Abiko, Chiba

Abiko (我孫子市, Abiko-shi) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

Abiko

我孫子市
City
Abiko City Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Abiko in Chiba Prefecture
Abiko
 
Coordinates: 35°52′N 140°02′E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureChiba Prefecture
Government
 • MayorJunichiro Hoshino (since January 2007)
Area
 • Total43.19 km2 (16.68 sq mi)
Elevation
4 m (13 ft)
Population
 (April 2012)
 • Total132,999
 • Density3,080/km2 (8,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Postal code
270-1192
City symbols 
• TreeZelkova serrata
• FlowerAzalea
• BirdEurasian coot
Phone number04-7185-1111
Address1858 Banchi, Abiko-shi, Chiba-ken 270-1192
Websitehttp://www.city.abiko.chiba.jp/

As of April 2012, the city has an estimated population of 132,999, and a population density of 3080 persons per km2. The total area is 43.19 km2.

Geography

Abiko is located in the far northwestern corner of Chiba Prefecture, bordered by the Tone River to the north.

Neighboring municipalities

History

The area around Abiko has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and archaeologists have found stone tools dated from 30,000 years ago. During the Edo period, Abiko was a river port on the Tone River and a post station on the Mito Kaidō, a highway connecting Edo with Mito. After the Meiji Restoration, Abiko Town was created in Minamisoma District, Chiba Prefecture on April 1, 1889, along with the town of Fusa and village of Kohoku. Abiko was transferred to Higashikatsushika District in 1897. On November 1, 1954, it annexed neighboring Tomise village from the same district. On April 29, 1955, Abiko annexed Fusa Town and Kohoku Village. Abiko achieved city status on July 1, 1970. In 2003, a proposal to merge Abiko with neighboring city of Kashiwa and the town of Shōnan was defeated by a public referendum. Parts of the city were damaged by soil liquefaction due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Economy

Abiko is a regional commercial center and a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo.

Education

Universities

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Point of Interests

Notable people
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