Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in the Aizu
region of Fukushima Prefecture
, Japan
.
As of May 2011, the city has an estimated population of 125,341. The total area is 383.03 km².
the city was besieged
by the imperial forces. Aizu was a loyal supporter of the Tokugawa Shogun who had recently abdicated power to the Emperor
. Although Aizu agreed to surrender to the imperial forces, they were treated more harshly than other domains loyal to the Tokugawa. It is believed this was due to the high level of loyalty Aizu had for the Shogun as well as due to Aizu having been assigned by the Shogun as the Protector of Kyoto
prior to the Meiji Restoration
. As Protector of Kyoto, Aizu had many enemies due to the harshness of their actions.
The city was (re)founded on April 1, 1899.
.
on the Sea of Japan
coast. Snowfall is very heavy during the winter at 4.78 metres (188.2 in), and snow cover reaches an average maximum of 0.39 metres (15.35 in) and has reached as much as 1.15 metres (45.3 in) for short periods, a figure one would usually associate with much colder regions like the Labrador Peninsula
.
JR East Lines
Aizu Railway Line
Private
Private
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in the Aizu
Aizu
is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
region of Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
As of May 2011, the city has an estimated population of 125,341. The total area is 383.03 km².
History
During the Boshin WarBoshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
the city was besieged
Battle of Aizu
The Battle of Aizu was fought in northern Japan in autumn 1868, and was part of the Boshin War.Aizu was known for its martial skill, and maintained at any given time, a standing army of over 5000. It was often deployed to security operations on the northern fringes of the country, as far north as...
by the imperial forces. Aizu was a loyal supporter of the Tokugawa Shogun who had recently abdicated power to the Emperor
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
. Although Aizu agreed to surrender to the imperial forces, they were treated more harshly than other domains loyal to the Tokugawa. It is believed this was due to the high level of loyalty Aizu had for the Shogun as well as due to Aizu having been assigned by the Shogun as the Protector of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
prior to the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. As Protector of Kyoto, Aizu had many enemies due to the harshness of their actions.
The city was (re)founded on April 1, 1899.
Geography
Aizuwakamatsu is located in the western part of Fukushima Prefecture, in the Southeast part of Aizu basin. The main transport hub is Aizu Wakamatsu StationAizu Wakamatsu Station
is a train station located in Aizuwakamatsu, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It is the main station for Aizu-Wakamatsu and surrounding areas. In 2005, an average of 2,996 passengers used the station each day...
.
Rivers
- Aga RiverAgano RiverThe Agano River is a river which flows from Fukushima Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture in Japan. It is called the Aga River or the Ōkawa River in Fukushima. It is 210km long with 7,710km² watershed....
- Nippashi River
- Yugawa River
- Sesenagi River
Climate
Although it is located in an inland valley, Aizuwakamatsu’s climate basically resembles that of the Hokuriku regionHokuriku region
The is located in the northwestern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. It lies along the Sea of Japan within the Chūbu region. It is almost equivalent to Koshi Province and Hokurikudō area in pre-modern Japan....
on the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
coast. Snowfall is very heavy during the winter at 4.78 metres (188.2 in), and snow cover reaches an average maximum of 0.39 metres (15.35 in) and has reached as much as 1.15 metres (45.3 in) for short periods, a figure one would usually associate with much colder regions like the Labrador Peninsula
Labrador Peninsula
The Labrador Peninsula is a large peninsula in eastern Canada. It is bounded by the Hudson Bay to the west, the Hudson Strait to the north, the Labrador Sea to the east, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the south-east...
.
Districts
There are 11 districts in the city.- Wakamatsu
- Machikita
- Kouya
- Kouzashi
- Monden
- Ikki
- Higashiyama
- Ōto
- Minato
- Kitaaizu
- Kawahigashi
Railway
- Central station: Aizu-Wakamatsu Station
JR East Lines
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
- West Ban'etsu LineWest Ban'etsu LineThe is a rail line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs between Kōriyama Station in Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture and Niitsu Station in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture. The name "Ban'etsu" is taken from the first characters of the names of the ancient provinces of and , which...
- Higashi-NagaharaHigashi-Nagahara Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- HirotaHirota Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- Aizu-Wakamatsu - DōjimaDōjima Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- Tadami LineTadami LineThe is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It connects Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima with Koide Station in Uonuma, Niigata.-Services:...
- Tadami Line
- Aizu-Wakamatsu - NanukamachiNanukamachi Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.Nanukamachi is "七日町" in Japanese. It means that bazaar was held on the seventh day in Edo era...
- Nishi-WakamatsuNishi-Wakamatsu Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.Nishi-Wakamatsu Staion is located in a southwest part of Aizuwakamatsu city's downtown.-History:* November 1, 1934 - Opened, Nishi-Wakamatsu station was a station of Aizu Line....
- Aizu-HongōAizu-Hongō Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
Aizu Railway Line
Aizu Railway
, is a Japanese railway company whose major shareholders include the Fukushima prefectural and Aizuwakamatsu city governments. It owns and operates its only line, the ....
- Aizu Line
- Nishi-Wakamatsu - Minami-WakamatsuMinami-Wakamatsu Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :-References:...
- MondenMonden Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- AmayaAmaya Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- Ashinomaki-OnsenAshinomaki-Onsen Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- Ōkawa-Dam-KōenŌkawa-Dam-Kōen Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
- Ashinomaki-Onsen-MinamiAshinomaki-Onsen-Minami Stationis a train station in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
Roads
- Ban-etsu ExpresswayBan-etsu ExpresswayThe is a national expressway in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:The name is a kanji acronym consisting of characters found in the former names of the provinces linked by the expressway...
- Bandai-Kawahigashi IC - Aizu-Wakamatsu IC
- National Route 49
- National Route 118Route 118 (Japan)National Route 118 is a national highway of Japan connecting Mito, Ibaraki and Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima in Japan, with a total length of 206.1 km ....
- National Route 121
- National Route 252Route 252 (Japan)National Route 252 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kashiwazaki, Niigata and Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima in Japan, with a total length of 204.6 km ....
- National Route 294Route 294 (Japan)National Route 294 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kashiwa, Chiba and Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima in Japan, with a total length of 249.9 km ....
- National Route 401Route 401 (Japan)National Route 401 is a national highway of Japan connecting Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima and Numata, Gunma in Japan, with a total length of 171.1 km ....
Highway buses
- from Aizuwakamatsu to KoriyamaKoriyama, Fukushimais a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 336,328. The total area is 757 km²....
, IwakiIwaki, Fukushimais a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan...
, FukushimaFukushima, Fukushimais the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
, Sendai, NiigataNiigata, Niigatais the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
, ShinjukuShinjuku Stationis a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,...
, NishiaizuNishiaizu, Fukushimais a town located in Yama District, Fukushima, Japan. It is known as the "front door" to the Iide Mountains.The town was founded in 1954 through a merger of smaller villages. In 2006, Nishiaizu residents decided to decline a merger with the city of Kitakata....
Television
- NHK Fukushima
- Fukushima Television Broadcasting
- Fukushima Central TelevisionFukushima Central Television, also known as FCT, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the NNN. Their headquarters are located in Fukushima Prefecture.- The Headquarters :*13-23 Ikenodai Koriyama-city, FUKUSHIMA 963-8533 JAPAN*Telephone Number:+81-24-923-3300- History :...
- Fukushima BroadcastingFukushima Broadcasting, also known as KFB, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with the ANN. Their headquarters are located in Kōriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture.-History:*1981 October 1 It was set up third broadcasting station of Fukushima Prefecture....
- TV-U Fukushima
Senior high schools
Public (prefectural)- Aizu High School (会津高等学校)
- Aoi High School (葵高等学校)
- Aizu Gakuhō High School (会津学鳳高等学校)
- Wakamatsu Shōgyō High School (若松商業高等学校)
- Aizu Kōgyō High School (若松工業高等学校)
- Aizu Second High School (会津第二高等学校)
Private
- Aizuwakamatsu Xaverio Gakuen High School (会津若松ザベリオ学園高等学校)
- Wakamatsu 1st High School (若松第一高等学校)
- Jinai High School (仁愛高等学校)
Junior high schools
Public (municipal, except for Aizu Gakuhō Junior High School)- Aizuwakamatsu First Junior High School (会津若松市立第一中学校)
- Aizuwakamatsu Second Junior High School (会津若松市立第二中学校)
- Aizuwakamatsu Third Junior High School (会津若松市立第三中学校)
- Aizuwakamatsu Fourth Junior High School (会津若松市立第四中学校)
- Aizuwakamatsu Fifth Junior High School (会津若松市立第五中学校)
- Aizuwakamatsu Sixth Junior High School (会津若松市立第六中学校)
- Ikki Junior High School (一箕中学校)
- Ōto Junior High School (大戸中学校)
- Minato Junior High School (湊中学校)
- Kitaaizu Junior High School (北会津中学校)
- Kawahigashi Junior High School (河東中学校)
- Aizu Gakuhō Junior High School (会津学鳳中学校, prefectural)
Private
- Aizuwakamatsu Xaverio Gakuen Junior High School (会津若松ザベリオ学園中学校)
Sightseeing
- Aizuwakamatsu CastleAizuwakamatsu Castle, also known as Tsuruga Castle is a traditional castle in northern Japan, at the center of the city of Aizuwakamatsu, in Fukushima Prefecture.- History :The castle was constructed by Ashina Naomori in 1384, and was originally named...
(Tsuruga-jyo Castle) - Aizu Matsudaira's Royal GardenAizu Matsudaira's Royal Gardenis a medicinal herb garden in the city of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The garden was first established in the 1380s. In the 1430s Ashina Morihisa, the 10th feudal lord of the Ashina clan, believing it to be a sacred place, kept the garden as a villa. In 1670, Matsudaira Masatsune,...
(Oyakuen) - Mount Iimori
- ByakkotaiByakkotaiThe was a group of around 305 young, teenage, samurai of the Aizu domain, who fought in the Boshin War .-History:Byakkotai was part of Aizu's four-unit military, set up in the domain's drive to finalize its military modernization, in the wake of the Battle of Toba-Fushimi. The other three units...
's grave - Sazaedo
- Byakkotai
- Kyu Takizawa HonjinHonjinthumb|250px|The honjin at [[Inaba Kaidō]]'s [[Ōhara-shuku]]. is the Japanese word for an inn for government officials, generally located in post stations during the later part of the Edo period.-Evolution of Honjin:...
- Aizu Matsudaira's grave
- Nisshinkan
- Aizu Buke Yashiki
Japanese sister cities
- Mutsu, AomoriMutsu, Aomoriis a city located in northeastern Aomori in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 61,205 and a density of 70.09 persons per km²...
(Since September 23, 1984) - Naruto, TokushimaNaruto, Tokushimais a city in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.In the quinquennial census of 2010, the city had a population of 61,522 . With a total area of the population density is 454 persons per km².The city was founded on March 15, 1947....
(Since October 30, 1999) - Ina, NaganoIna, Naganois a city located in Nagano, Japan.The city was founded on March 31, 2006 when the old city of Ina merged with the town of Takatō and the village of Hase, both from Kamiina District, to form the new city of Ina.-Surrounding municipalities:*Nagano Prefecture...
(Since September 24, 2000) - Yokosuka, KanagawaYokosuka, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...
(Since April 17, 2005)
International sister cities
- JingzhouJingzhouJingzhou is a prefecture-level city in Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. The city is located on the banks of the Yangtze River.Its population is 5,691,707 at the 2010 census whom 1,154,086 in the built up area made of 3 urban districts.-Geography:Jingzhou occupies an area of...
(Since June 15, 1991) - SaipanSaipanSaipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
(Since September 22, 2006)
Famous people born in Aizuwakamatsu
- Yamaga SokōYamaga Sokowas a Japanese philosopher and strategist during the Tokugawa shogunate. He was a Confucian, and applied Confucius's idea of the "superior man" to the samurai class of Japan...
, philosopher - Hiroshi SasagawaHiroshi Sasagawais a creator of several anime and manga series. His name is romanized in some sources as Hiroshi Sasakawa.-Career:Well-known as one of creators of "Time Bokan" series , he has directed several animation works in the fantasy and science fiction genre, many of them with Tatsunoko Production.-List of...
, anime creator - Sōichirō HoshiSoichiro Hoshiis a Japanese seiyū. He is affiliated with Arts Vision.He uses the name when appearing in adult games.With the exception of Jungle Emperor Leo , he has been cast as a major or supporting character in every Goro Taniguchi directed anime.-Anime:...
, seiyū - Takashi YamaguchiSambomasteris a Japanese rock band signed by Sony Music Japan. The band's name, Sambomaster, refers to the Russian martial art called Sambo.-History:Lead vocalist and guitarist Takashi Yamaguchi first met drummer Yasufumi Kiuchi a few years back, at a university music club they were both members of...
, vocalist, a member of Japanese rock band SambomasterSambomasteris a Japanese rock band signed by Sony Music Japan. The band's name, Sambomaster, refers to the Russian martial art called Sambo.-History:Lead vocalist and guitarist Takashi Yamaguchi first met drummer Yasufumi Kiuchi a few years back, at a university music club they were both members of...
Mergers
- On April 1, 1937, a part of Machikita village from Kitaaizu DistrictKitaaizu District, Fukushimawas a district located in Fukushima, Japan.On November 1, 2004 the village of Kitaaizu was merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu, at which point the village and district ceased to exist....
merged into the city of Wakamatsu. - On April 1, 1951, the village of Machikita from Kitaaizu District merged into the city of Wakamatsu.
- On January 1, 1955 7 villages of Kitaaizu District (Kouya, Kouzashi, Monden, Ikki, Higashiyama, Ōto, Minato) marged into the city of Wakamatsu. And the city's name changed to "Aizuwakamatsu".
- On April 1, 1955 a part of Hongō town (Oya region) from Ōnuma DistrictOnuma District, Fukushimais a district located in Fukushima, Japan.As of 2008, the district has an estimated population of 29,787 and a density of 34.2 persons per km². The total area is 870.51 km².-Towns and villages:*Aizumisato*Kaneyama*Mishima*Shōwa-Mergers:...
marged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu. - On November 1, 2004, the village of KitaaizuKitaaizu, Fukushimawas a village located in the former Kitaaizu District, Fukushima, Japan.On November 1, 2004 Kitaaizu was merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu and no longer exists as an independent municipality....
from Kitaaizu District merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu. Therefore, Kitaaizu DistrictKitaaizu District, Fukushimawas a district located in Fukushima, Japan.On November 1, 2004 the village of Kitaaizu was merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu, at which point the village and district ceased to exist....
was dissolved in the process. - On November 1, 2005, the town of KawahigashiKawahigashi, Fukushimawas a town located in Kawanuma District, Fukushima, Japan.On November 1, 2005, Kawahigashi was merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 9,289 and a density of 234.75 persons per km². The total area is 39.57 km²....
from Kawanuma DistrictKawanuma District, Fukushimais a district located in Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 36,117 and a density of 111.59 persons per km². The total area is 323.65 km².-Towns and villages:*Aizubange*Yanaizu*Yugawa-Mergers:...
merged into the city of Aizuwakamatsu.
Neighboring municipalities
- North: KitakataKitakata, Fukushimais a city located in Fukushima, in northern Honshū, Japan. Kitakata was once written '北方', which meant 'northern place'.As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 51,955. The total area is 554.67km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
, AizubangeAizubange, Fukushimais a town located in Kawanuma District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 18,779 and a density of 204.90 persons per km². The total area is 91.65 km²...
, YugawaYugawa, Fukushimais a village located in Kawanuma District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 3,615 and a population density of 220.97 persons per km². The total area is 16.36 km²....
, BandaiBandai, Fukushimais a town located in Yama District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 3,931 and a density of 65.86 persons per km². The total area is 59.69 km².-External links:*... - East: KoriyamaKoriyama, Fukushimais a city in the center of the Nakadōri region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 2011, the city had an estimated population of 336,328. The total area is 757 km²....
, InawashiroInawashiro, Fukushimais a town located in Yama District, Fukushima, Japan. Inawashiro rests on the shores of Lake Inawashiro, one of the largest lakes in Japan. During the Edo period, it was part of the Aizu domain, and was the home of Aizu's secondary castle town... - West: AizumisatoAizumisato, Fukushimais a town in Ōnuma District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. As of November 1, 2008, the town has a population of 23,588. The area is 276.37 km²....
- South: Shimogo, TeneiTenei, Fukushimais a village located in Iwase District, Fukushima, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 6,681 and a density of 29.62 persons per km². The total area is 225.56 km². There are a few ski resorts in the village....