Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima

Hatsukaichi 廿日市市
City
Flag
Location of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture
Hatsukaichi Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°21′N 132°20′E / 34.350°N 132.333°E / 34.350; 132.333Coordinates: 34°21′N 132°20′E / 34.350°N 132.333°E / 34.350; 132.333
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture	Hiroshima Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Katsuhiro Shinno
Area
• Total	489.36 km2 (188.94 sq mi)
Population (September 1, 2016)
• Total	117,106
• Density	239.36/km2 (619.9/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Sakura
• Flower	Satsuki azalea
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	1-11-1 Shimohera, Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken. 738-8501
Website	www.city.hatsukaichi.hiroshima.jp

Hatsukaichi (廿日市市, Hatsukaichi-shi) is a city of some 120,000 people located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The name derives from a market traditionally held on the 20th of each month with hatsuka (廿日) meaning "20th day" and ichi (市) translating to "market". The market continues to this day on a small scale featuring fresh, locally grown vegetables and foodstuffs.

Following the absorption of the nearby towns of Ōno and Miyajima on November 3, 2005 (as of September 1, 2016), Hatsukaichi has a population density of 239.36 persons per km². The total land area stands at 489.36 km².

History

• The name "Hatsuka-ichi" was from the ichi on the 20th of every month from Kamakura Period.
• "Hatsukaichi-machi", Saeki District, Hiroshima was founded on April 1, 1889.
• The city "Hatsukaichi" was founded on April 1, 1988.
• On March 1, 2003, the town of Saeki and the village of Yoshiwa, both from Saeki District, merged into the expanded city of Hatsukaichi.
• On November 3, 2005, the towns of Miyajima and Ōno (both from Saeki District) were merged into Hatsukaichi. Therefore, Saeki District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Education

• The Japanese Red Cross Hiroshima College of Nursing
• Sanyo Women's College

Points of interest

• Itsukushima Shrine - an UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island of Itsukushima (also known as Miyajima) - one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan.
• Marine Plaza Miyajima - an aquarium on Miyajima
• Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden
• Miyao Castle ruins, site of the Battle of Miyajima (1555)
• Miyajima Underwater Firework Festival, held in mid-August^[1]

Torii Gate in Itsukushima Shrine

• Hatsukaichi City is considered to be the birthplace of kendama, a traditional Japanese toy.

Transportation

• Hatsukaichi can be accessed from Hiroshima city via the JR West Sanyo Line; on the Hiroden streetcar services' Miyajima Line; as well as by buses and boats.
• JR Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen connect between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima.

Sister cities

Hatsukaichi has Sister City relationships with:

• Masterton, New Zealand
• Mont Saint-Michel, France

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima.

• Hatsukaichi city official website (Japanese)
• Le Mont Saint-Michel (French)
• The 150 year anniversary of France and Japan in 2008 (French)

Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima (capital)
Wards of Hiroshima	Aki Asakita Asaminami Higashi Minami Naka Nishi Saeki
Core cities	Fukuyama Kure
Cities	Akitakata Etajima Fuchū Hatsukaichi Higashihiroshima Mihara Miyoshi Onomichi Ōtake Shōbara Takehara
Aki District	Fuchū Kaita Kumano Saka
Jinseki District	Jinsekikōgen
Sera District	Sera
Toyota District	Ōsakikamijima
Yamagata District	Akiōta Kitahiroshima
List of mergers in Hiroshima Prefecture