Fujinomiya, Shizuoka


Fujinomiya is a city located in central Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 132,507 in 56,655 households, and a population density of 340 persons per km². The total area of the city is.

Geography

Fujinomiya is located in central Shizuoka Prefecture on an upland plateau on the foothills and lower slopes of Mount Fuji, with an altitude ranging from 35 meters to 3336 meters. The average temperature is 15.6 degrees Celsius. Much of the city lies within the borders of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Fujinomiya is known as one of the main starting points for climbing trips to Mount Fuji, the summit of which is partly within the borders of the city. As with most of Shizuoka Prefecture, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.

Surrounding municipalities

Per Japanese census data, the population of Fujinomiya has steadily increased over the past 50 years.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters. The average annual temperature in Fujinomiya is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1881 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.

History

Fujinomiya is an ancient settlement, developing as a market town associated with the Ichinomiya, or supreme Shinto shrine of Suruga Province, the Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha. Nearby is the sanctuary of Taisekiji temple, founded in 1290 by Nikko Shonin as the headquarters of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism. Fujinomiya was a post town on the primary route connecting Suruga with Kai Province. During the Edo period, the area was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. British consul Sir Rutherford Alcock made the first recorded ascent on Mount Fuji by a non-Japanese person from Fujinomiya in 1860. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into Omiya Town and eight villages with Fuji District, Shizuoka.
On 1 June 1942, the modern city was established with the merger of Omiya town with neighboring Fujioka village. The city expanded by annexing neighboring Fujine village in 1955, and Kitayama, Shiraito, Kamiide and Ueno villages in 1956.
From 1987, Aum Shinrikyo had their headquarters in the city.
The most recent merger was on 23 March 2010, when the town of Shibakawa was merged into Fujinomiya.

Government

Fujinomiya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members.

Economy

Fujinomiya is an industrial center within Shizuoka Prefecture, traditionally with a heavy emphasis on the paper industry. Other manufacturing industries include rotating equipment, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Education

Fujinomiya has 21 public elementary schools and 13 public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private junior school, and two private high schools. The prefectural Shizuoka Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry College is also located in Fujinomiya.

Transportation

Railway