Matsuzaki, Shizuoka

Matsuzaki

松崎町
Matsuzaki 松崎町
Town
	Namakokabe-style house typical of Matsuzaki
	Flag Seal
	Location of Matsuzaki in Shizuoka Prefecture
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu; Tōkai
Prefecture	Shizuoka Prefecture
District	Kamo
Area
• Total	85.23 km2 (32.91 sq mi)
Population (September 2014)
• Total	6,951
• Density	81.5/km2 (211/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Pine
- Flower	Farfugium
Phone number	0558-42-1111
Address	301-1 Miyauchi, Matsuzaki-chō, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka-ken 410-3696
Website	Town of Matsuzaki HP

Matsuzaki (松崎町, Matsuzaki-chō) is a town located in on the southwest coast of Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

As of September 2014, the town had an estimated population of 6,951 and a population density of 81.5 persons per km². The total area was 85.23 km². Sakuramochi is a noted local specialty.

Geography

Matsuzaki is located on the southwest coast of Izu Peninsula, facing Suruga Bay on the Pacific Ocean. It is a hilly region with an indented ria coastline. The area has numerous hot springs. Warmed by the warm Kuroshio Current, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. Parts of the town are within the borders of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Neighboring municipalities

History

During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Matsuzaki Town consisted of 21 villages. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was divided into 11 villages within Kamo District, and 10 villages within Naka District. After the abolishment of Naka District, all 21 villages were reunited under Kamo District. Matsuzaki Village was elevated to town status in 1901. The town annexed neighboring Nakagawa Village in 1955 and Iwashina Villae in 1956.

Around March 31, 2010, the city of Shimoda and three municipalities in Kamo District (Kawazu, Matsuzaki, and Minamiizu) were scheduled to merge.^[1] However, the merger backed out.

Economy

The economy of Matsuzaki is dominated by commercial fishing, forestry and the tourist industry centered on hot spring resorts. Some 64% of the area is forest.