Omaezaki, Shizuoka

Omaezaki 御前崎市
—  City  —
Location of Omaezaki in Shizuoka
Omaezaki
Coordinates: 34°38′N 138°8′E / 34.633°N 138.133°E / 34.633; 138.133Coordinates: 34°38′N 138°8′E / 34.633°N 138.133°E / 34.633; 138.133
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Tōkai)
Prefecture	Shizuoka
Government
– Mayor	Shigeo Ishihara (since April 2008)
Area
– Total	65.86 km2 (25.4 sq mi)
Population (February 2010)
– Total	34,614
– Density	530/km2 (1,372.7/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Myrica rubra
- Flower	Calystegia soldanella
Phone number	0537-85-1111
Address	5585, Ike-Shinden, Omaezaki-shi, Shizuoka-ken 437-1692
Website	Omaezaki official website

Omaezaki (御前崎市, Omaezaki-shi^?) is a city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Omaezaki is located at the tip of a peninsula on Japan's Pacific coast. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 34,614 and the density of 530 persons per km². The total area was 65.86 km².

Geography

Omaezaki City lies approximately 80 miles (130 km) south of Shizuoka City at the tip of a peninsula of the same name, stretching east into the Pacific Ocean. The majority of the city consists of gentle hills and valleys with some steep cliffs on the peninsula's east coast. Like much of Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture is an earthquake zone, and small tremors frequently occur in the area. Omaezaki is also in an area at risk from tsunami. Due to its location, Omaezaki experiences strong coastal winds between October and April. The Japanese rainy season also affects Omaezaki, with typhoons liable to hit the city between July and September. During summer, the region is cooler than the majority of inland Shizuoka Prefecture.

Surrounding municipalities

• Makinohara
• Kikugawa
• Kakegawa

History

The city of Omaezaki was founded on April 1, 2004 by the merger of the former town of Omaezaki (formerly part of Haibara District) and the town of Hamaoka (formerly of the now-defunct Ogasa District).

During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the England national team was based in former Hamaoka Town.

Economy

Omaezaki has a long history of commercial fishing and of green tea cultivation and these continue to play a central role in the local economy. More recently, the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant situated in the former town of Hamaoka has brought investment to the city. Water sports account for a large number of visitors daily to the city, and during the summer months, tourism attracted by Omaezaki's beaches is an important part of the economy, and water sports made possible by strong coastal winds have become as much a part of Omaezaki's identity as that of a rural town.

Transportation

Some of Omaezaki City's many green tea fields

Omaezaki is not served by rail. However, it is connected with nearby major cities such as Shizuoka and Hamamatsu via Japan National Route 150 with extensive bus services. Omaezaki Port is a major port for eastern Shizuoka prefecture, including the industrial zone centered around Hamamatsu.

Local attractions

Omaezaki City has long been famed for its Omaezaki Lighthouse and its extensive green tea fields. In recent years the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, the visitor centre of which also hosts an Omnimax Cinema, has become a well-known local landmark. Due to the active seismic nature of the region, the nuclear power station has been built to a high level of safety, and its operator, Chubu Electric Power, claims that it can withstand strong tremors.

Culture

The symbol of the city: Omaezaki Lighthouse

As a result of the strong coastal winds, Omaezaki offers some of the best windsurfing in Japan. As well as being Japan's most famous windsurfing spot, Omaezaki is renowned as a popular surfing and bodyboarding destination. This is especially true during the summer months, although surfers and bodyboarders can be seen all year round at Omaezaki Long Beach (御前崎ロングビーチ, Omaezaki Rongu Biichi^?). The city also has a beach as part of Omaezaki Marine Park (御前崎マリーンパーク, Omaezaki Mariin Pāku^?) which is a popular destination during the region's hot and humid summer months.

External links

• Omaezaki official website in Japanese