Hokuto, Yamanashi

Hokuto 北杜市
City
Keep farm in Kiyosato Plateau Keep farm in Kiyosato Plateau
Flag of Hokuto Flag Official seal of Hokuto Seal
Location of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture Location of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture
Hokuto
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Yamanashi Prefecture
Government
• - Mayor	Masashi Shirakura (since November 2004)
Area
• Total	602.89 km2 (232.78 sq mi)
Population (July 1, 2012)
• Total	46,559
• Density	77.2/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
• Tree	Japanese red pine
• Flower	Sunflower
• Bird	Ural owl
Phone number	0551-42-1111
Address	961-1 Daizu-namada, Sutama-chō, Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi-ken 408-0188
Website	www.city.hokuto.yamanashi.jp

File:Hokuto Cityhall.JPG

Hokuto City Hall

Hokuto (北杜市, Hokuto-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

As of July 2012, the city has an estimated population of 46,559 and a population density of 77.2 persons per km². The total area is 602.89 km².

Geography

Hokuto is located in far northwest Yamanashi Prefecture. Most of the area of the city is elevated highland and forested. With a cooler alpine climate in summer, smaller towns such as Kiyosato are a popular location for second homes.

Neighboring municipalities

Yamanashi Prefecture Kōfu Nirasaki Minami-arupusu Kai

Nagano Prefecture Chino Ina Suwa District: Fujimi Minamisaku District: Kawakami, Minamimaki

History

During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in April 1, 1889, the rural district of Kitakoma was formed.

The modern city of Hokuto was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Hakushū, Nagasaka, Sutama and Takane, and the villages of Akeno, Mukawa and Ōizumi (all from Kitakoma District).

• Akeno
• Hakushū
• Mukawa
• Nagasaka
• Ōizumi
• Sutama
• Takane

On March 15, 2006, Hokuto absorbed the town of Kobuchisawa (also from Kitakoma District). Kitakoma District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Education

• Teikyo-Gakuen Junior College

Transportation

Railway

• Central Japan Railway Company - Chūō Main Line
  • Hinoharu - Nagasaka - Kobuchizawa
• Central Japan Railway Company - Koumi Line
  • Kobuchizawa - Kai-Koizumi - Kai-Ōizumi - Kiyosato

Highway

• Chūō Expressway
• Japan National Route 20
• Japan National Route 141

Sister cities

• - Fukuroi, Shizuoka – since March 9, 1987 between former Asaba, Shizuoka and former Akeno, Yamanashi
• - Joetsu, Niigata – since January 17, 1991 between former Misaka Town and former Kakizaki, Niigata and Sutama, Yamanashi
• - Hamura, Tokyo – since October 1, 1996 with former Takane Town
• - Nishitokyo, Tokyo since February 4, 1999 between former Tanashi, Tokyo and the former town of Sutama, Yamanashi
• - Madison County, Kentucky, USA – since May 12, 1990 with former municipalities of Takane, Nagasaka, Ōizumi, and Kobuchisawa
• - LeMars, Iowa, USA – since July 3, 1993 with former Sutama Town
• – Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea – since March 21, 2003 with former Takane Town
• - Manciano, Tuscany, Italy with former Kobuchisawa Town
• - Crowsnest Pass, Alberta (unratified)

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• Hokuto City official website (Japanese)