Hayama, Kanagawa


[file:Morito Beach - Hayama.jpg|right|thumb|260px|Morito Beach]
Hayama is a town located in Kanagawa Prefecture, on central Honshū, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 32,961 and a population density of 1900 persons per km2. The total area of the town is. Since 1894, the Japanese Imperial Family has maintained a residence in Hayama, the seaside Hayama Imperial Villa.
WWW Official SiteFB hayama.shiosai

Geography

Hayama is located at the northern end of Miura Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean. Geographically, it is often cited as the easternmost point of the Shōnan region.

Surrounding municipalities

Kanagawa Prefecture

Climate

Hayama has a humid subtropical climate characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hayama is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1872 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 6.4 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hayama has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History

During the Edo period, all of eastern Sagami Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and administered by various hatamoto. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system the early Meiji period in April 1889, the area was reorganized into Hayama village through the merger of six hamlets. Hayama was elevated to town status in 1925.

Government

Hayama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members. Hayama, together with neighboring Zushi, contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Kanagawa 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Despite its lack of rail connections, Hayama is now primarily a commuter town for Tokyo and Yokohama and, due to its mild climate, a popular resort area with a marina. From the Meiji period it became a prestigious summer home location for the upper classes of Tokyo, partly due to the prestige of the Imperial villa. In the postwar period, its popularity continued with actors, artists and wealthy expatriates. Local agricultural produce includes shiitake mushrooms, and a brand of beef known as "Hayama-gyu".

Education

Hayama has four public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. In addition, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies's main administrative campus is hosted here.

Transportation

Railway

Hayama has no passenger rail service. The nearest train station is the Yokosuka Line Zushi Station or Keikyū Zushi Line Zushi·Hayama Station in neighboring Zushi.

Bus

Hayama has a bus service from Zushi provided by Keikyu.

YCAT

Hayama is also served by highway buses via YCAT to Yokohama.

Local Taxi Service

Taxi service also available from Zushi station.

Highway

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Sister cities

  • Kusatsu, Gunma, since March 1969
  • City of Holdfast Bay, Australia, since 1997; November 18, 2009, Holdfast Bay wrote a letter signed by their Deputy Mayor admonishing Hayama for Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean.

Local attractions

  • Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama
  • Hayama Marina
  • Hayama Port - a small fishing and recreational harbor.
  • Hayama Shiosai Park
  • Hayama Park - a seaside park in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture, formerly part of the grounds of the Hayama Imperial Villa. It offers scenic views of Sagami Bay and retains coastal pine forests and open lawns for recreation.
  • Yamaguchi Hoshun Memorial Museum - Yamaguchi Hōshun was a Japanese nihonga painter known for blending traditional Japanese techniques with Western styles.
  • Fudodo and Fudo Falls
  • Chōjagasaki - a scenic coastal cape on the west coast of the Miura Peninsula near Hayama in Kanagawa Prefecture, known for its views of Sagami Bay, Enoshima, the Izu Peninsula, and Mount Fuji.
  • Najima
  • Morito Shrine - a historic Shinto shrine in Hayama. According to tradition, it was founded in the 12th century when Minamoto no Yoritomo brought a spirit from Mishima Taisha to this location. It remains a popular place of worship and offers scenic views of Sagami Bay.
  • Moriyama Shrine - a historic Shinto shrine in Hayama, enshrining Kushinadahime no Mikoto, and traditionally founded in the Nara period. Several festivals and markets are held here during warmer months of the year.
  • Shopping Plaza HAYAMA STATION - is a shopping and specialty goods plaza in Hayama, Kanagawa Prefecture, featuring local produce, foods, souvenirs, and small retailers. Located close to the highway, this plaza serves both locals and visitors with a variety of shops and dining options.
  • Hayama Sangaoka Green Space - a green, forested park on the Miura Peninsula in Hayama, with hiking trails connecting a series of peaks and scenic views over Sagami Bay and, in clear weather, Mount Fuji.
  • Nagare Sakurayama Kofun Cluster -, located on a hill on the border of Zushi and Hayama. The site was discovered in 1999 and has been protected as a designated National Historic Site of Japan since 2002.

Notable people from Hayama, Kanagawa