Shōwa, Yamanashi

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This article is about the town in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. For other meanings of Shōwa including places with the same name, see Shōwa.

Shōwa (昭和町; -chou) is a town located in Nakakoma District, Yamanashi, Japan.

1 Geography
2 Population
3 Facilities
4 Culture
- 4.1 External links

[edit] Geography

It is located on the southwestern side of Kofu the prefectural capital. Route 20 marks the boundary with Kofu. Showa-dori is the main road that runs through the middle of Showa, despite being called Showa Bypass by residents of the town. It is parralled by the Ichikawadaimonsen running through the south-eastern part of the town. It is surrounded by Kofu City,Kai City , Minami-Arupusu City and Chūō City. The Chūō Expressway also cuts over Showa running from north to south. Showa is made up of several smaller areas; Saijo, Saijo-Shinden, Shmizu-Arai, Oshikoshi, Kamisuki-Awara, Kato-Nakajima, Kasai, Ikkui, and Tsujiarai.

[edit] Population

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 16,742 and a density of 1,829.73 persons per km². The total area is 9.15 km². It has a high population of non-Japanese residents and a very active international association.

[edit] Facilities

Showa contains 5 schools. Three Elementary Schools; Joei, Oshihara and Saijo; one Junior High School; Oshihara and Showa High School. The local town office promotes life long learning in its adult night classes and classes for pensioners. These include Japanese language for foreign residents. The Leisure Centre contains a gym and swimming pool (unheated). It is closed on Mondays.

[edit] Culture

GRANPARK, is the name of the popular life shopping square (closed on Wednesdays) Though it is also used to refer to the 10 pin bowling alley within its complex as well as GRANPARK 8 which is in a separate building about 100m away from Granpark being the local cinema. Technically it’s on the edge of Kofu, located on the intersection of Route 20 (R20) and Showa-dori. The complex is besides a 2 story Chinese restaurant. It also holds a large 100 yen store. Opposite it is a Royal Host restaurant which focuses mainly on steak.