| Fujiyoshida 富士吉田市 |
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| Location of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi | |||
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Fujiyoshida
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Chūbu | ||
| Prefecture | Yamanashi | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Shigeru Horiuchi | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 121.83 km2 (47 sq mi) | ||
| Population (January 1, 2010) | |||
| • Total | 52,452 | ||
| • Density | 430.53/km2 (1,115.1/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| City symbols | |||
| - Tree | White Birch | ||
| - Flower | Fujizakura | ||
| Phone number | 0555-24-1236 | ||
| Address | 1842 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi-ken 403-8601 |
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| Website | City of Fujiyoshida | ||
Fujiyoshida (富士吉田市 Fujiyoshida-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū.
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It is considered a high-elevation city in Japan, at 2,140 to 2,800 feet above sea level. The city is also located between two of the five Fuji Lakes.
Fujiyoshida was founded on March 20, 1951. The city rests at the base of majestic Mount Fuji, and is built upon old lava flows.
For several centuries, artisans around the Fujiyoshida area have produced high quality textiles, and now the city is the center of commerce and high technology in southern Yamanashi Prefecture.
Fujiyoshida is the largest city on the North Slope of Mount Fuji and features access to historical sites, amusement parks, hot springs, access to hiking and camping in the Fuji Five Lakes system, and is the traditional Northern gateway to climbing Mount Fuji.
Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja (北口本宮冨士浅間神社) - A Shinto shrine dedicated to Mount Fuji. 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 (gate) at the entrance. This gate is taken down and rebuilt every "Fuji Year" (60 years).
Opening and closing ceremonies for the annual Fujiyoshida Himatsuri, or Fire Festival on August 26 and "Susuki Matsuri" on 27th of every year. The Fire Festival is labeled one of Japan's three most unique festivals, "Nihon San-Kisai"(日本三奇祭).
A ceremony on July 1 called "Yama-Biraki" marks the opening of the Mount Fuji climbing season.
In August, the shrine plays host to a performance of traditional Noh theater. In the autumn, sacred deer, which live on the shrine grounds, receive a ritualistic shearing of their antlers. This ceremony is performed by a Shinto priest.
A display of items from Fujiyoshida's past including household items, farm implements, clothing and samples of the cities' famous textiles. Also features recreated Edo period households.
Fuji-Q Highland- An amusement park with a variety of attractions suitable for adults and children. Home to one of the world's fastest rollercoasters.
Mt. Fuji Visitors Center- Features interactive displays, videos, books and guides about Mount Fuji.
Mt. Fuji Radar Dome Museum A tribute to the meteorologists who built a radar research facility at the summit of Mt. Fuji. Features a room which simulates the conditions at the summit of the mountain.
Chureito Peace Pagoda- Built on a hilltop facing Mt. Fuji, Chureito offers an excellent view of the mountain and is a popular place to take photographs.
Sister Cities of Fujiyoshida include Colorado Springs, Colorado and the city of Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France. All three cities are related by famous mountains: Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Mont Blanc in Chamonix, and Mount Fuji in Fujiyoshida.
Fujiyoshida and Colorado Springs entered into a sister city relationship in 1962. Fujiyoshida was the second city in Yamanashi prefecture to have a sister city relationship, and the 49th city in Japan. On June 10, 1966 the Colorado Springs Downtown Rotary Club erected a torii gate to commemorate the Sister City relationship on the grassy median at the intersection of Nevada and Bijou streets in downtown Colorado Springs. According to a book by Omura Sakae, a long time sister city supporter who stayed in Colorado Springs and taught at Colorado College, the torii gate was funded by the Downtown Rotary Club for $1500 dollars, which included a Japanese garden. Fujiyoshida sent Fujizakura trees (Fuji cherry trees, Fujiyoshida's city flower) to Colorado Springs to commemorate the event, but the torii gate itself was planned and funded in Colorado Springs. William Vandel (d. 1975) was the sister city president in Colorado Springs at the time, and the gate was designed by him. The gate was rebuilt in 1991. The kanji characters at the top of the gate read shimai-toshi, which means "sister city." The torii gate is one of Colorado Springs' most recognizable landmarks. Reciprocal mayoral visits occurred in 2002 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the sister cities. The two cities will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2012.
Every August, the city of Fujiyoshida sends sixteen students from local junior high schools and two chaperones to Colorado Springs for ten days. Chaperones are chosen among employees of Fujiyoshida City Hall and teachers. Group activities include tours to the top of Pikes Peak, the Garden of the Gods, and the Garden of the Gods Trading Post.
Fujiyoshida City currently employs three Colorado Springs natives as part of the JET program. Two are Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) at local junior high schools, and the third is a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) at Fujiyoshida City Hall.
Fujiyoshida became sister cities with the city of Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France in 1978. Since then, the two cities have enjoyed numerous exchange activities including the Double Summit Challenge in 2005, an event where citizens of the two sister cities climbed the summits of their respective mountain peaks: Mt. Fuji and Mont Blanc.
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