Ōtsuki, Yamanashi

Ōtsuki 大月市
City
Ōtsuki City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ōtsuki in Yamanashi Prefecture
Ōtsuki
Coordinates: 35°36′38″N 138°56′24″E / 35.61056°N 138.94000°ECoordinates: 35°36′38″N 138°56′24″E / 35.61056°N 138.94000°E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Yamanashi Prefecture
Area
• Total	280.25 km^2 (108.21 sq mi)
Population (November 1, 2015)
• Total	25,352
• Density	90.5/km^2 (234/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Yaezakura (Prunus lannesiana)
- Flower	Lilium auratum
Phone number	0554-22-2111
Address	2-6-20 Ōtsuki, Ōtsuki-shi, Yamanashi-ken 401-8601
Website	www.city.otsuki.yamanashi.jp

Ōtsuki (大月市 Ōtsuki-shi) is a city located in eastern Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

As of November 2015, the city had an estimated population of 25,252 and a population density of 90.5 persons per km². The total area was 380.25 square kilometres (146.82 sq mi).

Geography

A panorama of Ōtsuki from the surrounding mountains.

Ōtsuki is located in eastern Yamanashi Prefecture, approximately 80 kilometers from Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

Yamanashi Prefecture

• Uenohara
• Tsuru
• Kōshū
• Fuefuki
• Fujikawaguchiko
• Kosuge

History

Located in the headwaters of the Sagami River, the area around present-day Ōtsuki was heavily settled in the Jōmon period, and over 80 Jōmon sites have been found within city limits. However, there are fewer Yayoi period sites. During the Nara period ritsuryo organization of Kai Province, the area came under Tsuru County. From the middle of the Kamakura period, much of the province came under the control of the Takeda clan.

During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, although the portion around modern day Ōtsuki was part of the short-lived Tamimura Domain, which was suppressed in 1704. Also during the Edo period, the Kōshū Kaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes, passed through Ōtsuki, which with 12 of the 45 post stations has more post stations than any other municipality in Japan. The eleven post stations spread from Shimotorisawa-shuku to Kuronoda-shuku.

During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in July 1, 1889, the village of Hirosato was created within Kitatsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture. On April 1, 1933 the village was raised to town status, and renamed Ōtsuki. The town was bombed by the United States on August 13, 1945, only two days before the end of World War II. The town was elevated to city status on August 8, 1954.

Education

• Ohtsuki City College
• Ōtsuki has eight elementary schools, four middle schools and two high schools.

Transportation

Railway

• East Japan Railway Company –Chūō Main Line
  • Yanagawa – Torisawa – Saruhashi – Ōtsuki – Hatsukari – Sasago
• Fuji Kyuko – Fujikyuko Line
  • Ōtsuki - Kamiōtsuki

Highway

• Chūō Expressway
• Japan National Route 20
• Japan National Route 139

Sister city relations

• Fraser Coast, Queensland, Australia ^[1]

Local attractions

• Saruhashi - A famous historical bridge. ja:猿橋
• Yatsuzawa Power Station

Noted people

• Masanori Murakami – former professional baseball player
• Masahide Kobayashi – former professional baseball player

References

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

External links

• Official website (Japanese)