Machida, Tokyo


Machida is a city located in the western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 428,851, and a population density of 6,000 persons per km2. The total area of the city was.
Due to geographical and other reasons, Machida is often regarded as having more connection to Kanagawa Prefecture than to Tokyo Metropolis, to which it administratively belongs.

Geography

Machida is located in the Tama Hills of southern Tokyo Metropolis, bordered by Kanagawa Prefecture on the west, south, and east approximately 40 to 50 kilometers from the center of Tokyo. The highest point is Mount Kusato at the western end. There are few flatlands near Machida Station, the Sakai River flows to the west and south, and the Tsurumi River flows almost in the center of the city.

Surrounding municipalities

  • Kawasaki
  • Sagamihara
  • Yamato
  • Yokohama
Tokyo Metropolis
  • Hachiōji
  • Tama

    Climate

Machida has a humid subtropical climate characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Machida is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1621 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Machida has seen consistent but uneven growth over the past century.

History

The area of present-day Machida was part of ancient Musashi Province. In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Minamitama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. The village of Machida was created on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of modern municipalities system. Minamitama District was transferred to the administrative control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. Tama was elevated to town status on April 1, 1913. The town was bombed by American forces on May 24, 1945, during World War II.
Machida expanded through annexation of the neighboring village of Minami on April 1, 1954, followed by the villages of Tsurukawa, Tadao and Sakai on February 1, 1958, to become the city of Machida. A USMC RF-8A crashed in a residential area Machida on April 1, 1964, killing four people. From 1973, the Tama New Town development resulted in a rapid increase in population, turning the city into a bedroom community for Tokyo and Yokohama.

Government

Machida has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 36 members, whose members are elected for a four-year term. Machida contributes four members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokyo 23rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Mayors

  1. Tokichiro Aoyama
  2. Katsumasa Oshita
  3. Kazuo Terada
  4. Joichi Ishizaka

    Education

Universities and colleges

  • J. F. Oberlin University
  • Kokushikan University
  • Showa Pharmaceutical University
  • Tamagawa University
  • Tokyo Kasei-Gakuin University
  • Tokyo Jogakkan College
  • Hosei University - Machida campus
  • Wako University
  • Tsurukawa Women's Junior College

    Primary and secondary education

Machida has seven public high schools operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education, including:
The Machida city government operates 20 public junior high schools and 42 elementary schools.
Combined municipal elementary and junior high schools:
  • Yukinoki Gakuen - For elementary, it occupies Oto Elementary. For junior high, it occupies Musashigaoka Junior High School
Municipal junior high schools:
  • Kanai
  • Kiso
  • Machida No. 1
  • Machida No. 2
  • Machida No. 3
  • Minami
  • Minaminaruse
  • Minamiotani
  • Narusedai
  • Oyama
  • Oyamada
  • Sakai
  • Shinkoji
  • Tadao
  • Tsukushino
  • Tsurukawa
  • Tsurukawa No. 2
  • Yakushi
  • Yamasaki
Municipal elementary schools:
  • Aihara
  • Fujinodai
  • Honmachida
  • Honmachida Higashi
  • Kanai
  • Kiso Sakaigawa
  • Kogasaka
  • Machida No. 1
  • Machida No. 2
  • Machida No. 3
  • Machida No. 4
  • Machida No. 5
  • Machida No. 6
  • Minami No. 1
  • Minami No. 2
  • Minami No. 3
  • Minami No. 4
  • Minaminaruse
  • Minamioya
  • Minami Tsukushino
  • Miwa
  • Nanakuniyama
  • Naruse Chuo
  • Narusedai
  • Ogawa
  • Okura
  • Oyama
  • Oyama Chuo
  • Oyamada
  • Oyamada Minami
  • Oyama Gaoka
  • Tadao
  • Tadao No. 3
  • Takagasaka
  • Tsukushino
  • Tsurukawa No. 1
  • Tsurukawa No. 2
  • Tsurukawa No. 3
  • Tsurukawa No. 4
  • Tsuruma
  • Yamazaki
  • Zushi
The city also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
There are also seven private high schools, including:
There are also five private junior high schools and three private elementary schools.
;International schools

Railway

- Odakyu Odawara Line
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30px Tokyu Corporation - Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line
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JR East JR East - Yokohama Line
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40px Keio Corporation - Keiō Sagamihara Line