Higashimurayama, Tokyo

Higashimurayama (東村山市, Higashi-murayama-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 150,984, and a population density of 8810 persons per km². Its total area is 17.14 square kilometres (6.62 sq mi)..

Higashimurayama 東村山市
City
Higashimurayama City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Higashimurayama in Tokyo Metropolis
Higashimurayama
Coordinates: 35°45′16.6″N 139°28′6.6″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Area
• Total	17.14 km^2 (6.62 sq mi)
Population  (February 2016)
• Total	150,984
• Density	8,810/km^2 (22,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols
• Tree	Zelkova serrata
• Flower	Azalea
• Bird	White wagtail
Phone number	042-393-5111
Address	1-2-3 Honcho, Higashimurayama-shi, Tokyo-to 189-8501
Website	www.city.higashimurayama.tokyo.jp

Geography

Higashimurayama is approximately in the north-center of Tokyo Metropolis, on the Musashino Terrace.

Surrounding municipalities

• Tokyo Metropolis
  • Higashikurume
  • Kiyose
  • Higashiyamato
  • Kodaira
• Saitama Prefecture
  • Tokorozawa

History

The area of present-day Higashimurayama has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and numerous remains from the Jōmon, Yayoi and Kofun periods have been discovered. During the Nara period, it became part of ancient Musashi Province. During the Kamakura period, it was the location of the Battle of Kumegawa in 1333.

In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, several villages merged to form Higashimurayama Village in Nishitama District, at that time part of Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Prefecture on April 1, 1893. On April 1, 1942, Higashimurayama Village became the town of Higashimurayama. On April 1, 1964, Higashimurayama was elevated to city status.

Economy

Higashimurayama was formerly an agricultural area, and was noted for its production of sweet potatoes. It is now primary a regional commercial center, and a bedroom community for central Tokyo.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Musashino Line
  • Shin-Akitsu
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Shinjuku Line
  • Higashi-Murayama - Kumegawa
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Haijima Line
  • Hagiyama
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Kokubunji Line
  • Higashi-Murayama
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Tamako Line
  • Hagiyama - Yasaka - Musashi-Yamato - Seibu Yūenchi
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Ikebukuro Line
  • Akitsu
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Seibu-en Line
  • Higashi-Murayama – Seibu-en
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Yamaguchi Line
  • Seibu Yūenchi

Education

Higashimurayama has 15 public elementary schools, seven public middle schools and three private combined middle/high schools. The city also has two public high schools.

Local attractions

• The oldest intact building in Tokyo and one of only two buildings in Tokyo registered as a National Treasure of Japan; the Jizō hall in the temple of Shōfuku-ji.
• Hachikokuyama, a park that is an inspiration for My Neighbor Totoro.
• National Hansen's Disease Museum of Japan
• Site of the 14th century Battle of Kumegawa
• A segment of the ancient Kamakura Kaido highway

Sister cities

Higashimurayama is twinned with the following cities:[1]

City	Region	Country	Year
Kashiwazaki	Niigata	Japan	1996
Independence	Missouri	United States	1978
Suzhou	Jiangsu	China	2005

Notable people from Higashimurayama

• Seiichiro Shimizu – Politician
• Ken Shimura – Comedian
• Shoko Aida – Singer
• Miki Nakatani – Actress
• Shōji Satō – Professional Badminton Player

References

1. "Sister Cities". Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.

• "東村山市ホームページへようこそ！". Higashimurayama City Official Site. June 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
• "Tokyo Metropolitan Government＜Welcome to TOKYO Waterworks＞" (PDF). Tokyo Metropolitan Government＜Welcome to TOKYO Waterworks＞. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2007-10-31.

External links

• Higashimurayama City Official Website (in Japanese)