Matsuzaki, Shizuoka

Matsuzaki 松崎町
—  Town  —
Location of Matsuzaki in Shizuoka
Matsuzaki
Coordinates: 34°45′N 138°47′E / 34.75°N 138.783°E / 34.75; 138.783Coordinates: 34°45′N 138°47′E / 34.75°N 138.783°E / 34.75; 138.783
Country	Japan
Region	Tōkai (Chūbu)
Prefecture	Shizuoka
District	Kamo
Area
– Total	85.23 km2 (32.9 sq mi)
Population (February 2009)
– Total	7,709
– Density	85.23/km2 (220.7/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Pine
- Flower	Farfugium
- Bird
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, Japan.As of February 2009, the town has an estimated population of 7,709 and a density of 90.4 persons per km². The total area is 85.23 km². Sakuramochi is a noted local speciality.

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

• Shimoda
• Minamiizu
• Kawazu
• NIshiizu

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, Minamiizu, and Matsuzaki) will merge.^[1]

Economy

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

Transportation

Matsuzaki is served by Japan National Route 136. The town does not have any railway connections.

Noted people from Matsuzaki

• Irie Chōhachi - artist
• Kondō Heisaburō - pharmacologist
• Yoda Benzō - Hokkaido pioneer
• Rentaro Mikuni - actor

Gallery

• 

  Kumomi shore (雲見海岸) in Matsuzaki

• 

  Matsuzaki Kumomi shoreline

• 

  Iwachi shore (岩地海岸), also dubbed "Izu Côte d'Azur", in Matsuzaki

• 

  House with Namako wall in Matsuzaki

References

1. ^ http://www.kokudo.or.jp/new/cities/sub/chubu/22.htm

External links

Media related to Matsuzaki, Shizuoka at Wikimedia Commons

• Matsuzaki official website (Japanese)