per km². The total area is 100.79 km²...
- NishiizuNishiizu, Shizuokais a town located in Kamo District, Shizuoka, Japan. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of 9,720 and a density of 92.1 persons per km². The total area is 105.52 km².-Geography:...
History
During the Edo periodEdo 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 Izu Province
Izu Province
was a province of Japan in the area of Shizuoka Prefecture. Izu bordered on Sagami and Suruga Provinces. Its abbreviated form name was .The mainland portion of Izu Province, comprising the Izu Peninsula is today the eastern portion of Shizuoka Prefecture and the Izu Islands are now part of...
was tenryō territory under direct control of 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...
, although portions near modern Shuzenji were under the control of the Okubo clan
Okubo clan
The were a samurai kin group which rose to prominence in the Sengoku period and the Edo periods. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Ōkubo, as hereditary vassels of the Tokugawa clan, were classified as one of the fudai daimyō clans....
of Ogino-Yamanaka Domain. During the cadastral reform of the early 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 :...
in 1889, the area was reorganized into several villages under Kimisawa District, Shizuoka Prefecture. Kimisawa District merged with Tagata District
Tagata District, Shizuoka
is a district located in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.Tagata District was one of the original districts of Izu Province, having been separated from Suruga Province in the cadastral reform of 680 AD, and covered most of central Izu Peninsula. By 2009, the district has been considerably reduced in...
in 1896.
Shuzenji
Shuzenji, Shizuoka
was a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan, in central Izu Peninsula.Shuzenji is located in an inland region of Izu Peninsula and is noted for its numerous onsen hot spring resorts. The area is also noted for its production of wasabi and shiitake.The town of Shuzenji was founded on...
became a town in 1924, followed by Toi
Toi, Shizuoka
was a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan on the west coast of Izu Peninsula facing Suruga Bay.On April 1, 2004 Toi was merged with the towns of Amagiyugashima, Nakaizu and Shuzenji, all from Tagata District, to form the new city of Izu....
in 1938, Nakaizu
Nakaizu, Shizuoka
was a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan, in central Izu Peninsula.On April 1, 2004 Nakaizu was merged with the towns of Amagiyugashima, Toi and Shuzenji, all from Tagata District, to form the new city of Izu....
in 1958, and Amagiyugashima
Amagiyugashima, Shizuoka
was a town located in Tagata District, Shizuoka, Japan.On April 1, 2004 Amagiyugashima was merged with the towns of Toi, Nakaizu, and Shuzenji, all from Tagata District, to form the new city of Izu....
in 1960. The city of Izu was founded on April 1, 2004 by the merger of Shuzenji, Toi, Nakaizu and Amagiyugashima.
Economy
The local economy of the city of Izu is centered on tourism (primarily hot spring resortsOnsen
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...
, farming/forestry and commercial fishing
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
. Izu is noted for its production of wasabi
Wasabi
, also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, and mustard. Its root is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong flavor. Its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard rather than the capsaicin in a chili pepper,...
and shiitake
Shiitake
The Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries, as well as being dried and exported to many countries around the world. It is a feature of many Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai...
. During the Edo period, the area was also known for its production of gold and other ores; however, the last commercial mining operations were closed in the 1960s
Railway
- Izuhakone RailwayIzuhakone RailwayThe is a railway company in Kanagawa Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The company also operates excursion ships, and the group companies operate buses and taxis. The company has its roots in founded in 1893. Izuhakone Railway is a member of Seibu group...
- Sunzu Line- ShuzenjiShuzenji Stationis the southern terminal train station of the Izuhakone Railway’s Sunzu Line located in the city of Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is 19.8 rail kilometers from the line’s northern terminus at Mishima Station.- History :...
- MakinokōMakinokō Stationis a train station of the Izuhakone Railway’s Sunzu Line located in the city of Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is 18.6 rail kilometers from the line’s terminus at Mishima Station.- History :...
- Shuzenji
Sister City relations
- Nelson, British ColumbiaNelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
, 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 August 18, 2005 - Hope, British Columbia
Hope, British Columbia
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope is at the eastern end of both the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland region, and is at the southern end of the Fraser Canyon...
, 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 August 18, 2005 - Minamiminowa, Nagano
Minamiminowa, Nagano
is a village located in Kamiina District, Nagano, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 13,559 and a density of 331.52 persons per km². The total area is 40.90 km².-External links:*...
, Japan, from February 25, 1991
Noted people from Izu
- Naoko KenNaoko Kenis a Japanese singer and actress. She is well-known for her comedy roles featuring idiosyncratic looks, and a string of successful torch songs that gained popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s.- Biography :...
- singer, actress - Yurika OchiaiYurika Ochiaiis a Japanese voice actress, known by her nickname in Japan. She was working for Arts Vision, however, she quit in October 2006. She is now working for Genki Project.-TV Animation:*Utakata as Keiko Takamura*To Heart 2 as Konomi Yuzuhara...
- seiyu - Sōsuke KaiseSosuke Kaiseis a Japanese manga artist, whose single success is Grenadier, published in Shōnen Ace by Kadokawa Shoten. He did however create a number of one shot manga in prior to that, also published in Kadokawa magazines. Grenadier started with two one offs in November 2000 and February 2001, but didn't...
- manga artist - Honinbo ShuwaHoninbo ShuwaHoninbo Shuwa was a Japanese professional Go player, and also the fourteenth head of the Honinbo house .His most significant games were probably the three challenge games of 1840 and 1842 against Inoue Genan Inseki...
- professional go player
External links
- Izu official website in Japanese