Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima

Submitted by editor on Sun, 03/13/2011 - 04:52

Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima

Aizuwakamatsu
会津若松市
—  City  —
Aizuwakamatsu Skyline

Flag
Location of Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima prefecture
Aizuwakamatsu is located in Japan
Aizuwakamatsu
 
Coordinates: 37°18′N 139°33′E / 37.3°N 139.55°E / 37.3; 139.55Coordinates: 37°18′N 139°33′E / 37.3°N 139.55°E / 37.3; 139.55
Country Japan
Region Tōhoku
Prefecture Fukushima prefecture
Government
 - Mayor Ichirō Kanke
Area
 - Total 383.03 km2 (147.9 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2011)
 - Total 125,341
 - Density 327.2/km2 (847.5/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree Japanese Red Pine
- Flower Common Hollyhock
- Bird Common cuckoo
Phone number 0242-39-1111
Address 3-46 Higashisakaemachi,
Aizuwakamatsu-shi, Fukushima-ken
965-8601
Website Aizuwakamatsu City

Aizuwakamatsu (会津若松市 Aizuwakamatsu-shi?) is a city located in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

As of May 2011, the city has an estimated population of 125,341. The total area is 383.03 km².

Contents

History

During the Boshin War the city was besieged by the imperial forces. Aizu was a loyal supporter of the Tokugawa Shogun who had recently abdicated power to the Emperor. Although Aizu agreed to surrender to the imperial forces, they were treated more harshly than other domains loyal to the Tokugawa. It is believed this was due to the high level of loyalty Aizu had for the Shogun as well as due to Aizu having been assigned by the Shogun as the Protector of Kyoto prior to the Meiji Restoration. As Protector of Kyoto, Aizu had many enemies due to the harshness of their actions.

The city was (re)founded on April 1, 1899.

Geography

Mount Iimori
Higashiyama Onsen

Aizuwakamatsu is located in the west part of Fukushima Prefecture. The city center of Aizuwakamatsu is located in the Southeast part of Aizu basin.

The main transport hub is Aizu Wakamatsu Station.

Mountains

  • Mount Ōtodake
  • Mount Seaburi
  • Mount Oda
  • Mount Iimori

Rivers

  • Aga River
  • Nippashi River
  • Yugawa River
  • Sesenagi River

Lakes

  • Lake Inawashiro
  • Lake Wakasato
  • Lake Higashiyama

Hot springs

  • Higashiyama Onsen
  • Ashinomaki Onsen

Districts

There are 11 districts in the city.

  • Wakamatsu
  • Machikita
  • Kouya
  • Kouzashi
  • Monden
  • Ikki
  • Higashiyama
  • Ōto
  • Minato
  • Kitaaizu
  • Kawahigashi

Transportation

Railway

Aizu-Wakamatsu Station
Central station: Aizu-Wakamatsu Station

JR East Lines

  • West Ban'etsu Line
Higashi-Nagahara - Hirota - Aizu-Wakamatsu - Dōjima
  • Tadami Line
Aizu-Wakamatsu - Nanukamachi - Nishi-Wakamatsu - Aizu-Hongō

Aizu Railway Line

  • Aizu Line
Nishi-Wakamatsu - Minami-Wakamatsu - Monden - Amaya - Ashinomaki-Onsen - Ōkawa-Dam-Kōen - Ashinomaki-Onsen-Minami

Roads

  • Ban-etsu Expressway
    • Bandai-Kawahigashi IC - Aizu-Wakamatsu IC
  • National Route 49
  • National Route 118
  • National Route 121
  • National Route 252
  • National Route 294
  • National Route 401

Highway buses

Media

Television

  • NHK Fukushima
  • Fukushima Television Broadcasting
  • Fukushima Central Television
  • Fukushima Broadcasting
  • TV-U Fukushima

Newspapers

  • Fukushima Mimpō
  • Fukushima Min-Yū

Radio

  • FM Aizu

Education

Universities and colleges

  • University of Aizu
  • Junior Collage of Aizu

Senior high schools

Public (prefectural)

  • Aizu High School (会津高等学校)
  • Aoi High School (葵高等学校)
  • Aizu Gakuhō High School (会津学鳳高等学校)
  • Wakamatsu Shōgyō High School (若松商業高等学校)
  • Aizu Kōgyō High School (若松工業高等学校)
  • Aizu Second High School (会津第二高等学校)

Private

  • Aizuwakamatsu Xaverio Gakuen High School (会津若松ザベリオ学園高等学校)
  • Wakamatsu 1st High School (若松第一高等学校)
  • Jinai High School (仁愛高等学校)

Junior high schools

Public (municipal, except for Aizu Gakuhō Junior High School)

  • Aizuwakamatsu First Junior High School (会津若松市立第一中学校)
  • Aizuwakamatsu Second Junior High School (会津若松市立第二中学校)
  • Aizuwakamatsu Third Junior High School (会津若松市立第三中学校)
  • Aizuwakamatsu Fourth Junior High School (会津若松市立第四中学校)
  • Aizuwakamatsu Fifth Junior High School (会津若松市立第五中学校)
  • Aizuwakamatsu Sixth Junior High School (会津若松市立第六中学校)
  • Ikki Junior High School (一箕中学校)
  • Ōto Junior High School (大戸中学校)
  • Minato Junior High School (湊中学校)
  • Kitaaizu Junior High School (北会津中学校)
  • Kawahigashi Junior High School (河東中学校)
  • Aizu Gakuhō Junior High School (会津学鳳中学校, prefectural)

Private

  • Aizuwakamatsu Xaverio Gakuen Junior High School (会津若松ザベリオ学園中学校)

Culture

Akabeko

Festivals

  • Aizu Festival

Foods

  • Koduyu
  • Soba
  • Boutara
  • Nihonshu

Others

  • Akabeko
  • Okiagari-koboshi

Sightseeing

Aizuwakamatsu Castle
  • Aizuwakamatsu Castle (Tsuruga-jyo Castle)
  • Aizu Matsudaira's Royal Garden (Oyakuen)
  • Mount Iimori
    • Byakkotai's grave
    • Sazaedo
  • Kyu Takizawa Honjin
  • Aizu Matsudaira's grave
  • Nisshinkan
  • Aizu Buke Yashiki

Twinning

Japanese sister cities

  • Mutsu, Aomori (Since September 23, 1984)
  • Naruto, Tokushima (Since October 30, 1999)
  • Ina, Nagano (Since September 24, 2000)
  • Yokosuka, Kanagawa (Since April 17, 2005)

International sister cities

  • Jingzhou (Since June 15, 1991)
  • Saipan (Since September 22, 2006)

Famous people born in Aizuwakamatsu

  • Yamaga Sokō, philosopher
  • Hiroshi Sasagawa, anime creator
  • Sōichirō Hoshi, seiyū
  • Takashi Yamaguchi, vocalist, a member of Japanese rock band Sambomaster

Mergers

  • On April 1, 1937, a part of Machikita village from Kitaaizu District merged into the city of Wakamatsu.
  • On April 1, 1951, the village of Machikita from Kitaaizu District merged into the city of Wakamatsu.
  • On January 1, 1955 7 villages of Kitaaizu District (Kouya, Kouzashi, Monden, Ikki, Higashiyama, Ōto, Minato) marged into the city of Wakamatsu. And the city's name changed to "Aizuwakamatsu".
  • On April 1, 1955 a part of Hongō town (Oya region) from Ōnuma District marged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu.
  • On November 1, 2004, the village of Kitaaizu from Kitaaizu District merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu. Therefore, Kitaaizu District was dissolved in the process.
  • On November 1, 2005, the town of Kawahigashi from Kawanuma District merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu.

Neighboring municipalities

  • North: Kitakata, Aizubange, Yugawa, Bandai
  • East: Koriyama, Inawashiro
  • West: Aizumisato
  • South: Shimogo, Tenei

  1. ^ a b "Estimated population May 1, 2011". Official Fukushima Prefecture website. http://www.pref.fukushima.jp/toukei/html/01/m-jinko/22_23_3_4doutai.xls. Retrieved 29 July 2011. (Japanese)
  2. ^ Aizuwakamatsu City's Website (Japanese)
  3. ^ 毎月大字別人口 (Japanese)
Shadow picture of Fukushima PrefectureFukushima Prefecture
Cities
Aizuwakamatsu | Date | Fukushima (capital) | Iwaki | Kitakata | Kōriyama | Minamisōma | Motomiya | Nihonmatsu | Shirakawa | Sōma | Sukagawa | Tamura
 Flag of Fukushima Prefecture
Districts
Adachi | Date | Futaba | Higashishirakawa | Ishikawa | Iwase | Kawanuma | Minamiaizu | Nishishirakawa | Ōnuma | Sōma | Tamura | Yama
See also: Towns and villages by district
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