Hachiōji

Urban area of Hachiōji

Hachiōji is located in the foothills of the Okutama Mountains of western Tokyo, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the 23 special wards of Tokyo. The city is surrounded on three sides by mountains, forming the Hachioji Basin which opens up toward the east in the direction of Tokyo. The mountain ranges in the southwest include Mount Takao (599 m) and Mount Jinba (857 m), two popular hiking destinations which can be reached by train and bus, respectively.

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Hachiōji has recently plateaued after nine decades of strong growth.

The area of present-day Hachiōji was part of ancient Musashi Province. It has been an important junction point and post town along the Kōshū Kaidō, the main road that connected the historical Edo (today's Tokyo) with western Japan. Hachiōji Castle was built during the Sengoku period in 1584 by Hōjō Ujiteru, but was destroyed in 1590 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During the Edo period, the area was tenryō controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate. In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Minamitama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. The town of Hachiōji was created on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Minaitama District was transferred to the administrative control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. Hachiōji gained city status on September 1, 1917.

During the 1964 Summer Olympics, the city played host to the road cycling events. A velodrome in the city played host to the track cycling events.[6]

Hachiōji became a Core city on April 1, 2015 with increased local autonomy.

Hachiōji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 40 members, whose members are elected for a four-year term. Hachiōji contributes five members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Tokyo 21st district and Tokyo 24th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

During the Meiji period, Hachiōji prospered as an important location for the production of silk and silk textiles. The industry faded away, however, in the 1960s. Today, Hachiōji mainly serves as a commuter town for people working in Tokyo, and as a location for many large colleges and universities.

• Kaohsiung, Taiwan[8] - friendship city since November 1, 2006
• Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea[8] - friendship city since November 7, 2006
• Tai'an, Shandong, People's Republic of China[8] - friendship city since September 23, 2006

Hachioji stretches over a large area, combining such diverse parts as the densely populated city center and its shopping district with the hardly populated rural areas in the west.

• Mt. Takao (599 m) is a popular hiking destination in the southwest, easily accessible through the Keiō Takao Line. It is famous for the Shingon Buddhist temple Takao-san Yakuōin Yūkiji (高尾山薬王院有喜寺).
• Mt. Jinba (855 m) is more difficult to reach, requiring a one-hour bus ride from the city center. It is popular, however, because of the scenic view toward Mt. Fuji.
• Tama Forest Science Garden
• Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
• Kamiyugi Park Baseball Field
• Kamiyugi Park Athletic Stadium
• Musashi Imperial Graveyard houses the remains of the Taishō and Shōwa emperors.
• Takiyama Castle, A castle ruin in the Sengoku period, one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles.[9]
• Hachiōji Castle, A castle ruin in the Sengoku period, one of the Japan's Top 100 Castles.

• 
  Mt. Takao
• 
  Shōwa emperor's grave
• 
  Taishō emperor's grave
• 
  Reconstructed bridge of Takiyama Castle
• 
  Stone wall and gate of Hachiōji Castle

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hachioji, Tokyo.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hachioji.

• Hachiōji City Official Website (in Japanese)