Fujiyoshida (富士吉田市, Fujiyoshida-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2019[update], the city had an estimated population of 48,782 in 19,806 households[1] and a population density of 400 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 121.74 square kilometres (47.00 sq mi).
Fujiyoshida
富士吉田市 | |
|---|---|
![Fujiyoshida montage, Top: Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, Middle above left: Mount Fuji Radar Dome, Middle row left: Gold Torii Gate, Middle right: Mount Fuji and a pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park, Bottom left: Fujiyoshida Firework Festival, Bottom middle: a Tree-lined road in Fuji Sengen Shrine [ja], Bottom right: Yoshida Udon Noodle](/https/en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fujiyoshida_montage.jpg) Fujiyoshida montage, Top: Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, Middle above left: Mount Fuji Radar Dome, Middle row left: Gold Torii Gate, Middle right: Mount Fuji and a pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park, Bottom left: Fujiyoshida Firework Festival, Bottom middle: a Tree-lined road in Fuji Sengen Shrine, Bottom right: Yoshida Udon Noodle | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture | |
  Fujiyoshida | |
| Coordinates: 35°29′15.1″N 138°48′27.9″E / 35.487528°N 138.807750°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Chūbu (Tōkai) |
| Prefecture | Yamanashi Prefecture |
| First official recorded | 2nd century BC (official) |
| Shimoyoshida town settled | August 1, 1939 |
| Current name changed and city settled | March 20, 1951 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Shigeru Horiuchi |
| Area | |
| • Total | 121.74 km2 (47.00 sq mi) |
| Population (October 1, 2020) | |
| • Total | 46,530 |
| • Density | 380/km2 (990/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| City symbols | |
| • Tree | White birch |
| • Flower | Fujizakura |
| • Bird | Great spotted woodpecker |
| Phone number | 0555-22-1111 |
| Address | 6-1-1 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi-ken 403-8601 |
| Website | Official website |
Geography
editFujiyoshida lies at the northern base of Mount Fuji, and is built upon old lava flows. It is considered a high-elevation city in Japan, at 650 to 850 metres (2,140 to 2,800 feet) above sea level. The city is also located between two of the Fuji Five Lakes. The Katsura River flows through the eastern part of the city.
Neighboring municipalities
edit- Shizuoka Prefecture
- Yamanashi Prefecture
Climate
editThe city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Fujiyoshida is 9.1 °C (48.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,845 millimetres (72.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 21 °C (70 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.3 °C (27.9 °F).[2]
Demographics
editPer Japanese census data,[3] the population of Fujiyoshida has declined in recent decades.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 49,960 | — |
| 1950 | 61,882 | +23.9% |
| 1960 | 42,607 | −31.1% |
| 1970 | 50,046 | +17.5% |
| 1980 | 53,569 | +7.0% |
| 1990 | 54,804 | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 54,090 | −1.3% |
| 2010 | 50,619 | −6.4% |
| 2020 | 46,530 | −8.1% |
History
editFollowing the Meiji restoration, the area around Fujiyoshida was organized into Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi per the cadastral reforms of July 22, 1878. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on July 1, 1889, the villages of Mizuho, Akemi and Fukuchi were established. In 1939, Mizuho was raised to town status and renamed Shimoyoshida. Likewise, in 1947, Fukuchi was raised to town status and renamed Fujikamiyoshida and Akemi was raised to town status in 1948, retaining its original name. These three towns merged on March 20, 1951, to form the city of Fujiyoshida.
Government
editFujiyoshida has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.
Economy
editFor several centuries, artisans around the Fujiyoshida area have produced high quality textiles,[4] and now the city is the center of commerce and high technology in southern Yamanashi Prefecture.
Education
edit- Showa University
- Fujiyoshida has seven public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public private high schools operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private middle school and one private high school.
Senior high schools
editIn Japan the public Senior High Schools are operated by the prefecture, which in this case in the Yamanashi prefecture. While not compulsory, 94% of all junior high school graduates entered high schools.[5] These high schools are the equivalent of grades 10 – 12 in the United States or the Fifth and Sixth form in the English system.
Prefectural public high schools
edit- Fuji Hokuryo High School
- Hibarigaoka High School
- Yoshida High School
Private high schools
edit- Fuji Gakuen High School
Junior high schools
editThe public Junior High Schools are operated by the City of Fujiyoshida. These schools are the equivalent of grades 6 – 9 in the United States or the First to Fourth form in the English system.
Municipal junior high schools
edit- Akemi Junior High School
- Fujimidai Junior High School
- Shimoyoshida Junior High School
- Yoshida Junior High School
Private junior high schools
edit- Fuji Gakuen Junior High School
Primary schools
editThe public Primary Schools are operated by the City of Fujiyoshida. Municipal Primary Schools
- Akemi Elementary School
- Fuji Elementary School
- Shimoyoshida 2nd Elementary School
- Shimoyoshida Daiichi Elementary School
- Shimoyoshida Higashi Elementary School
- Yoshida Elementary School
- Yoshida Nishi Elementary School
Transportation
editRailway
edit
Highway
edit
Sister cities
edit
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, since 1962
Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France, since 1978[6]
Local attractions
edit.jpg)
- Arakurayama Sengen Park and the Chūrei-tō pagoda, built on a hilltop facing Mount Fuji.
- Fuji-Q Highland an amusement park with a variety of attractions suitable for adults and children.
- Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mount Fuji, the Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja is the historical starting point for pilgrims climbing the mountain. The main structure was originally built in 788 and underwent reconstruction in the 17th century. Additional buildings include a shrine dedicated to Takeda Shingen (1521–1573), and a red torii which is taken down and rebuilt every "Fuji Year" (60 years). The shrine has a local history museum which displays items from Fujiyoshida's past including household items, farm implements, clothing and samples of the cities' famous textiles.
- Mt. Fuji Radar Dome Museum. A tribute to the meteorologists who built a radar research facility at the summit of Mount Fuji, which features a room which simulates the conditions at the summit of the mountain.
- Mt. Fuji Visitors Center. It is home to interactive displays, videos, books and guides about Mount Fuji.
Notable people from Fujiyoshida
edit- Keiji Mutoh, professional wrestler[7]
- Shun Sugata, actor[8]
References
edit- ^ Fujiyoshida City official statistics(in Japanese)
- ^ "Fujiyoshida climate: Temperature Fujiyoshida & Weather By Month". en.climate-data.org. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ "Yamanashi (Japan): Cities, Towns and Villages in Prefecture - Population Statistics, Charts and Map". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ^ "Fujiyoshida Welcomes You". Fujiyoshida City International Affairs Desk. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ "MEXT : Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology". Archived from the original on 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Player - Keiji Muto". Wrestle-1 Official Web Site (in Japanese). 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
- ^ 日本映画人名事典』男優編. Kinema-Junpo. 1996. p. 832. ISBN 978-4873761886.
External links
edit
Media related to Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi at Wikimedia Commons
Fuji Yoshida travel guide from Wikivoyage- Official Website (in Japanese)
