Chūō-ku, Sapporo
Chūō-ku 中央区 | |
---|---|
Ward of Sapporo | |
Location of Chūō-ku in Sapporo | |
Country | Japan |
Prefecture | Hokkaido |
City | Sapporo |
Established | April 1, 1972 |
Area[1] | |
• Total | 46.42 km2 (17.92 sq mi) |
Population (2009)[2] | |
• Total | 216,601 |
Estimation as of August 1, 2009 | |
Website | www.city.sapporo.jp/chuo |
Chūō-ku (中央区 Chūō-ku) is one of the ten wards in Sapporo city, Japan. Chūō-ku means "central ward" in Japanese. As its name suggests, city administration and entertainment facilities are centred in this ward.
History
During Meiji Period, Sousei river, precursor of Susukino district, Sapporo Beer company and the drill hall of the former Sapporo Agricultural College were built in the area where Chūō-ku is currently located.[3] After Sapporo became ku (ward), Sapporo Agricultural College, which is current Hokkaido University, was moved to the place where current Kita-ku was seated, and Sapporo ward administrative building was built.[3]
In 1922, Sapporo was chartered as a city.[3] In the middle of Shōwa period, the 1st Sapporo Snow Festival was held, and Sapporo city office was erected in 1971.
Chūō-ku was established officially in 1972, when the Sapporo Olympics was held and Sapporo was accredited as one of the city designated by government ordinance.[3] During those Olympics, they hosted the normal hill ski jumping event and the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined event.[4] The other 6 wards (Higashi-ku, Kita-ku, Minami-ku, Nishi-ku, Shiroishi-ku and Toyohira-ku) were also established in the same year. The ski jump would be a venue when the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships would be held at Sapporo in 2007.
Overview
The ward is located in the center of Sapporo. As a downtown district of the city, there are a lot of governmental offices and buildings of companies. The City Hall of Sapporo, the office building of the government of Hokkaido and the headquarters of Hokkaidō Police office are located.
Chūō-ku is also the centre for sightseeing, and many of historical and entertainment facilities of Sapporo are located. Odori Park lies on the centre of the ward, and Sapporo TV Tower is placed on the eastern end of the park. The Sapporo Snow Festival is also held annually in Odori Park. The largest shinto shrine in Hokkaidō prefecture, Hokkaido Shrine (Hokkaidō jingu) is located in Miyanomori area, and draws a number of people on the island during Oshougatsu (the New Year's Day). Maruyama Zoo, Mt. Okura Ski Jump Stadium, and Miyanomori middle hill jump stadium are near the shrine.
Susukino area has many bars and pubs. The street car runs from there to Odori Park going around the ward. A beautiful panorama view is enjyoable on the top of Mt. Moiwa, which has a ropeway. Memorial guest hall, Hōhei Kan, is in Nakajima Park, which houses a music hall Sapporo Concert Hall "Kitara". The Hokkaido University Botanical Gardens is also in this ward.
Economy
Hokkaido Railway Company has its headquarters in the ward.[5] Hokkaido International Airlines (Air Do) is headquartered in Chūō-ku.[6] Yomiuri Shimbun has a branch office in the ward.[7]
Japan Airlines at one time operated a ticketing facility on the second floor of the Imon Sapporo Building in Chūō-ku. On March 31, 2009 the facility closed.[8]
Statistics
As of April 1, 2008, statistics of Chūō-ku, Sapporo is listed below.
- Area: 46.42 square km
- Population: 211,233
- Households: 115,362
- Chūō-ku Ward Office: Minami 3 Jo Nishi 11 Chome, Chūō-ku, Sapporo-shi (city)
- Zipcode: 060-8612
- Phone: +81 11 231-2400
Points of interest
- Sapporo Clock Tower
- Former Hokkaidō government office building
- Odori Park
- Maruyama Baseball Stadium
- Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium
- Susukino
- Tanukikōji Shopping Arcade
- Hokkaido Shrine
- Hōheikan
References
- ↑ Profile of Chūō-ku (Chūō Ward Office)
- ↑ City of Sapporo statistics
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 outline of Chuo-ku
- ↑ 1972 Winter Olympics official report. pp. 268-70.
- ↑ "会社概要." Hokkaido Railway Company. Retrieved on March 27, 2010.
- ↑ "会社概要." Hokkaido International Airlines. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.
- ↑ "組織体制." Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved on March 5, 2010.
- ↑ "JAL Group Offices Information." Japan Airlines. March 28, 2009. Retrieved on July 21, 2011. "2nd floor, Imon Sapporo Bldg., Kita1-jo, Nishi 3 chome 1ban, Chuo-ku,Sapporo City,060-0001 (Office moved on September 10, 2007.)"
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chuo-ku, Sapporo. |
- Chūō-ku ward office (Japanese)
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Coordinates: 43°3′19″N 141°20′28″E / 43.05528°N 141.34111°E