Itō, Shizuoka

Itō
伊東市
City

Aerial View of Itō

Flag
Seal

Location of Itō in Shizuoka Prefecture
Itō

 

Coordinates: 34°57′56.6″N 139°06′6.7″E / 34.965722°N 139.101861°E / 34.965722; 139.101861Coordinates: 34°57′56.6″N 139°06′6.7″E / 34.965722°N 139.101861°E / 34.965722; 139.101861
Country Japan
Region Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture Shizuoka Prefecture
Area
 • Total 124.10 km2 (47.92 sq mi)
Population (September 2015)
 • Total 68,541
 • Density 552/km2 (1,430/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree Camellia
- Flower Camellia
- Bird Blue Rock-thrush
Phone number 0557-36-0111
Address 2-1-1 Ōhara, Ito-shi, Shizuoka-ken 414-8555
Website www.city.ito.shizuoka.jp
Itō City Hall

Itō (伊東市, Itō-shi) is a city located on the eastern shore of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

As of September 2015, the city had an estimated population of 68,541 and a population density of 552 persons per km². The total area was 124.13 square kilometres (47.93 sq mi). Much of the city is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Geography

Cherry trees street at Izu-kogen

Itō is located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, on the northeast corner of Izu Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is hilly, and the heavily indented coastline is scenic. The climate of Itō is temperate maritime, with hot, humid summers, and short, cool winters.

Surrounding municipalities

Shizuoka Prefecture

History

During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Itō was occupied by 15 small farming and fishing hamlets. It was in this area that the Tokugawa Shogunate ordered Englishman William Adams to construct Japan's first western-style sailing vessels in 1604. The first ship, an 80-ton vessel, was used for surveying work, and the second ship, the 120-ton San Buena Ventura was sailed to Mexico. The period is commemorated in Itō by a street named after Adams (Anjinmiuradori). The area was reorganized into four villages (Tsushima, Itō, Komuro and Usami) within Kamo District the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, and were transferred to Tagata District in 1896. On January 1, 1906 the village of Itō was elevated to town status. It annexed neighboring Komuro Village on August 10, 1947 and became the city of Itō. In 1950 Itō was proclaimed an "International Tourism and Cultural City" by the central government. It further expanded through annexation of neighboring Tsushima and Usami villages on April 1, 1955.

Economy

Itō is one of the well known hot spring resort towns near the greater Tokyo metropolis, and tourism is the mainstay of the economy. Commercial fishing and the production of stockfish form a secondary economy.

Education

Itō has ten elementary schools, five middle schools and two high schools. In addition, there are two special education schools.

Transportation

Railway

Highways

Sister city relations

Local attractions

Noted people from Itō

Itō in media

Itō is featured extensively in the manga Amanchu! by Kozue Amano.

Itō is where takes place the aquatic battle between unit Eva-02 and one enemy angel in the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, under the sea level in the story.

References

  1. 1 2 "International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Retrieved 21 November 2015.

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