Machida, Tokyo

Machida (町田市, Machida-shi) is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 429,040, and a population density of 5,980 persons per km². Its total area is 71.80 square kilometres (27.72 sq mi).

Machida

町田市
City
Machida City Hall
Flag
Seal
Location of Machida in Tokyo
Machida
 
Coordinates: 35°42′38″N 139°26′19″E
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTokyo
Area
 • Total71.80 km2 (27.72 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2016)
 • Total429,040
 • Density5,980/km2 (15,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeZelkova serrata
• FlowerScarlet sage
• BirdCommon kingfisher
Phone number042-722-3111
Address1-20-23 Nakamachi, Machida-shi, Tokyo 194-8520
Websitewww.city.machida.tokyo.jp
One of the ponds of Yakushi-Ike Park in Machida
A road lined with cherry blossom trees in Machida

Geography

Machida is located in the Tama Hills of southern Tokyo Metropolis, bordered by Kanagawa Prefecture on the west, south, and east approximately 40-50 kilometers from the center of Tokyo. The Tama River does not flow through the city.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The area of present-day Machida was part of ancient Musashi Province. In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Minamitama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. The village of Machida was created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of municipalities law. Minamitama District was transferred to the administrative control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. Tama was elevated to town status on April 1, 1913. The town was bombed by American forces on May 24, 1945 during World War II.

Machida expanded through annexation of the neighboring village of Minami on April 1, 1954, followed by the villages of Tsurukawa, Tadao and Sakai on February 1, 1958 to become the city of Machida. A USMC RF-8A crashed in Machida on April 1, 1964. From 1973, the Tama New Town development resulted in a rapid increase in population, turning the city into a bedroom community for Tokyo and Yokohama.

Education

Universities and colleges

Primary and secondary education

International schools
  • West Tokyo Korean 2nd Elementary School - North Korean school[2]

Transportation

Railway
■ Odakyu Electric Railway - Odakyu Odawara Line
■ Tokyu Corporation - Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line
■ JR East - Yokohama Line
■ Keio Corporation - Keiō Sagamihara Line

Highway

Politics

Machida is governed by a 26-member city council, whose members are elected for a four-year term.

Mayors
  1. Tokichiro Aoyama (1958–1970, 3 terms)
  2. Katsumasa Oshita (1970–1990, 5 terms)
  3. Kazuo Terada (1990–2006, 4 terms)
  4. Joichi Ishizaka (2006–present, 4th term incumbent)

Notable people from Machida

Local attractions
  • Buaisō museum, former residence of the Shirasu family
  • Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts
  • Machida Squirrel Garden
  • Tadao Park
  • Grandberry Park (Grandberry Mall closed in Feb 2017,redeveloped and re-opened in November 2019)

Sports

References
  1. "Home page (English)". Third Junior & Senior High School of Nihon University. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  2. "ウリハッキョ一覧" (Archive). Chongryon. Retrieved on October 14, 2015.
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