View source for Numazu

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{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Numazu
| native_name             = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|沼津市}}}}
| official_name           = 
| settlement_type         = [[Special cities of Japan|Special city]] 
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = 沼津市モンタージュ画像.png
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = City center, Byuo [[sluice]], Numazu Nakamise Shopping Street, ''[[Torii]]'' in the Heda area
| image_flag              = Flag of Numazu, Shizuoka.svg
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = 静岡県沼津市市章.svg
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_alt              = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = 
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map               = Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Location of Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
| pushpin_map             = Japan
| pushpin_label_position  = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = &nbsp;
| coordinates             = {{coord|35|05|44.1|N|138|51|48.4|E|region:JP-22|display=it}}
| coor_pinpoint           = <!-- to specify exact location of coordinates (was coor_type) -->
| coordinates_footnotes   = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Japan]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Chūbu region|Chūbu]] ([[Tōkai region|Tōkai]])
| subdivision_type2       = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]
| subdivision_type3       = 
| subdivision_name3       = 
<!-- established -->
| established_title       = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date        = 
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type               = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat                    = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = Shuichi Yorishige (頼重秀一) <from May 2018>
| leader_title1           = 
| leader_name1            = <!-- etc., up to leader_title4 / leader_name4 -->
<!-- display settings  -->
| total_type              = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref               = <!-- enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric -->
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude          = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes          = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2          = 186.96
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_water_percent      = 
| area_note               = 
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes     = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m             = 
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total        = 189486
| population_as_of        = December 1, 2019
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_est          = 
| pop_est_as_of           = 
| population_demonym      = <!-- demonym, ie. Liverpudlian for someone from Liverpool -->
| population_note         = 
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1               = [[Japan Standard Time]]
| utc_offset1             = +9
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type        = 
| postal_code             = 
| area_code_type          = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code               = 
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1         = City Symbols
| blank1_name_sec1        = - Tree
| blank1_info_sec1        = [[Pine]]
| blank2_name_sec1        = - Flower
| blank2_info_sec1        = [[Crinum asiaticum]]
| blank3_name_sec1        = - Bird
| blank3_info_sec1        = [[Common gull]]
| blank4_name_sec1        = 
| blank4_info_sec1        = 
| blank5_name_sec1        = 
| blank5_info_sec1        = 
| blank6_name_sec1        = 
| blank6_info_sec1        = 
| blank7_name_sec1        = 
| blank7_info_sec1        = 
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2         = Phone&nbsp;number
| blank_info_sec2         = 055-931-2500
| blank1_name_sec2        = Address
| blank1_info_sec2        = 16-1 Miyukichō, Numazu-shi, Shizuoka-ken 410-8601
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = {{Official|1=www.city.numazu.shizuoka.jp}}
| footnotes               = 
}}

{{nihongo|'''Numazu'''|沼津市|Numazu-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in eastern [[Shizuoka Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2019|12|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 189,486 in 91,986 households,<ref>[https://www.city.numazu.shizuoka.jp Numazu City official statistics] {{in lang|ja}}</ref> and a [[population density]] of 1,014 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is {{convert|186.96|sqkm|sqmi}}.

{{wide image|Numazu Shizuoka 2023 july 17 various views 02 25 02 294000.jpeg|500px|[[Mount Fuji]] seen from the streets of Numazu|260px|right}}
[[File:Numazu - view from Minatoguchi park - 2023 July 17.webm|thumb|260px|Numazu seen from [[Minatoguchi Park]], 2023]]
== Geography ==
Numazu is at the northwestern end of the [[Izu Peninsula]], which is a leisure destination known for its numerous [[onsen|hot springs]]. [[Mount Fuji]], Japan's tallest mountain, may also be seen from Numazu on clear days. Numazu is located {{convert|130|km|mi}} west of [[Tokyo]] and is on the [[Tōkaidō Main Line]], the main railway line from [[Osaka]] to Tokyo. Warmed by the [[Kuroshio Current]], the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. The [[Kano River]] runs through the middle of the city. Mount Ashitaka (1188 meters) is the highest point in the city.

===Neighboring municipalities===
Shizuoka Prefecture
*[[Mishima, Shizuoka|Mishima]]
*[[Fuji, Shizuoka|Fuji]]
*[[Izu, Shizuoka|Izu]]
*[[Izunokuni]]
*[[Shimizu, Shizuoka|Shimizu]]
*[[Nagaizumi]]
*[[Kannami]]

==Demographics==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-shizuoka.php Numazu population statistics]</ref> the population of Numazu has been in slow decline over the past 30 years.

{{Historical populations
| 1960 | 163,581
| 1970 | 194,274
| 1980 | 208,708
| 1990 | 216,213
| 2000 | 211,559
| 2010 | 202,283
|align       = none
| footnote = 
}}

===Climate===
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'').  The average annual temperature in Numazu is 15.9&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1938&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.8&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 5.9&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/shizuoka/numazu-5555/  Numazu climate data]</ref>

== History ==
Numazu is an ancient settlement, mentioned in [[Nara period]] records as the original [[kokufu|provincial capital]] of [[Suruga Province]] before the separation of [[Izu Province]] from Suruga in 680 AD, and subsequent transfer of the provincial capital to the banks of the [[Abe River]] in what is now [[Shizuoka, Shizuoka|Shizuoka city]]. During the early part of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], Numazu was ruled as part of [[Odawara Domain]], but with the construction of [[Numazu Castle]] in 1777, it became the separate [[Numazu Domain]]. Numazu prospered in the [[Edo period]] from its location on the [[Tōkaidō (road)|Tōkaidō]] highway connecting [[Edo]] with [[Kyoto]], with [[Numazu-juku]] and [[Hara-juku (Tōkaidō)|Hara-juku]] as two of the 53 [[shukuba|post stations]].

After the [[Meiji Restoration]], [[Numazu Station]] was opened on the [[Tōkaidō Main Line]] on February 1, 1889. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system of the early [[Meiji period]] in 1889, the area was reorganized into Numazu Town within [[Suntō District, Shizuoka]] From its seaside location, Numazu gained a reputation as a health resort, which was further enhanced by its selection as the location of an [[Numazu Imperial Villa|imperial villa]] built for [[Emperor Meiji]] in 1893. The area become popular with other members of the [[kazoku|nobility]], statesmen (including [[Inoue Kaoru]]) and writers. Numazu town expanded in 1923 by merger with Yanagihara village, becoming Numazu City on July 1, 1923.

Central Numazu was destroyed by a fire in 1926. In 1944, the city further expanded through merger with neighboring Katahama, Kanaoka, Ooka and Shizuura villages. The city was a target for American [[strategic bombing|air raid]]s in [[World War II]], and was largely destroyed by [[Bombing of Numazu in World War II|bombing on July 17, 1945]].

In 1955, the villages of Ashitaka, Oohira, Uchiura, and Nishiura merged with Numazu, and in 1968 Hara Town also merged with Numazu. In the year 2000, Numazu was designated a {{nihongo|Special City|特例市|Tokurei-shi}} by the central government with increased local autonomy. In April 2005, the village of [[Heda, Shizuoka|Heda]] (from [[Tagata District, Shizuoka|Tagata District]]) was merged into Numazu. In 2007, Numazu hosted the 29th [[WorldSkills]] International Championship.

==Government==
Numazu has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city legislature of 28 members.

== Economy ==
Numazu is an industrial city and regional financial center, and its port is a major center of Shizuoka prefecture's [[commercial fishing]] industry. Numazu produces more dried [[Japanese horse mackerel]] than any other region in Japan. The city accounts for about half of Japan's total production. Agriculture is dominated by production of [[mikan|mandarin oranges]] and [[green tea]], with [[Brussels sprouts]], dairy products and rice as secondary products. Numazu is the location of the head office of Suruga Bank, Shizuoka Chuo Bank and Numazu Shinkin Bank.

==Education==
Numazu has 24 public elementary schools, 17 public middle schools and one public combined middle/high school operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private elementary school, one private combined middle/high school and five private high schools. The prefecture also operates three special education schools in Numazu for the handicapped.

==Transportation==
[[File:JR Numazu Station.jpg|thumb|Numazu Station]]

===Railway===
*[[File:JR logo (central).svg|20px]] [[Central Japan Railway Company]] - [[Tōkaidō Main Line]]
** {{STN|Numazu|x}} - {{STN|Katahama|x}} - {{STN|Hara|x|Shizuoka}}
*[[File:JR logo (central).svg|20px]] [[Central Japan Railway Company]] - [[Gotemba Line]]
** {{STN|Numazu|x}} - {{STN|Ōoka|x|Shizuoka}}

===Highway===
*[[File:JP Expressway E1.svg|20px|link=|alt=E1]] {{Jct|country=JPN|AH|1}} [[Tomei Expressway]]
*[[File:JP Expressway E1A.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Shin-Tōmei Expressway]]
*[[File:JP Expressway E70.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Izu-Jūkan Expressway]]
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|1}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|246}}
*{{jct|country=JPN|Route|414}}

== Local attractions ==
[[File:Numazu Alps 20100718.jpg|thumb|View from Mount Kinkan]]
Numazu is a gateway to Mount Fuji, [[Hakone]], and [[Izu Peninsula]], which are major tourist attractions. The harbour area has seafood restaurants and features an anti-[[tsunami]] barrier with an observation floor on top that offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding area. There is a shopping street close to the main train station.

Numazu has the longest coastline of any municipality in the prefecture. The ''Senbonhama'' ("Thousand Tree Beach") seaside is considered one of the best places to view Osezaki, [[Nihondaira]], or the southern [[Japan Alps]] against the background of Sembonmatsubara and Mount Fuji. Three aquariums are located in Numazu: Mito Sea Paradise, Awashima Marine Park and Numazu Deepblue Aquarium.

{{Wide image|Mount Kanuki, Panorama, 20110918.jpg|1500px|Numazu city from Mount Kanuki}}

===National Historic Sites===
*[[Nagahama Castle(Shizuoka)|Nagahama Castle]] ruins
*[[Kōkokuji Castle]] ruins
*[[Yasumiba ruins|Yasumiba Archaeological Site]]

== Sister cities ==
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kalamazoo]], [[Michigan]], United States, since 1963
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Yueyang]], [[Hunan]], China, since 1985<ref name=International>{{cite web|url=http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=22&n=Shizuoka%20Prefecture|title=International Exchange|work=List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures|publisher=Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR)|access-date=21 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113132810/http://www.clair.or.jp/cgi-bin/simai/e/03.cgi?p=22&n=Shizuoka%20Prefecture|archive-date=13 January 2016}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Ueda, Nagano]], Japan

== Notable people from Numazu ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2012}}
* [[Tomita Tsunejirō]] (1865–1937) – the earliest disciple of [[judo]]
* [[Nobutaka Machimura]] – politician
* [[Shinji Ono]] – professional soccer player
* [[Masakuni Yamamoto]]  – professional soccer player
* [[Kento Sugiyama]] – professional baseball player
* [[Kyoko Iwasaki]] – Olympic medalist swimmer
* [[Koji Murofushi]] – Olympic medalist in hammer-throw
* [[Miu Hirano]] – Table Tennis player
* [[Yamada Nagamasa]] – [[Sengoku period]] merchant-adventurer
* [[Norio Ohga]] – former CEO of Sony
* [[Tomoyoshi Murayama]] – artist and playwright
* [[Masato Harada]] – movie director
* [[Ulka Sasaki]] — mixed martial artist

==Popular culture==
Numazu is the main setting of the anime ''[[Love Live! Sunshine!!]]'', and several characters live in Uchiura and Awashima Island. As such, many tourists come to Numazu because of the anime, and various things in the city, such as taxicabs, buses, ferries, and manhole covers, have special ''Love Live''-themed designs.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official|http://www.city.numazu.shizuoka.jp}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Official website|http://www.city.numazu.shizuoka.jp/living_in/english.htm|Numazu City official website}} {{in lang|en}}
* [http://numazu.wordpress.com Travel guide to Numazu for tourists and foreign residents]

{{Shizuoka}}

{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}
{{Most populous cities in Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Shizuoka Prefecture]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]
[[Category:Numazu, Shizuoka]]