Ichikawa, Chiba

Ichikawa is located on the alluvial plain of the Edogawa River on the northern end of Tokyo Bay, with Tokyo Metropolis forming its western border. Much of the city is near sea level in altitude.

The area around present-day Ichikawa has been inhabited since the Japanese Paleolithic period. Archaeologists have found stone tools dating to some 30,000 years ago. Numerous shell middens from the Jōmon period, and hundreds of burial tumuli from the Kofun period have been found in numerous locations around Ichikawa. During the Nara period, Ichikawa was the provincial capital of Shimōsa Province and is mentioned in the Man'yōshū. During the Heian period, this area was the center of the rebellion by Taira Masakado. During the Sengoku period, it was the site of a major battles (Battle of Kōnodai) between the Satomi clan and the Later Hōjō clan.

In more recent history, the area was also the site of some minor battles during the Boshin War of the Meiji Restoration and was promoted as a possible site for the new Diet of Japan by Katsu Kaishu, who envisioned a structure to be built on the Edogawa River similar to the Houses of Parliament in London along the Thames. Ichikawa Town was organized in 1889. On November 3, 1934 it merged with the neighboring towns of Yawata, Nakayama and village of Kokubun to form the city of Ichikawa. The city expanded by annexing the village of Okashiwa on November 3, 1949, the town of Gyotoku on March 31, 1955 and town of Minami-Gyotoku on October 1, 1956.

Ichikawa is twinned with:[1]

• Nakayama Hokekyō-ji: A Buddhist temple with several national important cultural assets, including a gate and a Hokke-dō Hall from the Sengoku period and a Five-story Pagoda built in 1622.
• Katsushika Hachiman Shrine: A Shinto shrine built in the Heian period.
• Osu Disaster Prevention Park: Usually used as a recreation and relaxation site, this park is designated as a temporary evacuation and rescue site in times of disaster.
• Satomi Park: One of Ichikawa's main parks, Satomi Park stands on the hilly part of Konōdai, with the Edo River running below. It is famous for its cherry trees.
• Wild Bird Observatory: This facility is equipped with observation telescopes, and it has an exhibition room which is open to visitors.
• Zoological & Botanical Garden: This garden houses 70 species of animals, mainly small animals such as lesser pandas and orangutans. Nearby is the Natural Museum, Nature Park (Rose Garden), Youth Nature House (Planetarium), and privately managed athletic facilities.
• Teramachi-dori: Formerly called "Narita-michi" ("Narita Road"), this street was once used by pilgrims on their way to Narita-san Temple.
• Guhō-ji and the nearby Mama Well of Kamei-in, mentioned in Takahashi Mushimaro's poem in the Man'yōshū
• Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Hall: Designed based on Germany, where Higashiyama studied, this two-story building is European in appearance with an octagonal tower.
• Lifelong Learning Center: Nicknamed "Media Park Ichikawa," this center supports learning for everyone from infants to seniors. The center's main attraction is the Central Library, along with the Audio Visual and Children's Hall.
• Clean Spa Ichikawa: Powered by heat from garbage incineration, this facility provides a swimming pool, warm bath, and gymnastic equipment.

• Sakaigawa Namiemon – Meiji period sumo wrestler
• Wakashima Gonshirō – Meiji period sumo wrestler
• Kōji Nakano – novelist
• Kuniko Inoguchi – Cabinet minister
• Michio Hoshino – photographer
• Kazuki Kosakai – comedian
• Yūko Andō – newscaster
• Koji Ishikawa – illustrator
• Taiji – musician
• yukihiro (musician) – musician
• Kazuo Takahashi – mixed martial artist
• Shigeki Maruyama – professional golfer
• Oginishiki Yasutoshi – sumo wrestler
• Tomo Sakurai – Voice actress
• Tōki Susumu – sumo wrestler
• Ryoji Aikawa – professional baseball player
• Ryoji Aikawa – professional soccer player
• Kazushige Nosawa – professional wrestler
• G.G. Sato – professional baseball player
• Moe Oshikiri – fashion model
• Yuki Abe – professional soccer player
• Atsuko Maeda – singer, actress, former member of AKB48
• Norimitsu Onishi – Journalist
• Tatsuhisa Suzuki – Voice actor
• Peter Takeo Okada – Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tokyo
• Yoko Narahashi - Prominent Japanese film producer and casting director
• Tao Okamoto - actress and model

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• Official Website (in Japanese)