Hamamatsu

This article is about the city in Shizuoka Prefecture. For the area in eastern Tokyo, see Hamamatsuchō
Hamamatsu
浜松市
Designated city

From top left:Act City Hamamatsu, Akihasan Hongū Akiha Jinja, Enshu Railway Line, Hamamatsu Castle, Hamana Ōhasi

Flag
Seal

Location of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Hamamatsu

 

Coordinates: 34°42′39″N 137°43′34″E / 34.71083°N 137.72611°ECoordinates: 34°42′39″N 137°43′34″E / 34.71083°N 137.72611°E
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Shizuoka Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Yasutomo Suzuki
Area
 • Total 1,558.04 km2 (601.56 sq mi)
Population (July 1, 2012)
 • Total 797,462
 • Density 512/km2 (1,330/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Pine
- Flower Mikan
- Bird Japanese Bush Warbler
Phone number 53-457-2111
Address 103-2 Motoshiro-chō, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka-ken 430-8652
Website www.city.hamamatsu.shizuoka.jp

Hamamatsu (浜松市 Hamamatsu-shi, lit. "Coast Pine Tree") is a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

As of July 1, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 797,462 and a population density of 512 persons per km². The total area is 1,558.04 km2 (601.56 sq mi).

On July 1, 2005, Hamamatsu absorbed the cities of Tenryū and Hamakita, the town of Haruno (from Shūchi District), the towns of Hosoe, Inasa and Mikkabi (all from Inasa District), the towns of Misakubo and Sakuma, the village of Tatsuyama (all from Iwata District), and the towns of Maisaka and Yūtō (both from Hamana District) to become the current and expanded city of Hamamatsu. It became a city designated by government ordinance on April 1, 2007.

Geography

Hamamatsu consists of a flat plain and the Mikatahara Plateau in the south, and a mountainous area in the north. It is roughly bordered by Lake Hamana to the west, the Tenryū River to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the south.

Wards

Wards of Hamamatsu
A bird's-eye view of downtown Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu is administratively divided into seven wards:

History

Hirokoji Street in the 1930s

The area now comprising Hamamatsu has been settled since prehistoric times, with numerous remains from the Jomon period and Kofun period having been discovered within the present city limits, including the Shijimizuka site shell mound and the Akamonue Kofun ancient tomb. In the Nara period, it became the capital of Tōtōmi Province. During the Sengoku period, Hamamatsu Castle was the home of future Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hamamatsu flourished during the Edo period under a succession of daimyo rulers as a castle town, and as a post town on the Tōkaidō. After the Meiji Restoration, Hamamatsu became a short-lived prefecture from 1871–1876, after which it was united with Shizuoka Prefecture. Hamamatsu Station opened on the Tōkaidō Main Line in 1889. The same year, in a cadastal reform of Japan, Hamamatsu became a town.

Climate

The climate in southern Hamamatsu is mild with little snowfall in the winter; however, it is windy in winter because of the dry monsoon called Enshū no Karakaze, which is unique to the region. The climate in northern Hamamatsu is much harsher because of foehn winds. In summers, the highest temperature often exceeds 35 degrees in the Tenryu-ku area, while it snows in winter.

Climate data for Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Averages (1981–2010), Records (1883–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3)		 22.5
(72.5)		 24.7
(76.5)		 28.1
(82.6)		 31.3
(88.3)		 36.7
(98.1)		 38.6
(101.5)		 39.3
(102.7)		 36.6
(97.9)		 31.0
(87.8)		 27.8
(82)		 22.6
(72.7)		 39.3
(102.7)
Average high °C (°F) 10.1
(50.2)		 11.1
(52)		 14.3
(57.7)		 19.3
(66.7)		 23.0
(73.4)		 25.8
(78.4)		 29.4
(84.9)		 31.1
(88)		 28.2
(82.8)		 23.1
(73.6)		 17.9
(64.2)		 12.7
(54.9)		 20.5
(68.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)		 6.5
(43.7)		 9.7
(49.5)		 14.7
(58.5)		 18.7
(65.7)		 22.0
(71.6)		 25.7
(78.3)		 27.0
(80.6)		 24.1
(75.4)		 18.8
(65.8)		 13.5
(56.3)		 8.4
(47.1)		 16.25
(61.26)
Average low °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)		 2.7
(36.9)		 5.6
(42.1)		 10.4
(50.7)		 14.9
(58.8)		 19.0
(66.2)		 23.0
(73.4)		 24.0
(75.2)		 21.0
(69.8)		 15.3
(59.5)		 9.8
(49.6)		 4.8
(40.6)		 12.8
(55)
Record low °C (°F) −6
(21)		 −5.5
(22.1)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 0.0
(32)		 4.7
(40.5)		 10.4
(50.7)		 15.3
(59.5)		 16.8
(62.2)		 12.4
(54.3)		 3.8
(38.8)		 0.1
(32.2)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 −6
(21)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 57.0
(2.244)		 78.3
(3.083)		 149.4
(5.882)		 167.5
(6.594)		 190.5
(7.5)		 241.3
(9.5)		 190.0
(7.48)		 150.8
(5.937)		 248.9
(9.799)		 164.5
(6.476)		 118.8
(4.677)		 52.3
(2.059)		 1,809.1
(71.224)
Average relative humidity (%) 58 57 60 65 71 78 80 77 75 70 66 61 68
Mean monthly sunshine hours 196.5 184.2 191.0 195.6 195.8 148.3 177.5 222.6 161.0 165.9 170.0 199.5 2,207.9
Source: JMA[1]
View of Mt. Fuji from Hamamatsu

Tourist attractions

Industry

Hamamatsu (near city hall)
Downtown Hamamatsu
Eel, for which Hamamatsu is famous

Hamamatsu has been famous as an industrial city, especially for musical instruments and motorcycles. It also has been known for fabric industry, but most of those companies and factories went out of business in the 1990s.

Companies headquartered in Hamamatsu

Companies founded in Hamamatsu

Transportation

Hamamatsu Station exterior
Hamamatsu Station interior

Railways

Roads

Airport

There are no civilian airports in Hamamatsu. Shizuoka Airport (34°47′46″N 138°11′22″E / 34.796111°N 138.189444°E) is the closest, located 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Hamamatsu Station, between Makinohara and Shimada.

Chūbu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture, located about 87 kilometres (54 mi)[3] west of the city, is the second closest.

Festivals

Akiha Fire Festival

Haruno, Tenryu-ku: December

Ever since long ago, Mount Akiha was believed to have supernatural powers to prevent fires. Bow and arrow, sword, and fire dances are performed at the Akiha Shrine. At the Akiha Temple, a firewalking ceremony is performed where both believers and spectators celebrate the festival.

Enshu Dainenbutsu

Saigagake Museum, Hamamatsu City: July 15

When a family commemorates the first Obon holidays after the death of a loved one, they may request that a dainenbutsu (Buddhist chanting ritual) be performed outside their house. This is one of the local performing arts of the region. The group always forms a procession in front of the house led by a person carrying a lantern and marches to the sound of flutes, Japanese drums and cymbals.

During Hamamatsu Festival

Hamamatsu Kite Festival

Naka-ku, Minami-ku, others: May

Hamamatsu Kite Festival is also called Hamamatsu Festival. Hamamatsu Kite Festival held from May 3 to May 5 each year, includes a Tako Gassen, or kite fight, and luxuriously decorated palace-like floats. The festival originated about 430 years ago, when the lord of Hamamatsu Castle celebrated the birth of his first son by flying kites. In the Meiji Era, the celebration of the birth of a first son by flying Hatsu Dako, or the first kite, became popular, and this tradition has survived in the form of Hamamatsu Kite Festival. During the nights of Hamamatsu Kite Festival, people parade downtown carrying over 70 yatai, or palace-lake floats, that are beautifully decorated while playing Japanese traditional festival music. The festival reaches its peak when groups representing the city's various districts compete by energetically marching through the downtown streets.

Hamakita Hiryu Festival

Hamakita-ku: June

This festival is held in honor of Ryujin, the god of the Tenryū River, and features a wide variety of events such as the Hamakita takoage (kite flying) event and the Hiryu himatsuri (flying dragon fire festival) which celebrates water, sound, and flame.

Hamamatsu International Piano Competition

November

This festival celebrates Hamamatsu's history as a city of musical instruments and music, and brings dozens of the best young pianists from all over the world. It has been held triennially since 1991 at the Act City Concert Hall and Main Hall.

Hamakita Manyo Festival

Hamakita-ku, Hamamatsu: October

This event takes place in Manyo-no-Mori Park to commemorate the Manyo Period and introduce its culture. As part of the festival, people reenact the ancient past by wearing traditional clothes from the Heian period and presenting Japanese poetry readings.

Inasa Puppet Festival

Inasa, Kita-ku: November

One of the few puppet festivals held in Japan, featuring 60 performances of about 30 plays by puppet masters from all over the country. The shows provide a full day of enjoyment for both children and adults.

Princess Road Festival

Hosoe, Kita-ku: April

This reenactment of a procession made by the princess in her palanquin along with her entourage of over 100 people including maids, samurai, and servants makes for a splendid scene beneath the cherry blossoms along the Toda River. In the Edo period, princesses enjoyed traveling this road which came to be known as a hime kaidō (princess road).

Shoryu Weeping Ume Blossom Festival

Inasa, Kita-ku: late February to late March

In Ryusui Garden there is a stream with seven small waterfalls and about 80 weeping ume trees pruned to give the appearance of dragons riding on clouds to the heavens. There are also 200 young trees planted along the mountainside.

Notable people

Radio stations

Colleges and universities

Sports teams

Football

International relations

Hamamatsu has ratified Music Culture Exchange Treaty with the following cities (however, of the following Rochester is the only official sister city):

Twin towns and sister cities

Hamamatsu is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "JMA". JMA. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Headquarters." Hamamatsu Photonics. Retrieved on February 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ From Chūbu Centrair International Airport to Hamamatsu station (34°42′14″N 137°44′05″E / 34.703866°N 137.734759°E) (surveying http://vldb.gsi.go.jp/sokuchi/surveycalc/bl2stf.html (Japanese))
  4. ↑ "Radio Phoenix - CONECTOU...TÁ NA PHOENIX". Radiophoenix.jp. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  5. ↑ "Miasta partnerskie Warszawy". um.warszawa.pl (in Polish). Biuro Promocji Miasta. 2005-05-04. Retrieved 2008-08-29.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hamamatsu, Shizuoka.