Shirako, Chiba

Shirako 白子町
—  Town  —
Location of Shirako in Chiba
Shirako
Coordinates: 35°27′N 140°22′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba
District	Chōsei District
Area
• Total	27.46 km2 (10.6 sq mi)
Population (August 2010)
• Total	12,222
• Density	445/km2 (1,152.5/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Japanese black pine
- Flower	Sunflower
- Bird
Phone number	0475-33-2111
Address	5074-2 Seki, Shirako-machi, Chōsei -gun, Chiba-ken 299-4292
Website	Town of Shirako HP

Shirako (白子町, Shirako-machi) is a town located in Chōsei District, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010 data, the town had an estimated population of 12,222 and a density of 445 persons per km². The total area was 27.46 km².

Geography

Shirako is located on the Pacific coast of central Bōsō Peninsula, encompassing the area of the popular Kujukuri Beach . The area has a warm maritime climate with hot summers and mild winters.

Neighboring municipalities

• Mobara, Chiba
• Chōsei, Chiba
• Ōamishirasato, Chiba

History

The area of present-day Shirako had numerous fishing hamlets during the Edo period. It was incorporated into Chōsei District after the Meiji period cadastral reforms. The modern town of Shirako was created on February 11, 1955 from the merger of the town of Shirakata with neighboring villages of Seki and Nabaki. The name “Shirako” was adopted from a local Shinto shrine named Shirako Jinja, which claims to have been founded in the Heian period.

Economy

The primary industry of Shirako has traditionally been commercial fishing, however, the tourist and resort industry now dominates the local economy.

Transportation

Railway

Shirako is not serviced by train.

Highway

• Kujukuri Toll Road

External links

• Shirako official website in Japanese