Manazuru is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2012, the town had an estimated population of 7,926, and a population density of 1,130 persons per km². The total area is 7.02 km². It is a production center of high-quality stone which is long ago Komatsu Ishi. The name of the town was named because the shape on the map is similar to crane.
Geography
in the southeast, Manazuru is located on a small peninsula on Sagami Bay in the far southwestern corner of Kanagawa Prefecture. It is sandwiched between the north Odawara City and the southYugawara Town. The Manzuru Peninsula is a lava plateau with a sharp coast. At the end of Manzuru Cape, there is a rock called Mitsuishi or Mitsuiwa, from which people enjoy a view of the sea. It is designated Manazuru Hantō Prefectural Natural Park. Quarry is abundant in the mountain north of the city area. Hills along the northern coast are cultivated Mikan. The northwestern part of the town is a part of the mountainous region that continues to the outer ring of Hakone volcano.
The majority of the town area is a mountainous area and the flat area is poor, but the mountain foot of Hakone volcano is used as a mikan garden, the view from the slope where Hakone is to the north and Sagami Bay to the south is It is said that it closely resembles the Mediterranean coast of France, Italy, and it is called Japanese Riviera. The Katoura area of the adjacent Odawara is also called "Oriental Riviera".
Surrounding municipalities
Odawara
Yugawara
History
As with the rest of Ashigarashimo District, the area now comprising modern Manazuru was part of Sagami Province under control of the later Hōjō clan in the Sengoku period, and part of Odawara Domain during the Edo period. During this time, it was known for high quality stones for construction. After the Meiji Restoration, Manazuru was established as a village in 1889. On October 1, 1927 Manazuru village was elevated to town status. On September 30, 1956, neighboring Iwa village was merged into Manazuru. A proposal to merge Manazuru into neighboring Yugawara was overwhelmingly rejected by a citizen's referendum in 2005.
Economy
The industry characterizing Manazuru is the mining of Komatsu stone dating back to Middle Ages. Then the economy of Manazuru is based on tourism, and it also functions as a bedroom community for nearby Odawara. The hilly, stony peninsula is not suited for agriculture, but cultivation of mikan as well as commercial fishing also contribute to the local economy.
* Kibune Festival which is designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset designated as a country and is considered one of Japan’s three major festivals. Held two days from 27 to 28 July.
