Tachikawa

This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (January 2008)

Tachikawa 立川市
Flag
Tachikawa
Coordinates: 35°41′N 139°25′E / 35.683°N 139.417°E / 35.683; 139.417
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo
Area
- Total	24.38 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
Population (2004)	174,605
- Density	7,976/km2 (20,657.7/sq mi)
Website	Tachikawa

Tama monorail

Tachikawa (立川市, Tachikawa-shi^?) is a city located in western Tokyo, Japan.

As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 174,605 and the density of 7,976 people per km². The total area is 24.38 km². Showa Memorial Park, an expansive leisure and recreational facility operated by the national government, occupies 1.49 square kilometres of land that was formerly part of Tachikawa Air Base in Tachikawa and neighboring Akishima.

The city was founded on December 1, 1940.

Geography

Tachikawa is about 40km west of the center of Tokyo. Kunitachi, Kokubunji, and Kodaira are east of Tachikawa, Higashiyamato, and Musashimurayama are north of Tachikawa, Fussa, and Akishima west of Tachikawa, and Hino to the south.

Transportation

Tachikawa is on the JR Chūō Line. Trains traveling west from Tokyo Station through Shinjuku stop at Tachikawa Station before continuing to Hachiōji and Takao. The JR Ome Line and Itsukaichi Line also serve the city, stopping at Tachikawa and Nishi Tachikawa stations. The Nambu Line links Tachikawa and Kawasaki, following the Tama River. The northern areas of Tachikawa are on the Seibu Haijima Line.

The Tama Toshi Monorail Line carries traffic north and south from Tachikawa. Several stations are in the city, and Tachikawa Minami and Tachikawa Kita stations flank JR Tachikawa Station. On a clear day, the monorail offers spectacular views of Mt. Fuji and the Tama region.

National Route 20, the Kōshū Kaidō, carries automobile and truck traffic through Tachikawa in the east-west direction.

Bus service links Tachikawa and the major airports in the region, Haneda and Narita.

The Tama River flows between Tachikawa and Hino.

Tamagawa-jousui (Tamagawa water supply) flows north of town, a great promenade is located on both banks. Tamagawa-jousui is also the name of a station.

Points of interest

The area around the Tachikawa JR train station features several large department stores, including Lumine, Isetan, and Takashimaya as well as one of the newest and largest cinemas in the Tokyo area. Numerous restaurants, izakaya, bars, and pubs are located on both the north and south sides of the station. In recent years a thriving red-light district has emerged on the south side of the station. This district is large enough that many locals now refer to it as the "mini-Kabukichō" after the famous cabaret district of Shinjuku. Also located near the train station is a large keirinjou (競輪場), or bicycle racetrack, in which spectators place wagers on the results of bicycle races, much as in horse racing. Finally, the honbu of Satojuku, a significant style of karate with origins in Kyokushinkai is located on the south side of the station.

The alternate center for Japan's national government is located on a portion of what used to be Tachikawa Air Base. The center includes billeting, offices, communications and control centers,hospital and a full cafeteria. The center is for the national government to use if forced to relocate or as a command center to direct a response to a significant national disaster or emergency.

National Emergency Response Center - City Of Tachikawa:

Japan’s National Emergency Response Center is located in a complex of underground bunkers and tunnels that were developed for the Japanese military for use during World War 2 to hide and protect airplanes from the US bombings. These tunnels were taken over by the US Military and used for storage while the base was in operation from 1945 to 1977, when the base was given back to the Japanese Government as well as the disposition of the bunker complex. The underground complex is located under what was the Tachikawa Air Base housing section, this area is still restricted to the Japanese public for any kind of business/building or farming as of 2009. From November 1977 to present day the tunnel and bunker system have been enlarged to accommodate up to 5,000 people and to sustain them for a period of 1 year if necessary.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Tachikawa operates its public elementary and junior high schools.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates public high schools:

• Kitatama High School [1]
• Sunagawa High School [2]
• Tachikawa High School [3]

In addition the metropolis operates the Tachikawa International Secondary Education School [4].

Public libraries

The Tokyo Metropolitan Library Tama Library opened in Tachikawa in 1987 to relieve municipal libraries.^[1]

Sister city

Tachikawa is also a sister city to San Bernardino, California. In addition, it participates in a high school exchange program with San Bernardino.

See also

Tokyo portal

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tachikawa, Tokyo

• (Japanese) Tachikawa official website

v • d • e Tokyo Metropolis Portal · Architecture · Education · Festivals · History · Politics · Sports · Tourism · Transportation Special Wards Adachi · Arakawa · Bunkyō · Chiyoda · Chūō · Edogawa · Itabashi · Katsushika · Kita · Kōtō · Meguro · Minato · Nakano · Nerima · Ōta · Setagaya · Shibuya · Shinagawa · Shinjuku · Suginami · Sumida · Toshima · Taitō Cities Akiruno · Akishima · Chōfu · Fuchū · Fussa · Hachiōji · Hamura · Higashikurume · Higashimurayama · Higashiyamato · Hino · Inagi · Kiyose · Kodaira · Koganei · Kokubunji · Komae · Kunitachi · Machida · Mitaka · Musashimurayama · Musashino · Nishitōkyō · Ōme · Tachikawa · Tama Districts and Subprefectures Nishitama District · Hachijō Subprefecture · Miyake Subprefecture · Ogasawara Subprefecture · Ōshima Subprefecture