Higashimurayama, Tokyo

Higashimurayama 東村山市
City
Flag
Location of Higashimurayama in Tokyo Metropolis Location of Higashimurayama in Tokyo Metropolis
Higashimurayama
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Area
• Total	17.17 km2 (6.63 sq mi)
Population (June 1, 2010)
• Total	151,279
• Density	8,810/km2 (22,800/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
• Tree	Zelkova serrata
• Flower	Azalea
• Bird	White wagtail
Phone number	042-393-5111
Address	1-2-3 Honcho, Higashimurayama-shi, Tokyo-to 189-8501
Website	Higashimurayama city official HP

Higashimurayama (東村山市, Higashimurayama-shi) is a city located in the western end of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan.

In 2010, the city had an estimated population of 151,279 and a population density of 8,810 persons per km². The total area is 17.17 km².

Geography

Higashimurayama is approximately in the north-center of Tokyo Metropolis, on the Musashino Terrace.

Surrounding municipalities

• Higashikurume, Tokyo
• Kiyose, Tokyo
• Tokorozawa, Saitama
• Higashiyamato, Tokyo
• Kodaira, Tokyo

History

The area of present-day Higashimurayama has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and numerous remains from the Jōmon, Yayoi and Kofun periods have been discovered. During the Nara period, it became part of ancient Musashi Province. During the Kamakura period, it was the location of the Battle of Kumegawa in 1333.

In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, several villages merged to form Higashimurayama Village in Nishitama District, at that time part of Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Prefecture on April 1, 1893. On April 1, 1942, Higashimurayama Village became the town of Higashimurayama. On April 1, 1964, Higashimurayama was elevated to city status.

Economy

Higashimurayama was formerly an agricultural area, and was noted for its production of sweet potatoes. It is now primary a regional commercial center, and a bedroom community for central Tokyo.

Transportation

Railroad

• JR East – Musashino Line
  • Shin-Akitsu - Ozaku
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Shinjuku Line
  • Higashi-Murayama - Kumegawa
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Haijima Line
  • Hagiyama
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Kokubunji Line
  • Higashimurayama
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Tamako Line
  • Hagiyama - Yasaka - Musashi-Yamato - Seibu Yūenchi
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Ikebukuro Line
  • Akitsu
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Seibu-en Line
  • Higashimurayama – Seibu-en
• Seibu Railway Company – Seibu Yamaguchi Line
  • Seibu Yūenchi

Education

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates public high schools.

• Higashimurayama High School [1]
• Higashimurayama West High School [2]

Local places of note

• The oldest intact building in Tokyo and one of only two buildings in Tokyo registered as a National Treasure of Japan; the Jizo hall in the temple of Shōfuku-ji.
• Hachikokuyama, a park that is an inspiration for My Neighbor Totoro.
• National Hansen's Disease Museum of Japan
• Site of the 14th century Battle of Kumegawa
• A segment of the ancient Kamakura Kaido highway

Sister cities

Higashimurayama is twinned with the following cities:

City	Region	Country	Year
Kashiwazaki	Niigata	Japan	1996
Independence	Missouri	United States	1978
Suzhou	Jiangsu	China	2005

Noted people from Higashimurayama

• Seiichiro Shimizu – Politician
• Ken Shimura – Comedian
• Shoko Aida – Singer
• Miki Nakatani – Actress
• Shōji Satō – Professional Badminton Player

External links

• Higashimurayama City official website (Japanese)