is a
city in the eastern part of
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture an ...
, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 183,930 in 72,949 households, and a population density of 1,141 persons per km
2. The total area of the city is . Toyokawa, famous for its
Toyokawa Inari
, popularly known as Toyokawa Inari (''shinjitai'': 豊川稲荷; ''kyūjitai'': 豐川稲荷), is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Although the temple's main image is that of the ...
temple, is blessed with a good balance of industry, commerce, agriculture and forestry, and is situated in an area rich in history, traditions, and culture.
Geography
Toyokawa is located in an area of rolling hills in southeastern Aichi Prefecture. It has a short coastline with
Mikawa Bay
Mikawa Bay (Landsat photo)
Mikawa Bay (三河湾 ''Mikawa-wan'') is a bay to the south of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, surrounded by Chita Peninsula to the west and Atsumi Peninsula
is a peninsula in southern Aichi Prefecture, central Honsh ...
.
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 Toyokawa is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1751 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.8 °C.
Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Toyokawa has been increasing over the past 60 years.
Surrounding municipalities
;
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture an ...
*
Toyohashi
is a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 377,453 in 160,516 households and a population density of 1,400 persons per km2. The total area of the city was . By area, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-lar ...
*
Okazaki
*
Shinshiro
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 44,581 in 17,691 households, and a population density of 89.3 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Shinshiro is located in east-cent ...
*
Gamagōri
History
Origins
The area of modern Toyokawa was settled in prehistoric times. During the
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from CE 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for a five-year period (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capi ...
, the
kokubunji of
Mikawa Province was established in 741.
Middle Ages
Muromachi Period
The temple of
Toyokawa Inari
, popularly known as Toyokawa Inari (''shinjitai'': 豊川稲荷; ''kyūjitai'': 豐川稲荷), is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Although the temple's main image is that of the ...
, a popular pilgrimage destination, dates from 1441.
Sengoku Period
A number of ''
daimyō'' clans under the
Tokugawa shogunate originate in what are now parts of Toyokawa, most notably the
Makino clan.
Early modern period
Edo Period
The area prospered during the
Edo period with two
post towns along the
Tōkaidō,
Goyu-shuku and
Akasaka.
Late modern period
Meiji Period
After the
Meiji Restoration, on October 1, 1889, several villages were organized with the establishment of the modern municipalities system within
Hoi District,
Aichi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefecture an ...
, including Toyokawa Village.
On March 13, 1893, Toyokawa was promoted to town status.
Showa Period
Toyokawa City was founded on June 1, 1943, by the merger of Toyokawa town with neighboring Ushikubo Town and Yawata Village, all from Hoi District.
In 1939 the massive
Toyokawa Naval Arsenal The was a major production facility for aviation ordnance, light arms, and ammunitions for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was located in what is now part of the city of Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was one of the large ...
was established, one of the largest producers of machine guns, aviation ordnance and ammunition in the
Empire of Japan.
It was also had sections that produced
military-issue ''katana'',
bayonet
A bayonet (from French ) is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on the end of the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar firearm, allowing it to be used as a spear-like weapon.Brayley, Martin, ''Bayonets: An Illustra ...
s, and glass lenses for use in cameras, binoculars, and similar equipment.
During
World War II, many thousands of civilians were conscripted or volunteered to work at the Arsenal, and towards the end of the war, this workforce included hundreds of middle school students and high school girls.
On August 7, 1945, the Toyokawa Naval Arsenal was targeted by a flight of B-29 bombers.
About 2,500 people were killed during the
Toyokawa Air Raid.
Toyokawa was one of the last places to be targeted using conventional explosive and incendiary bombs in the closing days of World War II, occurring the day after
Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb.
[''Air War Pacific Chronology: America's Air War Against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941–1945'' by Eric Hammel, (Pacifica, CA: Pacifica Press, 1988, )]
Contemporary history
After WWII
After the war, on April 12, 1955, Toyokawa annexed Mikami village from
Yana District. This was followed by the neighboring town of Goyu from Hoi District on April 1, 1959. Toyokawa further expanded on February 1, 2006, by annexing
Ichinomiya
is a Japanese historical term referring to the Shinto shrines with the highest rank in a province. Shrines of lower rank were designated , , , and so forth. ''Encyclopedia of Shinto'' ''Ichi no miya'' retrieved 2013-5-14.
The term gave rise ...
, On January 15, 2008, the towns of
Otowa and
Mito
Mito may refer to:
Places
*Mito, Ibaraki, capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
*Mito, Aichi, a Japanese town
*Mito, Shimane, a Japanese town
* Mitō, Yamaguchi, a Japanese town
* Mito District, a district in the province of Concepción, Per ...
became part of Toyokawa, and finally on February 1, 2010, the town of
Kozakai likewise was merged into Toyokawa City.
File:Toga Shrine (main hall 2).jpg, Toga Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is the ''ichinomiya'' of former Mikawa Province. The main festival of the shrine is held annually from May 3 to May 5. Located on the borderland of Aichi with Shizuo ...
File:Toyokawa Inari (Hatsumoude).jpg, Toyokawa Inari
, popularly known as Toyokawa Inari (''shinjitai'': 豊川稲荷; ''kyūjitai'': 豐川稲荷), is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Although the temple's main image is that of the ...
File:Ruins of the Ina Castle 1.jpg, Ina Castle
File:GoyuMatsunamiki Sidewalk.jpg, Goyu-shuku
File:Oohasiya Inn.jpg, Akasaka-juku (Tōkaidō)
was the thirty-sixth of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in present-day Toyokawa, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It was only from Goyu-juku, the preceding post station.
History
Along with the preceding Yoshida-juku and G ...
File:Toyokawatezutsu.jpg, Toyokawa Tezutsu Fireworks Festival
File:Toyokawa Air Raid memorial.jpg, Memorial to the victims of the Toyokawa Air Raid
Government
Toyokawa has a
mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a
unicameral city legislature of 30 members. The city contributes one member to the Aichi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 8 of the
lower house of the
Diet of Japan.
Military facilities
*
JGSDF Camp Toyokawa
External relations
Twin towns/sister cities
International
;Sister cities
*
Cupertino, California(California, United States of America)
**since, 1978
;Friendship city
*
Xinwu District(
Wuxi, Jiangsu, China)
**since April 15, 2009
Education
Toyokawa has 26 public elementary schools and 10 public junior high schools operated by the city government, and five public high schools operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
Transportation
Railways
Conventional lines
;
Central Japan Railway Company
*
Tōkaidō Main Line
The is a major Japanese railway line of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) network, connecting and stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities. The high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen largely parallel ...
:- – –
*
Iida Line
The is a Japanese railway line connecting Toyohashi Station in Toyohashi, Aichi with Tatsuno Station in Tatsuno, Nagano, operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). The line links eastern Aichi Prefecture and southern Nagano Pref ...
:- – – – – – – –
;
Meitetsu
*
Nagoya Main Line:- – – – – – –
*
Toyokawa Line:- – – – –
Roads
Expressways
*
Tōmei Expressway
The is a national expressway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It is operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company. The expressway is designated as E1 under the "2016 Proposal for Realization of Expressway Numbering", because it parallels Nat ...
Japan National Route
*
*
*
*
*
Seaways
Seaport
*Port of Mito(Port of Mikawa)
Local attractions
;Castles
*Ina Castle
*Makino Castle
*Ushikubo Castle
;Temples
*
Toyokawa Inari
, popularly known as Toyokawa Inari (''shinjitai'': 豊川稲荷; ''kyūjitai'': 豐川稲荷), is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Although the temple's main image is that of the ...
– noted Buddhist temple
*
Mikawa Kokubun-ji
;Shrines
*
Toga Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in the city of Toyokawa in eastern Aichi Prefecture, Japan. It is the ''ichinomiya'' of former Mikawa Province. The main festival of the shrine is held annually from May 3 to May 5. Located on the borderland of Aichi with Shizuo ...
– ''
ichinomiya
is a Japanese historical term referring to the Shinto shrines with the highest rank in a province. Shrines of lower rank were designated , , , and so forth. ''Encyclopedia of Shinto'' ''Ichi no miya'' retrieved 2013-5-14.
The term gave rise ...
'' of Mikawa Province
Notable people from Toyokawa
*
Atsuya Ota,
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player
*
Yuka Kato
is a Japanese butterfly swimmer
Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive s ...
, Olympic swimmer
*
Gakuto Kondo, professional soccer player
*
Masahiko Morifuku
is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning '' ...
,
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
player
*
Sion Sono
Sion may refer to
* an alternative transliteration of Zion
People
* Sion (name) or Siôn, a Welsh and other given name and surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name
* Shion or Sion, a Japanese given name
Pla ...
, movie director
*
Yukinari Sugawara
is a Japanese professional footballer who plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie.
Club career Nagoya Grampus
Sugawara made his debut for Nagoya Grampus on 24 February 2018, the opening day of the 2018 season in a match against Gamba Osaka. In d ...
, professional soccer player
*
Yamamoto Kansuke, Japanese
Samurai of the
Sengoku period
*
Yusuke Yamamoto, Japanese Actor
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Cities in Aichi Prefecture
Populated coastal places in Japan