Happy TravellerWelcome to Kawasaki, Kanagawa, one of the main cities of the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area. With a population of over 1.5 million people, Kawasaki is the second most populated city in Kanagawa Prefecture after Yokohama, and the eighth most populated city in Japan. Despite its size, Kawasaki is often overlooked by tourists in favor of its more famous neighbors, but this hidden gem boasts a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine that make it a must-visit destination.
History:
Kawasaki has a long and fascinating history that dates back to prehistoric times. Archaeological evidence from the Japanese Paleolithic and Jōmon period can only be found in the northwest Tama Hills. With the introduction of the Ritsuryō legal system, the area came to the Musashi Province in the 7th century. Since the Heian period, the domain of the Inage clan has expanded here. Between the Kamakura period and Sengoku period, smaller feudal lords ruled the area until it finally came under the control of the Later Hōjō clan. The rapid urbanization of the area, which continues to this day, began in the Meiji and Taishō eras. In 1872, Kawasaki Station was established on the Tōkaidō Main Line which was Japan’s first railway line. In 1889, the city (machi) Kawasaki in the district (gun) Tachibana was created according to the Japanese municipal system introduced the year before. In 1912 the border between Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures was established as the Tama River. On July 1, 1924, the independent city (shi-) of Kawasaki with 48,394 inhabitants was formed through a merger with the city of Daishi (formerly Daishigawara) and the village of Miyuki.
Geography:
Kawasaki is located on the right bank of the Tama River, which flows into the Tokyo Bay here. The city lies like a narrow band between Tokyo in the northeast and Yokohama in the southwest. The city connects the two major cities and is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, the largest and most densely populated urban areas in the world. The eastern area along the coast of Tokyo Bay is a densely populated industrial zone, part of the Keihin Industrial Zone. In contrast, the western districts in the Tama Hills consist largely of residential areas for commuters in the Tokyo / Yokoh
