Narita, Chiba
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Chiba Prefecture
, Japan. It is the site of Narita International Airport
, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area
.
As of March 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population
of 126,235, with 54,021 household
s and a population density
of 590.33 persons per km². Its total area was 213.84 km².
The area around present-day Narita has been inhabited since the Japanese Paleolithic
period. Archaeologists have found stone tool
s dating to some 30,000 years ago on the site of Narita Airport. Numerous shell middens from the Jōmon period
, and hundreds of burial tumuli
from the Kofun period
have been found in numerous locations around Narita. Place names in the vicinity of Narita appear in the Nara period
Man'yōshū (although the name “Narita” does not appear in written records until 1408). As Narita is located roughly equidistant from the Pacific Ocean
and Tokyo Bay
, around a number of small rivers, it was a natural political and commercial center for the region, and gained importance as a pilgrimage destination with the foundation of the noted Buddhist temple of Shinsho-ji
in 940 AD. During the Heian period
, the area was a center for the revolt of Taira Masakado. During the Edo period
, the area continued to prosper as part of the tenryō within Shimōsa Province under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate
.
After the Meiji Restoration
, the area was organized as a town under Inba District
on April 1, 1889. Portions of the town were destroyed by Allied
air raid
s in February and May, 1945. On March 31, 1954, Narita gained city status through merger with the neighboring villages of Habu, Nakago, Kuzumi, Toyosumi, Toyama, and Kozu. Growth in the area began in earnest in 1966, when Prime Minister Eisaku Sato
laid out the plan for Narita International Airport
. The development of the airport and accompanying access to central Tokyo led to widespread residential, commercial and industrial development in the city. However, construction of the airport was widely opposed, and violent demonstrations occurred through the end of the 1960s and early 1970s, which delayed the opening of the airport until May 20, 1978. The city annexed
the towns of Taiei
and Shimofusa
from Katori District
on March 27, 2006.
, Keisei Narita Station
and the Narita-san
Temple. The main road in central Narita is Omotesandō (表参道), which is lined with about 150 small shops and has been extensively renovated in recent years.
. It has 16,000 homes with a total population of 60,000. The area was designed in 1968 based on the new town
s surrounding London in the UK, and now houses most of the city's population.
is flanked by a large Ito-Yokado
department store.
is located on the east side of Narita in an historically agricultural area called . The construction and later expansion of the airport led to intense civil unrest among Sanrizuka residents (see Narita International Airport's history). Although land expropriation and poorer farming conditions due to the airport's construction have caused Narita's farming population to drop two-thirds from pre-airport levels, the area immediately surrounding the airport remains lightly populated by farmers. Some abandoned farmland is now used for golf
courses, while other plots of land have become unofficial dumping grounds for garbage.
) and Pratt & Whitney
, called Japan Turbine Technologies
, is located in the Taiei industrial estate.
, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, has its headquarters on the grounds of Narita International Airport
.
The following public high schools are operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education
.
trains and Keisei Skyliner
trains connect Narita to central Tokyo.
}––
}–
}––
}–––
connects Narita to Tokyo and Chiba City. Chiba Kotsu and Narita Kuko Kotsu provide bus service through the city. The Narita City Loop Bus, operated by both companies, operates on two circular routes around the city, stopping in major commercial areas and at all major hotels.
, Shaanxi
, China, since September 14, 1988 Incheon
, South Korea, since September 21, 1998 Jeongeup
, South Korea, since January 29, 2002 San Bruno, California
, USA, since October 6, 1990 Næstved, Denmark, since March 14, 2003 Foxton, New Zealand
, since January 1, 1995
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 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. It is the site of Narita International Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area
Greater Tokyo Area
The Greater Tokyo Area is a large metropolitan area in Kantō region, Japan, consisting of most of the prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tokyo . In Japanese, it is referred to by various terms, including the , , and others....
.
As of March 31, 2011, the city has 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 126,235, with 54,021 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s 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 590.33 persons per km². Its total area was 213.84 km².
History
Japanese 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. Archaeologists have found stone tool
Stone tool
A stone tool is, in the most general sense, any tool made either partially or entirely out of stone. Although stone tool-dependent societies and cultures still exist today, most stone tools are associated with prehistoric, particularly Stone Age cultures that have become extinct...
s dating to some 30,000 years ago on the site of Narita Airport. Numerous shell middens from the 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...
, and hundreds of burial tumuli
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...
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...
have been found in numerous locations around Narita. Place names in the vicinity of Narita appear 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...
Man'yōshū (although the name “Narita” does not appear in written records until 1408). As Narita is located roughly equidistant from 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...
and Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
, around a number of small rivers, it was a natural political and commercial center for the region, and gained importance as a pilgrimage destination with the foundation of the noted Buddhist temple of Shinsho-ji
Narita-san
Narita-san Shinshō-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in central Narita, Chiba, Japan. It was founded in 940 by Kanchō Daisōjō, a disciple of Kōbō Daishi...
in 940 AD. 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...
, the area was a center for the revolt of Taira Masakado. 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....
, the area continued to prosper as part of the tenryō within Shimōsa Province 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...
.
After 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 organized as a town under Inba District
Inba District, Chiba
is a district located in Chiba, Japan.As of 2011, the district has an estimated population of 43,480 and a density of 845 persons per km². The total area is 51.48 km².There are two towns within the district.*Sakae*Shisui-District timeline:...
on April 1, 1889. Portions of the town were destroyed by Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
air raid
Air raid
Air raid refers to an attack by aircraft. See strategic bombing or the smaller-scale airstrike.Air raid may also refer to:*Air Raid , by the improvisational collective Air...
s in February and May, 1945. On March 31, 1954, Narita gained city status through merger with the neighboring villages of Habu, Nakago, Kuzumi, Toyosumi, Toyama, and Kozu. Growth in the area began in earnest in 1966, when Prime Minister Eisaku Sato
Eisaku Sato
This article is about the Prime Minister of Japan. For the governor of Fukushima Prefecture of Japan of the same name, see Eisaku Satō ....
laid out the plan for Narita International Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
. The development of the airport and accompanying access to central Tokyo led to widespread residential, commercial and industrial development in the city. However, construction of the airport was widely opposed, and violent demonstrations occurred through the end of the 1960s and early 1970s, which delayed the opening of the airport until May 20, 1978. The city annexed
Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan
Municipal mergers and dissolutions carried out in Japan can take place within one municipality or between multiple municipalities and are required to be based upon consensus.- Merger policy:...
the towns of Taiei
Taiei, Chiba
was a town located in Katori District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.Taiei is located on Route 51 from Narita to Sawara. It has a very scenic country side with views of the Narita International Airport runways and aircraft. At Raikodai there is a large industrial estate.Modern Taiei Town was established...
and Shimofusa
Shimofusa, Chiba
was a town located in Katori District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.During the Edo period, the area of present-day Shimofusa was part of Takaoka Domain, a minor feudal domain of the Tokugawa shogunate. Modern Namekawa Village was established on April 1, 1889...
from Katori District
Katori District, Chiba
is a district located in Chiba, Japan.Since there is no population data since 2003, the post-Katori-Narita creation district had an estimated population of 40,260...
on March 27, 2006.
Areas
Central Narita
Central Narita is roughly defined as the area between Narita StationNarita Station
is a railway station on the Narita Line in Narita, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is located close to Keisei Narita Station.-Station layout:...
, Keisei Narita Station
Keisei Narita Station
is a railway station operated by Keisei Electric Railway's Keisei Main Line located in Narita, Chiba Prefecture Japan. It is 61.2 kilometers from the terminus of the Keisei Main Line at Keisei-Ueno Station, and is within walking distance of JR Narita Station....
and the Narita-san
Narita-san
Narita-san Shinshō-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in central Narita, Chiba, Japan. It was founded in 940 by Kanchō Daisōjō, a disciple of Kōbō Daishi...
Temple. The main road in central Narita is Omotesandō (表参道), which is lined with about 150 small shops and has been extensively renovated in recent years.
Narita New Town
Narita New Town is a planned residential area to the west of Narita StationNarita Station
is a railway station on the Narita Line in Narita, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is located close to Keisei Narita Station.-Station layout:...
. It has 16,000 homes with a total population of 60,000. The area was designed in 1968 based on the new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
s surrounding London in the UK, and now houses most of the city's population.
Kōzunomori
is a suburban area of Narita located south of the New Town, about 4 minutes by train from Keisei Narita Station. It has a population of about 12,000. The Kōzunomori StationKozunomori Station
is a railway station operated by Keisei Electric Railway's Keisei Main Line located in Narita, Chiba Prefecture Japan. It is 58.6 kilometers from the terminus of the Keisei Main Line at Keisei-Ueno Station. It is the first station after Keisei Narita on the way towards Nippori, Ueno and Tokyo....
is flanked by a large Ito-Yokado
Ito-Yokado
is a Japanese General Merchandise Store, part of Seven & I Holdings Co. There are 174 Ito-Yokado stores operating in Japan. The group has expanded to China, where they formed a joint venture with Wangfujing Department Store and China Huafu Trade & Development Group Corp. to open one of five stores...
department store.
Airport and farm areas
Narita International AirportNarita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
is located on the east side of Narita in an historically agricultural area called . The construction and later expansion of the airport led to intense civil unrest among Sanrizuka residents (see Narita International Airport's history). Although land expropriation and poorer farming conditions due to the airport's construction have caused Narita's farming population to drop two-thirds from pre-airport levels, the area immediately surrounding the airport remains lightly populated by farmers. Some abandoned farmland is now used for golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
courses, while other plots of land have become unofficial dumping grounds for garbage.
Industrial areas
There are two main industrial zones in Narita: and . Both zones were laid out in the 1960s to take advantage of Narita Airport and the ability to quickly import and export goods by air. An aircraft part repair plant operated by JAL (Japan AirlinesJapan Airlines
is an airline headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. It is the flag carrier of Japan and its main hubs are Tokyo's Narita International Airport and Tokyo International Airport , as well as Nagoya's Chūbu Centrair International Airport and Osaka's Kansai International Airport...
) and Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
, called Japan Turbine Technologies
Japan Turbine Technologies
JTT or Japan Turbine Technologies is a wholly owned Pratt & Whitney facility, part of Pratt & Whitney's Globas Service Partners Network. The facility was formerly a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney and Japan Airlines...
, is located in the Taiei industrial estate.
Tourist attractions
- Narita-san Shinsho TempleNarita-sanNarita-san Shinshō-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in central Narita, Chiba, Japan. It was founded in 940 by Kanchō Daisōjō, a disciple of Kōbō Daishi...
- Shiseki Park
- Chiba Prefectural Boso Fudoki-no-oka Museum
Economy
JALwaysJALways
, formerly , was an international airline registered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, with its headquarters on the third floor of the at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture and its main hub at Narita International Airport. The airline had a secondary hub at Osaka's Kansai...
, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, has its headquarters on the grounds of Narita International Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
.
Schools
Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the city of Narita.The following public high schools are operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education
Chiba Prefectural Board of Education
Chiba Prefectural Board of Education is a department of the Chiba Prefecture in Japan.The board supervises elementary and middle schools operated by other school districts and directly operates public high schools.-Abiko:* Abiko High School...
.
- Narita North High School
- Narita Seiryo High School
- Shimofusa High School
- Narita International High School
Public libraries
The City of Narita operates the Narita Public Library. In addition each community center includes a library branch.Community centers
Narita operates several community centers, including the Central Community Center and various others.Airport
- Narita International AirportNarita International Airportis an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
provides domestic and international services.
Rail
Narita ExpressNarita Express
, abbreviated as N'EX, is a limited express train service operated since 1991 by East Japan Railway Company , serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations. Services are approximately half-hourly in the mornings and evenings, and hourly through the middle of the day...
trains and Keisei Skyliner
Skyliner
is a limited-express airport train service between Tokyo and Narita Airport. It is operated by Keisei Electric Railway and runs on the Narita Sky Access route.-Service:...
trains connect Narita to central Tokyo.
- 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....
: Narita Main LineNarita LineThe is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .The main line runs between Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station , and is sometimes referred to as the...
}––
- JR East: Narita Abiko LineNarita LineThe is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .The main line runs between Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station , and is sometimes referred to as the...
}–
- JR East: Narita Airport LineNarita LineThe is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .The main line runs between Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station , and is sometimes referred to as the...
}––
- Keisei Electric RailwayKeisei Electric RailwayThe is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and...
: Keisei Main Line
}–––
- Keisei Electric Railway: Keisei Higashi-Narita LineKeisei Higashi-Narita LineThe is a branch line of the Keisei Main Line from Keisei Narita Station to Higashi-Narita Station .-Stations:...
- –
Highway
The Higashi-Kanto ExpresswayHigashi-Kanto Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:Officially the expressway is referred to as the Higashi-Kantō Expressway Mito Route....
connects Narita to Tokyo and Chiba City. Chiba Kotsu and Narita Kuko Kotsu provide bus service through the city. The Narita City Loop Bus, operated by both companies, operates on two circular routes around the city, stopping in major commercial areas and at all major hotels.
- Higashi-Kantō ExpresswayHigashi-Kanto ExpresswayThe is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:Officially the expressway is referred to as the Higashi-Kantō Expressway Mito Route....
- Shin-Kūkō ExpresswayShin-Kuko ExpresswayThe is a 4-laned national expressway in Narita, Chiba, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:...
- Ken-Ō ExpresswayKen-O ExpresswayThe , or , is a partially completed ticket system toll expressway in Japan, owned and operated by the Central Nippon Expressway Company and East Nippon Expressway Company. In conjunction with the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line and the Bayshore Route of the Shuto Expressway, it will form a full outer ring road...
- Japan National Route 51Japan National Route 51National Route 51 is a national highway of Japan connecting Chūō-ku, Chiba and Mito, Ibaraki in Japan, with a total length of 124 km ....
- Japan National Route 295
- Japan National Route 296
- Japan National Route 356
- Japan National Route 408
- Japan National Route 409
- Japan National Route 464
Sister cities
XianyangXianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
, China, since September 14, 1988 Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
, South Korea, since September 21, 1998 Jeongeup
Jeongeup
Jeongeup is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. The city limits include Naejang-san National Park, a popular destination particularly in autumn due to its foliage...
, South Korea, since January 29, 2002 San Bruno, California
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
, USA, since October 6, 1990 Næstved, Denmark, since March 14, 2003 Foxton, New Zealand
Foxton, New Zealand
Foxton is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand. The 2006 census population was 2715.It is located on the lower west coast of the North Island, in the Horowhenua district, 30 kilometres southwest of Palmerston North and 15 kilometres north of Levin. The town is located close to the...
, since January 1, 1995
Noted people from Narita
- Yuji Funayama – professional soccer player
- Yusuke Igawa – professional soccer player
- Yoshio Inaba – actor
- Manabu IwadateManabu Iwadateis a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball player for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan's Pacific League.-External links:...
– professional baseball player - Yuki KarakawaYuki Karakawais a Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League.-External links:...
– professional baseball player - Takeharu KunimotoTakeharu Kunimotois a prominent Japanese shamisen player and rōkyoku singer.In addition to performing and recording traditional music, he is also the only prominent shamisen player to perform and record bluegrass music; he spent some time in the early 2000s in the bluegrass program of East Tennessee State...
– musician - Yōko OginomeYoko Oginome, real name , is a singer, actress and voice actress. Oginome spent most of her elementary and junior high years living in the town of Ranzan in Saitama Prefecture, though she attended school in the city of Sakura. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in Nakano, Tokyo. She is represented by the...
– singer - Sakura SōgorōSakura SōgorōSakura Sōgorō or better known as Sōgo-sama , was a legendary Japanese farmer whose real family name was Kiuchi. He is said to have appealed directly to the shogun in 1652 when he was serving as a headman of one of the villages in the Sakura Domain. In the appeal he requested the shogun to help ease...
– Edo period folk hero
External links
- Narita official website (in English)
- Narita Layover Page (in English)