Takarazuka, Hyōgo

Takarazuka (宝塚市, Takarazuka-shi)[1] is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of October 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 225,228 and a population density of 2,200 persons per km2. The total area is 101.89 km2.

Takarazuka

宝塚市
Special city
View of the City in Muko River
Flag
Chapter
Location of Takarazuka in Hyōgo Prefecture
Takarazuka
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°48′N 135°22′E
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureHyōgo Prefecture
Government
 • MayorTomoko Nakagawa
Area
 • Total101.89 km2 (39.34 sq mi)
Population
 (1 October 2016)
 • Total225,228
 • Density2,200/km2 (5,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-1 Tōyō-chō, Takarazuka-shi, Hyōgo-ken
665-8665
Websitewww.city.takarazuka.hyogo.jp
Symbols
BirdCettia diphone, Motacilla grandis
FlowerViola mandshurica (Japanese violet/sumire)
TreeCamellia sasanqua, Cornus kousa

History
  • 825: Sumiyoshi Shrine built.
  • Between 1492 and 1500: Kohama town was established as a temple town for Koushou-ji.
  • 17th century: Kohama Inn was established as a post station on Arima Road.
  • 1887: Takarazuka hot springs opened.
  • 1897: Hankaku Railroad (current Fukuchiyama Line) completed.
  • 1910: Minoh Arima Electric Railway (current Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line completed).
  • 1910s-1940s: The age of Hanshinkan Modernism. Takarazuka was a center of the culture.
  • April 1, 1914: First performance by Takarazuka Girls' Opera (current Takarazuka Revue).
  • March 15, 1951: Kohama Village, Kawabe District incorporated as Town of Takarazuka (宝塚町 Takarazuka-chō).
  • April 1, 1954: Town of Takarazuka and Yoshimoto Village, Muko District merge to become City of Takarazuka (宝塚市 Takarazuka-shi).
  • March 10, 1955: Nagao Village, Kawabe District annexed.
  • March 14, 1955: Nishitani Village, Kawabe District annexed.
  • April 1, 1955: Ogino, Aramaki,　Kounoike, and Ohno-Nitta ceded to Itami.
  • January 17, 1995: Great Hanshin earthquake causes more than 100 casualties.
  • April 1, 2003: Designated as a Special City.
  • April 1, 2004: 50th anniversary of establishment as city.

Geography
Takarazuka from the Muko River

Takarazuka is nestled between the Rokko Range to the west and Nagao Range to the north with the Muko River running through the center of the city.

A bedroom community for Osaka and Kobe, there are quiet, upscale residential neighborhoods like Nigawa, Sakasegawa, and Hibarigaoka.

Known as the inner parlor of Kansai, Takarazuka is famous for the Takarazuka Revue, hot springs, and the Takarazuka Tourism Fireworks Display held since 1913. It is also famous as a choice residential area along with Ashiya and Nishinomiya.

At one time, the idea was raised of merging Takarazuka with Itami, Kawanishi, and Inagawa, but it is currently on hold.

Neighboring municipalities

Government

Mayor: Tomoko Nakagawa (中川智子) (re-elected April 2013)

Economy

HI-LEX Corporation, a manufacturer of remote-controlling cables and accessories for multiple applications is headquartered in the city.[2]

ShinMaywa Industries, a manufacturer of military aircraft (especially seaplanes) and heavy duty trucks is headquartered in the city.[3]

Locality

Education
Elementary Schools
Ryogen Municipal, Takarazuka Number 1 Municipal, Kohama Municipal, Takarazuka Municipal, Nagao Municipal, Nishitani Municipal, Nigawa Municipal, Nishiyama Municipal, Mefu Municipal, Nagao South Municipal, Suenari Municipal, Akura Municipal, Nakayama-Sakuradai Municipal, Nagaodai Municipal, Sakasedai Municipal, Miza Municipal, Koumyo Municipal, Suehiro Municipal, Nakayama-Satsukidai Municipal, Maruhashi Municipal, Takatsukasa Municipal, Akura North Municipal, Sumiregaoka Municipal, Yamatedai Municipal, Hibarigaoka Academy
Junior High Schools
Takarazuka Number 1 Municipal, Takarazuka Municipal, Nagao Municipal, Nishitani Municipal, Houbai Municipal, Takatsukasa Municipal, South Hibarigaoka Municipal, Akura Municipal, Nakayama-Satsukidai Municipal, Gotenyama Municipal, Hikarigaoka Municipal, Yamatedai Municipal, Hibarigaoka Academy, Obayashi Seishin Women's Institute
Senior High Schools
Takarazuka Prefectural, Takarazuka West Prefectural, Takarazuka East Prefectural, Takarazuka North Prefectural, Hibarigaoka Academy, Obayashi Seishin Women's Institute
Miscellaneous Schools
Takarazuka Music School
Vocational Colleges
Municipal Nursing College
Universities
Koshien University, Takarazuka University of Art and Design

There was formerly a North Korean school, Takarazuka Korean Elementary School (宝塚朝鮮初級学校). [4]

Specialty products
  • Ornamental trees and flowers (dahlias, irises, etc.)
  • Tansan senbei
Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum

Notable people
Takarazuka Hotel

Facilities
  • Takarazuka Grand Theatre (宝塚大劇場, Takarazuka Dai Gekijō)
  • Takarazuka Bow Hall
  • Flower Road (花のみち, Hana-no Michi)
  • Hanshin Racecourse (阪神競馬場, Hanshin-keibajō)
  • Takarazuka Hot Spring (宝塚温泉, Takarazuka Onsen)
  • Takarazuka Garden Fields
  • Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum (手塚治虫記念館, Tezuka Osamu Kinen-kan)
  • Takarazuka Hotel
  • Tessai Art Museum (鉄斎美術館, Tessai Bijutsu-kan)
  • Takedao Hot Spring (武田尾温泉, Takedao Onsen)
  • Shōji Residence (正司邸): Mixed Western- and Japanese-style mansion built in 1918–1919. (Designed by Masaharu Furuzuka. National Registry of Tangible Cultural Properties. Filming location for NHK drama Twins (ふたりっ子, Futarikko).)
  • Takarazuka City Historical Archives (former Matsumoto Residence): Western-style mansion built in 1937. (National Registry of Tangible Cultural Properties)
  • Kohama Inn Resource Center (小浜宿資料館, Kohama-juku Shiryō-kan)

Religious institutions

Sightseeing and festivals
Takarazuka Grand Theater and Bow Hall

Transportation

Railways

Railways connect the city to other cities in the region including Osaka. Takarazuka Station, serving all railway lines in the city listed below, plays an important role as the city's central station.

Highways
  • Chūgoku Turnpike Takarazuka Interchange
    • The West Takarazuka Tunnel, which goes through the city, is known as a famous spot for traffic jams.
  • National Road 176

Buses
  • Hankyu Bus
  • Hanshin Dentetsu Bus
  • Hankyu Country Bus
  • Shinki Bus

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

Takarazuka is twinned with:[5]

References
  1. The kanji 塚 (UTF-8 code FA1016), which is part of Takarazuka's official name (宝塚市), is not available on all systems. (It can be entered in Wikipedia with HTML character 塚.) When not available, the kanji 塚 (UTF-8 code 585A16, HTML character 塚) is used as a substitute, rendering Takarazuka as 宝塚市. ("Shirabetemimashita 'Takarazukashi' no zuka to ZU" (PDF). Kōhō Takarazuka (in Japanese). 1026: 8. 2004-06-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-03-05.)
  2. "HI-LEX". Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  3. "Shin Maywa". Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  4. ウリハッキョ一覧. Chongryon. Retrieved October 14, 2015. (Archive).
  5. "国際交流のページ". city.takarazuka.hyogo.jp (in Japanese). Takarazuka. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
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