Shibayama (芝山町, Shibayama-machi?) is a town located in Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, southeast of the city of Narita. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 7,989 and a population density of 184 persons per km². The total area was 43.75 km².
[edit] Geography
Shibayama in located in north-central Chiba Prefecture. Narita International Airport is located on the border between Shibayama and Narita. Most airport service facilities are located on the Narita side: however, Shibayama has developed a local industrial base due to the airport's presence, and hosts three major industrial areas. The remainder of the town is very agricultural, and much of it is covered with rice fields and farmland. As it lies directly beneath one of the main approach paths to the airport, noise pollution and eminent domain issues have caused it to be a center of anti-airport activism.
[edit] Surrounding Municipalities
[edit] History
Shibayama Town was established on July 1, 1955 by the merger of the villages of Chiyoda and Nikawa.
[edit] Economy
In 2007 Nippon Cargo Airlines signed an order with Taisei Corporation for the construction of a crew training center. Construction on the crew center, located in Shibayama, was to begin in September 2007. The company scheduled for the facility to become operational in September 2008.[1]
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Railway
[edit] Highway
[edit] Education
There are three elementary schools (Shibayama Elementary School, Higashi Elementary School, Hishida Elementary School) and one middle school (Shibayama Middle School).
[edit] Local attractions
- The Haniwa is a cultural symbol for Shibayama. The main north-south road, Route 62, is also known as "Haniwa Avenue". It is lined with modern remakes of Haniwa statues. The Haniwa come from the many burial mounds that have been found in Shibayama. The Haniwa Festival is held each year on the second Sunday of November. Created in 1982, it is a day long festival with the center being a procession of mostly local elementary and middle school children dressed as Kodaijin (古代人-Ancient People).
- Shibayama Niōson Temple - A Buddhist temple built originally in 781, containing a 3-tiered pagoda which is a Chiba Prefectural Important Cultural Property, along with a museum with displays of haniwa, as well as Buddhist art.
[edit] References
- ^ "Accelerated progress toward independent operations "Order placed for construction of a crew training center and an engineering & maintenance hangar"." (Archive) Nippon Cargo Airlines. Retrieved on February 20, 2012.
[edit] External links
