Ōtsuki, Yamanashi

Ōtsuki
大月市
City

Ōtsuki City Hall

Flag
Seal

Location of Ōtsuki in Yamanashi Prefecture
Ōtsuki

 

Coordinates: 35°37′N 138°56′E / 35.617°N 138.933°ECoordinates: 35°37′N 138°56′E / 35.617°N 138.933°E
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Yamanashi Prefecture
Area
 • Total 280.30 km2 (108.22 sq mi)
Population (July 1, 2012)
 • Total 27,273
 • Density 97.3/km2 (252/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Yaezakura (Prunus lannesiana)
- Flower Lilium auratum
Phone number 0554-22-2111
Address 2-6-20 Ōtsuki, Ōtsuki-shi, Yamanashi-ken 401-8601
Website www.city.otsuki.yamanashi.jp

Ōtsuki (大月市 Ōtsuki-shi) is a city located in eastern Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

As of July 2012, the city has an estimated population of 27,273 and a population density of 97.3 persons per km². The total area is 380.30 km².

Geography

A panorama of Ōtsuki from the surrounding mountains.

Surrounding municipalities

History

Located in the headwaters of the Sagami River, the area around present-day Ōtsuki was heavily settled in the Jōmon period, and over 80 Jōmon sites have been found within city limits. However, there are fewer Yayoi period sites. During the Nara period ritsuryo organization of Kai Province, the area came under Tsuru County. From the middle of the Kamakura period, much of the province came under the control of the Takeda clan.

During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, although the portion around modern day Ōtsuki was part of the short-lived Tamimura Domain, which was suppressed in 1704. Also during the Edo period, the Kōshū Kaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes, passed through Ōtsuki, which with 12 of the 45 post stations has more post stations than any other municipality in Japan. The eleven post stations spread from Shimotorisawa-shuku to Kuronoda-shuku.

During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in July 1, 1889, the village of Hirosato was created within Kitatsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture. On April 1, 1933 the village was raised to town status, and renamed Ōtsuki. The town was bombed by the United States on August 13, 1945, only two days before the end of World War II. The town was elevated to city status on August 8, 1954.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Education

Noted people

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ōtsuki, Yamanashi.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Otsuki.