Tosu, Saga
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Tosu (鳥栖市, Tosu-shi) is a city located in the east part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.
Overview
Tosu is one of the major transportation hubs of Kyushu. Its main train station is Tosu Station which connects the Nagasaki Main Line and the Kagoshima Main Line. There is also a junction connecting the Kyūshū Expressway, Nagasaki Expressway and Ōita Expressway. Economically it is part of the Fukuoka metropolitan area, and according to a 2000 census about 5% of the total population of Tosu commute to work or school in Fukuoka.
Geography
Located in the Saga Plains, the Chikushi River runs along the southern border of Tosu. The lowlands are used for paddy farming and are where the city center is located. The northwestern part of the city contains the eastern part of the Sefuri Mountaians.
Mountains
- Mount Kusenbu (848 m)
- Mount Ishidani (754 m)
- Shiroyama (501 m)
Rivers
- Akimitsu River
- Ara River
- Chikugo River
- Daigi River
- Hōman River
- Yamashita River
Dams
- Kawachi Dam
Adjoining municipalities
History
- 1874 - Saga Rebellion. A battle between the government troops and the rebel army occurred on Mount Asahi.
- 1889-04-01 - The modern municipal system is established. At this time Tosu consists of five separate villages: Asahi, Fumoto, Kizato, Tashiro and Todoroki.
- 1907-03-19 - Todoroki gains town status and is renamed Tosu.
- 1936-03-11 - Tashiro gains town status.
- 1954-04-01 - Asahi, Fumoto, Kizato, Tashiro and Tosu all merge to form Tosu City.
Education
Junior colleges
- Kyushu Ryukoku Junior College
Senior high schools
- Tosu Senior High School
- Tosu Technical High School
- Tosu Commercial High School
Junior high schools
- Kanan Junior High School
- Tosu Junior High School
- Tosu Nishi Junior High School
- Tashiro Junior High School
- Kizato Junior High School
Elementary schools
- Tosu Elementary School
- Tosu Kita Elementary School
- Tashiro Elementary School
- Kizato Elementary School
- Fumoto Elementary School
- Asahi Elementary School
- Wakaba Elementary School
Transportation
Rail
The main station is Tosu Station. The Kyushu Shinkansen stops at Shin-Tosu Station.
Road
- Expressways
- Kyushu Expressway: Tosu Junction and Tosu Interchange
- Nagasaki Expressway: Tosu Junction and Tosu Interchange
- Ōita Expressway: Tosu Junction
- Prefectural roads:
- Tosu-Asakura Route 14
- Kurume-Kiyama-Chikushino Route 17
- Saga-Kawakubo-Tosu Route 31
Scenic and historic places
- Chikushi family Katsuo Castle ruins
- Mount Asahi castle ruins
- Tosu Stadium
Sightseeing spots
- Azumaya
- Kawachi Dam area
- Torigoe and Yamabiko mountain retreats
- Shimin no mori
- Kawachi swimming pool
- Mount Asahi Park
- Mount Kusenbu
- Kyushu Nature Walk
- Nakatomi Commemorative Medicine Museum
- Ochōzu waterfall
- Numakawa swimming pool
- Saga racecourse
- Tashiro Park
- Tosu Premium Outlets
Festivals and events
- Tosu Yayoi Matsuri (last Sunday of March)
- Hana no hi (May 4)
- Tori no hi (Sunday between May 10 and May 16)
- Matsuri Tosu (last Sunday of July)
- Tosu Yamakasa (first Saturday and Sunday of summer vacation)
- Doyō Yoichi (Saturday night market, end of July)
Sports
Notable people from Tosu
- Koichi Ogata - pro baseball player
- Masayoshi Son - businessman, founder of SoftBank
External links
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