Hachiōji

Template:Japanese city

Hachiōji (八王子市, Hachiōji-shi) is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.

As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and the density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the Greater Tokyo Area. The city is surrounded on three sides by mountains, forming the Hachiōji Basin which opens up toward the east in the direction of Tokyo. The mountain ranges in the southwest include Mount Takao (599 m) and Mount Jinba (857 m), two popular hiking destinations which can be reached by train and bus, respectively. Two major national roads, Route 16 (which connects Kawagoe in the north with Yokohama in the south) and Route 20, the former Kōshū Kaidō.

History

Although Hachiōji only gained city status on September 1, 1917, it has been an important junction point and post-town along the Kōshū Highway, the main road that connected the historical Edo (today's Tokyo) with Western Japan since medieval times, especially during the Edo period. For a short period of time, a castle, Hachiōji Castle (八王子城, Hachiōji-jō) existed in the area. It was built in 1584 by Hōjō Ujiteru (北条氏照), but was soon destroyed in 1590 during General Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attempt to gain control over all of Japan. During the Meiji period, Hachiōji prospered as an important location for the production of silk and silk textiles. The industry faded away, however, in the 1960s. Today, Hachiōji mainly serves as a commuter town for people working in Tokyo, and as a location for many large colleges and universities.

During World War II, captured American airmen were beheaded with samurai swords in Hachioji. When American pilots saw the published photos of the executions, they adopted the motto, "Save one for Hachioji," meaning hold back one bomb from their assigned bombing runs and drop it on Hachioji. The destruction was so extensive that, for decades after the war, American military personnel were warned not to visit Hachioji, because of the residual hostility to Americans.

During the 1964 Summer Olympics, the city played host to the road cycling events. A velodrome in the city played host to the track cycling events.^[1]

Attractions

Hachiōji stretches over a vast area, combining such diverse parts as the densely populated city center and its shopping district with the hardly populated rural areas in the west. Mt. Takao (599m) is a very popular hiking destination in the southwest, easily accessible through the Keio Takao Line. It is famous for the Takao Shrine (高尾神社, Takao-jinja) and the Shingon Buddhist temple Takao-san Yakuōin Yūkiji (高尾山薬王院有喜寺). The Tama Forest Science Garden is also of interest. Mt. Jinba (855 m) is more difficult to reach, requiring a one-hour bus ride from the city center. It is popular, however, because of the scenic view toward Mt. Fuji.

Little remains of Hachiōji Castle. A rare attraction, however, is the Imperial Mausoleum (多摩御陵, Tama Goryō) in which the Taishō and Shōwa emperors are buried.

Mt. Takao
Shōwa emperor's grave
Taishō emperor's grave

Transportation

The JR East Chūō Main Line and the Keiō Electric Railway provide rail service to Hachiōji: JR eastward to Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station, westward to Sagamiko and Kōfu; Keiō to Shinjuku.

The Chūō Expressway is a divided, limited-access toll road that serves Hachiōji, roughly parallel to the Chūō Line. Hachiōji also lies on Japanese National Route 16 and Route 20.