Kawazu, Shizuoka

Kawazu 河津町
Town
Midaka district, Kawazu Town Midaka district, Kawazu Town
Flag of Kawazu Flag Official seal of Kawazu Seal
Location of Kawazu in Shizuoka Prefecture Location of Kawazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Kawazu
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu Tōkai
Prefecture	Shizuoka Prefecture
District	Kamo
Area
• Total	100.79 km2 (38.92 sq mi)
Population (September 2014)
• Total	7,569
• Density	76.1/km2 (197/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Sakura
- Flower	Japanese iris
Phone number	0558-34-1913
Address	静岡県賀茂郡河津町田中212-2 413-0595
Website	Town of Kawazu

Kawazu (河津町, Kawazu-chō) is a town located on the east coast of Izu Peninsula in Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

As of September 2014, the town had an estimated population of 7,569 and a population density of 75.1 persons per km². The total area was 100.79 km².

Geography

Kawazu occupies a portion of the eastern coastline of Izu Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered to the west by the Amagi Mountains. The town has a temperate maritime climate characterized by hot summers and short cool winters, with the weather moderated by the effects of the warm Kuroshio current offshore. Parts of the town are within the limits of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The area is noted for a large number of hot springs.

Neighbouring municipalities

• Shimoda
• Nishiizu
• Matsuzaki
• Ito
• Higashiizu

History

During the Edo period, the area around Kawazu was tenryō territory controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate or various hatamoto. During the cadastral reform of 1889, the village of Kawazu was created, along with Kamikawazu and Shimokawazu through the merger of 15 small hamlets within Kamo District. The town of Kawazu was created through the merger of the villages of Kamikazu and Shimokawazu in September 1958.

Around March 31, 2010, the city of Shimoda and three municipalities in Kamo District (Kawazu, Matsuzaki, and Minamiizu) were scheduled to merge. However, the merger backed out.

Economy

The local economy is based on farming and tourism centered on hot spring resorts.

Transportation

Highway

• Japan National Route 135
• Japan National Route 414

Railway

• Izu Kyūkō Line
  • Imaihama-Kaigan Station, Kawazu Station

External links

• Kawazu official website (Japanese)