Yachimata, Chiba

Yachimata 八街市
—  City  —
Location of Yachimata in Chiba
Yachimata
Coordinates: 35°40′N 140°19′E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba
Government
• Mayor	Shinji Kitamura (since December 2010)
Area
• Total	74.87 km2 (28.9 sq mi)
Population (February 2011)
• Total	73,118
• Density	977/km2 (2,530.4/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
-Tree	Osmanthus fragrans
Phone number	043-443-1111
Address	35-29 Yachimata Ho, Yachimata-shi, Chiba-ken 289-1192
Website	City of Yachimata

Yachimata City Hall

Yachimata (八街市, Yachimata-shi) is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the town had an estimated population of 73,118 and a population density of 977 persons per km². The total area was 74.87 km².

Geography

Yachimata is located in northern Chiba Prefecture.

Neighboring municipalities

• Chiba, Chiba
• Sakura, Chiba
• Tomisato, Chiba
• Sanmu, Chiba
• Tōgane, Chiba
• Shisui, Chiba

History

Yachimata was part of a region of horse ranches under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the hamlet of Yachimata was founded on November 2, 1872 within Inba District, Chiba Prefecture. Yachimata was officially designated a village on April 1, 1889, and was elevated to town status on January 1, 1919. The village expanded in 1954 through annexation of a portion of neighboring Hyuga Village in Sanbu District and by merging with the village of Kawakami on November 1, 1954. Yachimata became a city on April 1, 1992.

Economy

Yachimata is a regional commercial center whose economy is primarily agricultural. Yachimata is well known for its peanuts. The city is also increasing a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Sōbu Main Line
  • Enokido - Yachimata

Highway

• Japan National Route 126
• Route 409 (Japan)

Noted people from Yachimata

• Yoshiki Hiraki – professional soccer player

External links

• Yachimata official website in Japanese