Happy TravellerWelcome to Chigasaki, a beautiful city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. With a population of over 240,000 people, Chigasaki is a bustling city that offers a unique blend of modern amenities and traditional Japanese culture. Situated on the eastern bank of the Sagami River, Chigasaki faces Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean to the south, providing stunning views and a variety of outdoor activities. Let’s explore all that Chigasaki has to offer!
Geography:
Chigasaki is located in south-central Kanagawa Prefecture, and covers an area of 35.71 square kilometers. The city is situated on the eastern bank of the Sagami River, and faces Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean to the south. The Hikiji River also flows through part of the city. Chigasaki is surrounded by Fujisawa, Hiratsuka, and Samukawa.
Climate:
Chigasaki has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chigasaki is 15.9 °C, with the highest temperatures occurring in August at around 26.1 °C, and the lowest temperatures occurring in January at around 6.4 °C. The city receives an average annual rainfall of 1872 mm, with September being the wettest month.
Demographics:
According to Japanese census data, the population of Chigasaki has steadily grown for over seventy years.
History:
Chigasaki has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and was largely pasture and farmland well into the Edo period. The Tōkaidō connecting Edo with Kyoto passed through what is now Chigasaki, without a post station. After the start of the Meiji period, the Tōkaidō Main Line railway connected Chigasaki Station with Tokyo and Osaka in 1898, which spurred the development of the area. Chigasaki became a city on October 1, 1947, and on April 1, 2003, the population of Chigasaki exceeded 200,000, making it a special city with increased local autonomy. On October 24, 2014, Chigasaki agreed with Honolulu to establish a sister city relationship.
Government:
The city has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members. Chigasaki contributes three members to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kanagawa 15th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy:
Chigasaki is largely a bedroom community for Tokyo and Yokohama, and has been noted as a seaside resort community since the Meiji period. Tourism and summer leisure activities remain important to the local economy. Companies headquartered in Chigasaki include Toho Titanium Corporation, Miyata Industrial Co Ltd, and Autech Japan Co Ltd.
Education:
The city has nineteen elementary schools and thirteen middle schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education, and the prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped. There is one private elementary, middle school and high school in the city. Bunkyo University has a campus located in the city.
Transportation:
Chigasaki is easily accessible by both rail and road. The city is served by the JR East Tōkaidō Main Line and Sagami Line railways, as well as the Ken-Ō Expressway and National Routes 1, 134, and 468.
Local Attractions:
Chigasaki is known for its beautiful beaches and outdoor activities. The shoreline from Chigasaki to Kamakura is called the Shōnan area, and is a popular swimming destination. Chigasaki is also well known as the birthplace of Japanese surfing, and a shop called Goddess claims to be the first surfboard shop in Japan. Bicycles with metal fittings for holding surfboards are prominent in the area. A section of the beach in Chigasaki is called Southern Beach, inspired by the Southern All Stars, a famous J-pop singing group whose lead vocalist Keisuke Kuwata hails from Chigasaki. The symbol of Southern Beach is Eboshi-iwa, a large hat-shaped rock that is visible from the coast. The city is also known for being the center of Japanese Hawaiian culture, with many tropical and Hawaiian stores located mainly in the southern side of the town. Fridays in Chigasaki was called Aloha Friday, in which consumers were able to have discounts in many stores and taxis. Salesclerks and city officers are encouraged to work wearing aloha shirts as a part of Cool Biz campaign to promote its Hawaiian culture every summer since 2003. In contrast to the popularity as a modernized resort in the south, the north part of the city still retains some historical heritages. Ōoka Echizen festival is held in the family temple of the Ōoka clan (bodaiji) Jōkenji on May.
Sister Cities:
Chigasaki has two sister cities: Okazaki, Aichi, Japan, and Honolulu, United States.
Come visit Chigasaki and experience the beauty and culture of this amazing city for yourself!
