Hamura, Tokyo

Hamura 羽村市
City
Hamura City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Hamura in Tokyo Metropolis
Hamura
Coordinates: 35°46′1.8″N 139°18′39.4″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Area
• Total	9.90 km2 (3.82 sq mi)
Population  (February 2016)
• Total	55,596
• Density	5,620/km2 (14,600/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
• Tree	Ginkgo
• Flower	Sakura
• Bird	Brown hawk owl
Phone number	042-555-1111
Address	5-2-1 Midorigaoka, Hamura-shi, Tokyo-to 205-8601
Website	www.city.hamura.tokyo.jp

Hamura (羽村市, Hamura-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 55,596, and a population density of 5620 persons per km². Its total area is 9.90 square kilometres (3.82 sq mi).

Geography

Hamura is approximately in the west-center of Tokyo Metropolis, on the Musashino Terrace. It flanks the Tama River about 50 kilometres (31 mi) upriver from the mouth.

Hamura is composed of the following neighborhoods: Fujimidaira, Futabacho, Gonokami, Hane, Hanehigashi, Kawasaki, Midorigaoka, Ozakudai, Shinmeidai, Tamagawa, Yokotakichinai. These neighborhoods in Japanese administrative structure are units known as chos.

Surrounding municipalities

• Tokyo Metropolis
  • Ōme
  • Akiruno
  • Fussa
  • Mizuho

History

The area of present-day Hamura has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and numerous remains from the Jōmon, Yayoi and Kofun periods have been discovered. During the Nara period, it became part of ancient Musashi Province. The Tamagawa Josui, an artificial waterway completed in 1653 to divert water from the Tama River and carry it as drinking water to Edo, begins in what is now part of Hamura.

In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, several villages (one of which was named Hane-mura) merged to form Nishitama Village in Nishitama District, at that time part of Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Prefecture on April 1, 1893. In 1956, Nishitama Village became the town of Hamura. On November 1, 1991, Hamura was elevated to city status.

Economy

Hamura is primary a regional commercial center, and a bedroom community for central Tokyo and neighbouring Ōme. Several electronic companies have light industrial or logistical facilities in Hamura. Hino Motors and Toyota have a plant and test track in the city.

Education

Hamura has seven public elementary schools and three public middle schools. The city also has one high school operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education and one special education school.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Ōme Line
  • Hamura - Ozaku

Highway

• Ken-Ō Expressway
• National Route 16

Sister city relations

Hamura has been twinned with Hokuto, Yamanashi in Japan since October 1, 1996.

Local attractions

• Hamura Diversion Weir
• Aso Shrine
• Hamura Zoo

Notable people from Hamura

• Shinji Jojo - professional soccer player
• Yuzo Kobayashi – professional soccer player
• Shizuka Kudo – actress, singer
• Hiroomi Tosaka - singer and actor

External links

• Hamura City Official Website (in Japanese)