260px, Chiba Gas LNG storage tank in Tomisato is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

located in Chiba Prefecture,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. , the city had an estimated population of 49,914 in 23,753 households and a population density of 930 persons per km². The total area of the city is .

Geography

Tomisato is located in the northern center of Chiba prefecture, about 25 kilometers from the prefectural capital at

Chiba Chiba may refer to: Places China * (), town in Jianli County, Jingzhou, Hubei Japan * Chiba (city), capital of Chiba Prefecture ** Chiba Station, a train station * Chiba Prefecture, a sub-national jurisdiction in the Greater Tokyo Area on ...

, and 50 to 60 kilometers from central Tokyo. It is also within 5 kilometers of

Narita International Airport Narita International Airport ( ja, 成田国際空港, Narita Kokusai Kūkō) , also known as Tokyo-Narita, formerly and originally known as , is one of two international airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area, the other one being Haneda Airport ...

Neighboring municipalities

Chiba Prefecture * Narita *

Yachimata 260px, Peanut fields in Yachimata is a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 68,769 in 32,118 households and a population density of 920 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Yachimata ...

* Shisui * Shibayama *

Sanmu 260px, Hasunuma Seaside Park is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 50,321 in 22,397 households and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Geography Sanmu is located in the ...

Climate

Tomisato has a

Humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tomisato is 14.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1475 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,Tomisato population statistics
/ref> the population of Tomisato has increased significantly since 1970.

History

During the Edo period, Tomisato was part of Shimōsa Province and was an area where the Tokugawa Shogunate had numerous ranches for raising horse. After the Meiji restoration, Tomisato Village was founded on April 1, 1889 within Inba District, Chiba Prefecture with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, and the government encouraged the settlement of the area by farmers. During the 1960s and 1970s, the village was the center of the Sanrizuka Struggle against the construction of the Narita International Airport. After then airport was completed, the population of the village grew rapidly. On April 1, 1985 it was elevated to town status, and later was elevated to city status on April 1, 2002.

Government

Tomisato has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Tomisato contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 13th district of the

lower house A lower house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house. Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide, the lower house has co ...

of the

Diet of Japan The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...

Economy

Tomisato is a regional commercial center whose economy is primarily agricultural. About 68% or more of the area is forest and farmland, and about 14% is residential area. The main crops are rice and watermelons. The city is also a bedroom community for workers at Narita Airport, with a commuting rate to Narita city of 27.5% (2010 census).

Education

Tomisato has eight public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

Railway

Tomisato itself is not currently served by passenger railway stations. The Narita Railway Company's Yachimata Line operated from 1914 to 1940. However, Narita Station and Keisei Narita Station in central Narita are both adjacent the Tomisato border.