Ichihara, Chiba

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Map showing location of Ichihara in Chiba Prefecture (as of 2006).

Ichihara (市原市 Ichihara-shi) is a city located in Chiba, Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 279,426 and the density of 758.90 persons per km². The total area is 368.20 km².

The city was founded on May 1, 1963. It was home to JEF United.

Ichihara maintains a sister city relationship with Mobile, Alabama, USA.

There are three direct access routes to the center of Tokyo from Ichihara: the JR(Japan Railways)Uchibo Line, Highway 16, and the Keisei Electric Railway Chihara Line.

HISTORY: Many kitchen middens and old tombs prove that this area, with a quiet inlet and hills, has been ideal for dwelling since long ago. After the Taika Reform, Boso was divided into Kazusa, Shimousa and Awa, and Ichihara became the center of Kazusa.

During medieval times when the Kamakura Shogunate reigned, traffic between the Miura Peninsula and Boso became more important, which led to the prosperity of Ichihara as one of the footholds. During the Edo period, 　Ichihara was broken into 180 hamlets, but in 1871 when the abolition of clans and establishment of prefectures was enforced, Ichihara was included into Kisarazu prefecture, and later into Chiba prefecture.

The coastal industrial complex, started in 1959, triggered the annexation of the city. In May 1963, the City of Ichihara was created though the amalgamation of the towns of Ichihara, Goi, Sanwa, Shizu, and Anegasaki.