Shimizu, Shizuoka

For Shimizu-ku of Shizuoka city (and former Shimizu city), see Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka.

Shimizu
清水町

Town

Kano River in Shimizu Town

Flag

Seal

Location of Shimizu Town in Shizuoka Prefecture

Shimizu

Coordinates: 35°6′N 138°54′E / 35.100°N 138.900°ECoordinates: 35°6′N 138°54′E / 35.100°N 138.900°E

Area

• Total

8.84 km² (3.41 sq mi)

Population (June 2014)

• Total

32,145

• Density

3,640/km² (9,400/sq mi)

Time zone

Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

- Tree

Castanopsis

- Flower

Chrysanthemum

- Bird

Common Kingfisher

Phone number

055-973-1111

Address

210-1 Dōniwa, Shimizu-chō, Suntō-gun, Shizuoka-ken 411-8650

Website

Official website

Shimizu Town Hall

Shimizu (清水町, Shimizu-chō) is a town in Suntō District of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2014, the town had an estimated population of 32,145 and a population density of 3,640 persons per km². The total area was 8.84 km².

Geography

Shimizu is located at the northern end of Izu Peninsula. The Kakita River flows through the town. The area has a temperate maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.

Neighboring municipalities

Numazu
Mishima
Nagaizumi

History

Shimizu is located in the far eastern portion of former Suruga Province, and was largely tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into the village of Shimizu within Suntō District, Shizuoka through the merger of 11 small hamlets.

An Imperial decree in July 1899 established Shimizu as an open port for trading with the United States and the United Kingdom.^[1]

Shimizu attained town status in 1963. There have been numerous attempts to merge Shimizu into neighboring Numazu (1966, 1967, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007).

Economy

The economy of Shimizu is largely based on agriculture. The town also serves as a bedroom community for the industrial zones in neighboring Numazu and Mishima.