Fujiyoshida (富士吉田市, Fujiyoshida-shi) is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 May 2019^[update], the city had an estimated population of 48,782 in 19,806 households[1] and a population density of 400 persons per km². The total area of the city is 121.74 square kilometres (47.00 sq mi).

Fujiyoshida 富士吉田市
City
Fujiyoshida montage, Top: Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, Middle above left: Mount Fuji Radar Dome, Middle raw left: Gold Torii Gate, Middle right: Mount Fuji and a pagoda in Arakurayama Sengen Park, Bottom left: Fujiyoshida Firework Festival, Bottom middle: a Tree-lined road in Fuji Sengen Shrine [ja], Bottom right: Yoshida Udon Noodle
Flag Seal
Location of Fujiyoshida in Yamanashi Prefecture
Fujiyoshida
Coordinates: 35°29′15.1″N 138°48′27.9″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Yamanashi Prefecture
First official recorded	2nd century BC (official)
Shimoyoshida town settled	August 1, 1939
Current name changed and city settled	March 20, 1951
Government
• Mayor	Shigeru Horiuchi
Area
• Total	121.74 km2 (47.00 sq mi)
Population  (May 1, 2019)
• Total	48,782
• Density	400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
• Tree	White birch
• Flower	Fujizakura
• Bird	Great spotted woodpecker
Phone number	0555-22-1111
Address	6-1-1 Shimoyoshida, Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi-ken 403-8601
Website	Official website

Geography

Fujiyoshida lies at the northern base of Mount Fuji, and is built upon old lava flows. It is considered a high-elevation city in Japan, at 650 to 850 metres (2,140 to 2,800 feet) above sea level. The city is also located between two of the Fuji Five Lakes. The Katsura River flows through the eastern part of the city.

Neighboring municipalities

• Yamanashi Prefecture
  • Tsuru
  • Minamitsuru District: Nishikatsura, Oshino, Yamanakako, Narusawa, Fujikawaguchiko
• Shizuoka Prefecture
  • Fujinomiya
  • Suntō District: Oyama

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Fujiyoshida peaked around the year 1990 and has been in slow decline since.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Fujiyoshida is 9.1 °C (48.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,845 millimetres (72.6 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 21 °C (70 °F), and lowest in January, at around −2.3 °C (27.9 °F).[3]

History

Following the Meiji restoration, the area around Fujiyoshida was organized into Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi per the cadastral reforms of July 22, 1878. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on July 1, 1889, the villages of Mizuho, Akemi and Fukuchi were established. In 1939, Mizuho was raised to town status and renamed Shimoyoshida. Likewise, in 1947, Fukuchi was raised to town status and renamed Fujikamiyoshida and Akemi was raised to town status in 1948, retaining its original name. These three towns merged on March 20, 1951, to form the city of Fujiyoshida.

Government

Fujiyoshida has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.

Economy

For several centuries, artisans around the Fujiyoshida area have produced high quality textiles,[4] and now the city is the center of commerce and high technology in southern Yamanashi Prefecture.

Education

• Showa University
• Fujiyoshida has seven public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and three public private high schools operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private middle school and one private high school.

Senior high schools

In Japan the public Senior High Schools are operated by the prefecture, which in this case in the Yamanashi prefecture. While not compulsory, 94% of all junior high school graduates entered high schools.[5] These high schools are the equivalent of grades 10 – 12 in the United States or the Fifth and Sixth form in the English system.

Prefectural Public High Schools

• Yoshida High School
• Fuji Hokuryo High School
• Hibarigaoka High School

Private High Schools

• Fuji Gakuen High School

Junior high schools

The public Junior High Schools are operated by the City of Fujiyoshida. These schools are the equivalent of grades 6 – 9 in the United States or the First to Forth form in the English system.

Municipal Junior High Schools

• Shimoyoshida Junior High School
• Akemi Junior High School
• Yoshida Junior High School
• Fujimidai Junior High School

Private Junior High Schools

• Fuji Gakuen Junior High School

Primary schools

The public Primary Schools are operated by the City of Fujiyoshida. Municipal Primary Schools

• Shimoyoshida Daiichi Elementary School
• Shimoyoshida 2nd Elementary School
• Shimoyoshida Higashi Elementary School
• Akemi Elementary School
• Yoshida Elementary School
• Yoshida Nishi Elementary School
• Fuji Elementary School

Transportation

Railway

• Fuji Kyuko - Fujikyuko Line
  • Kotobuki - Yoshiikeonsenmae - Shimoyoshida - Gekkōji - Fujisan

Highway

• Chūō Expressway
• Higashifuji-goko Road
• National Route 137
• National Route 138
• National Route 139
• National Route 300
• National Route 413

Sister cities

• Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, since 1962
• Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France,[6] since 1978

Local attractions

• Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the kami of Mount Fuji, the Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja is the historical starting point for pilgrims climbing the mountain. The main structure was originally built in 788 and underwent reconstruction in the 17th century. Additional buildings include a shrine dedicated to Takeda Shingen (1521–1573), and a red torii which is taken down and rebuilt every "Fuji Year" (60 years). The shrine has a local history museum which displays items from Fujiyoshida's past including household items, farm implements, clothing and samples of the cities' famous textiles.
• Fuji-Q Highland an amusement park with a variety of attractions suitable for adults and children.
• Mt. Fuji Visitors Center. It is home to interactive displays, videos, books and guides about Mount Fuji.
• Mt. Fuji Radar Dome Museum. A tribute to the meteorologists who built a radar research facility at the summit of Mount Fuji, which features a room which simulates the conditions at the summit of the mountain.
• Arakurayama Sengen Park and the Chūrei-tō pagoda, built on a hilltop facing Mount Fuji.

Notable people from Fujiyoshida

• Keiji Mutoh, professional wrestler[7]
• Shun Sugata, actor[8]

References

External links

Media related to Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi at Wikimedia Commons

• Fuji Yoshida travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official Website (in Japanese)

На других языках

[de] Fujiyoshida

[es] Fujiyoshida (Yamanashi)

[ru] Фудзиёсида