Samukawa, Kanagawa

Samukawa 寒川町
—  Town  —
Central Park in Samukawa
Location of Samukawa in Kanagawa Prefecture
Samukawa
Coordinates: 35°22′36″N 139°23′05″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Kanagawa Prefecture
District	Kōza District
Area
• Total	13.42 km2 (5.18 sq mi)
Population (February 1, 2010)
• Total	47,739
• Density	3,560/km2 (9,200/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Osmanthus
- Flower	Narcissus
- Bird	Great Egret
Phone number	0467-74-1111
Address	165 Miyayama, Samukawa-machi, Kōza-gun, Kanagawa-ken 253-0196
Website	Town of Samukawa

Samukawa's government office

Samukawa (寒川町, Samukawa-machi) is a town located in Kōza District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 47,739 and a density of 3,560 persons per km². The total area was 13.42 km².

Geography

Samukawa is located in the flatlands of central Kanagawa Prefecture. The Sagami River passes through the town.

Surrounding municipalities

• Chigasaki
• Fujisawa
• Ebina
• Atsugi
• Hiratsuka

History

The village of Samukawa was founded in 1889. It was linked with Chigasaki Station by the Sagami Line in 1921. A spur line extending from Samukawa to the west led to development of housing and industry, increasing the population of Samukawa such that by 1940 it was granted town status. The Sagami Naval Arsenal of the Imperial Japanese Navy was located in Samukawa until the end of World War II. In 2002, a large quantity of mustard gas was found buried under its former site.

Economy

Samukawa has a mixed economy. Industry includes factories operated by Nissan Kohki, a subsidiary of Nissan Motors producing automotive engines.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Sagami Line
  • Samukawa - Miyayama - Kurami

Highway

• Ken-Ō Expressway
• Kanagawa Prefectural Routes 44, 45, 46, and 47

Tourist Attraction

• Samukawa Shrine, the first shrine (ichinomiya) of former Sagami Province

External links

• Official website in Japanese