Fuchū, Tokyo

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Fuchū
府中市
City

Flag
Location of Fuchū in Tokyo Metropolis
Fuchū
 
Coordinates: 35°40′8.3″N 139°28′39.58″E / 35.668972°N 139.4776611°E / 35.668972; 139.4776611Coordinates: 35°40′8.3″N 139°28′39.58″E / 35.668972°N 139.4776611°E / 35.668972; 139.4776611
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Tokyo Metropolis
Area
 • Total 29.34 km2 (11.33 sq mi)
Population (June 1, 2010)
 • Total 255,394
 • Density 8,700/km2 (23,000/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Keyaki
- Flower Ume
- Bird Skylark
Phone number 042-364-4111
Address 24-24 Nishi-machi, Fuchū-shi, Tokyo 183-8703
Website www.city.fuchu.tokyo.jp
Fuchū City Hall

Fuchū (府中市 Fuchū-shi) is a city located in western Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. The modern city was founded on April 1, 1954.

As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 255,394 and a population density of 8,700 persons per km². The total area is 29.34 km².

The government of ancient Musashi Province was established in Fuchū by the Taika Reform, and the city prospered as the local center of politics, economy, and culture. It prospered as a post town on the Kōshū Kaidō in the Edo period, and the Kita Tama District public office was placed here after the start of the Meiji era.

Geographical features

Baba Daimon Keyaki avenue

The city is located 20 km west of central Tokyo. It spreads across the Musashino Terrace on the left bank of the Tama River, facing the Tama hills on the opposite shore. The Tama River flows through the southernmost end of the city from west to east. The Kokubunji cliff runs west to east along the north; the Fuchū cliff runs west to east through the center of the city. The former has a height of 10 to 15 m, and the latter, 10 to 20 m. Sengen-yama with an altitude of 79 m is in the northeast part, and the height from the foot is about 30 m. The region is mostly flatland. To the south of the Fuchū cliff is the Tama River lowlands while to the north of the Kokubunji cliff is the Musashino side of Musashino Plateau; the region between is the Tachikawa side of the Musashino Plateau. The cliffs are called hake in the local dialect. The Nogawa river, a tributary of the Tama River, grazes the northeast end of the city.

Adjoining cities

(All in Tokyo)

History

  • 645: With the Taika Reforms of the government of Musashi Province was established in Fuchū.
  • 1333: The Battle of Bubaigawara was fought.
  • 1602: The Fuchū post-town was established with the upgrading of the Kōshū-dochu road (Kōshū Highway).
  • 1868: Nirayama Prefecture was established, and the southwest part of the city region becomes part of it. The remainder was under the jurisdiction of the Musashi prefectural governor.
  • 1869: Shinagawa Prefecture was established, and except for the southwest part, the city becomes part of the prefecture.
  • 1871: Establishment of the prefectural system. Parts of the city were transferred to Kanagawa Prefecture by the next year step by step.
  • 1878: Tama District of Kanagawa Prefecture was divided into three districts: North Tama, South Tama, West Tama, and one district in Tokyo Prefecture: East Tama. The city region became part of North Tama District, whose district offices were established in the city.
  • 1880: Four towns and one village of the central area of the city region merged into Fuchū-eki.
  • 1889: Eight villages of the eastern area of city region merged into Tama Village, and three villages of the western area merged into Nishifu Village. Fuchū-eki reorganized as a town, without changing its name.
  • 1893: Three Tama districts were admitted to Tokyo Prefecture. Fuchū-eki changed its name to Fuchū Town.
  • 1910: The Tokyo Gravel Railroad (later JNR Shimogawara Line) is opened for traffic.
  • 1913: Telephone service commenced.
  • 1916: Keiō Electric Tram (part of present Keiō Line) opened for traffic.
  • 1922: Tama Railroad (present Seibu Tamagawa Line) is opened for traffic.
  • 1925: Gyokunan Electric Railroad (part of the present Keiō Line) opened for traffic.
  • 1929: Nanbu Railroad (present JR East Nambu Line) opened for traffic.
  • 1943: Tokyo Prefecture merged with Tokyo City, forming Tokyo-to.
  • 1954 April 1: Fuchū Town, Tama Village, Nishifu Village merged into Fuchū City, with the structure of a city.
  • 1956: New Kōshū Highway is opened for traffic between Higashi Fuchū and Honshūku.
  • 1961: New Kōshū Highway is opened for traffic between Higashi Fuchū and Chōfu.
  • 1968: The 300 million yen robbery occurred in Harumicho. This was the biggest robbery in the history of the nation.
  • 1973: The Musashino Line opened for traffic. The Shimogawara Line closed.

Economy

Fuchū is also home to Fuchu Prison, one of Japan's largest prisons, and to a major base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

Transportation

Access to the city

Using the Keiō Line from Shinjuku, it is 25 minutes to Fuchū Station (main station).

Railroads and their stations

Bus routes

Most bus routes in the city start at Fuchū Station. Other routes start at Tama-Reien Station, Higashi-Fuchū Station, Bubaigawara Station, Nakagawara Station, Tama Station, Koremasa Station, or Seisekisakuragaoka Station.

Highways

Toll roads

  • Chūō Expressway
    • Inagi Interchange (3.1; limited interchange)
    • Kunitachi Fuchū Interchange (4)
      Chōfu Interchange (3) is not located in Fuchū city area, but serves the eastern half of city.
  • Inagi Ohashi Toll Road

National highways

Prefectural roads

  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 9 Kawasaki Fuchu line Fuchū highway (also called the Kawasaki highway), Koremasa Bridge
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 14 Shinjuku Kunitachi line Tohachi Road
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 15 Fuchu; Kiyose line Koganei Highway
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 17 Tokorozawa Fuchu line Fuchū Highway
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 18 Fuchu Machida line Kamakura Highway, Sekido Bridge
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 20 Fuchu Sagamihara Line Fuchū Yotsuya Bridge (Yaen Highway)
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 110 Fuchu Mitaka line Hitomi Highway, Shin-Koganei Highway
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 133 Ogawa Fuchu line Kokubunji Highway
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 229 Fuchu Chōfu line Old Kōshū Highway
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 245 Tachikawa Kokubunji Line Takikubo Dori
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 247 Fuchu Koganei line (the section in Fuchū is unopened for traffic)
  • Tokyo Prefectural Route 248 Fuchu Kodaira line Shin-Koganei Highway

Education

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary education

The city operates its public elementary and junior high schools.

The following public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.

  • Fuchu High School
  • Fuchu-Higashi High School
  • Fuchu-Nishi High School
  • Fuchu Technical High School
  • Nogyo High School

Local attractions

Sports

Notable people from Fuchū

Sister city relations

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "厄除け・厄払いは大國魂神社（東京・府中）". Ookunitamajinja.or.jp. Retrieved 2012-01-06. 
  3. ↑ 1964 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. Part 1. pp. 74-5

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fuchu, Tokyo.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Fuchu.
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