Toyama (city)
Toyama is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about north of the city of Nagoya and northwest of Tokyo., the city had an estimated population of 415,844 in 176,643 households, and a population density of 335 persons per km2. Its total area was. The city has been designated an environmental model city by the national government for its efforts to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Geography
Located in the middle of its prefecture, Toyama is a seaside city by the coast of the Sea of Japan. Its municipal territory borders with the Gifu Prefecture and with the municipalities of Imizu, Namerikawa, Tonami, Nanto, Hida and Takayama.The nearest towns are Imizu, and Namerikawa, both by the sea and part of the Toyama urban area. The nearest major city is Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, which is away.
Climate
Toyama has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, particularly in July, September and from November through January. Despite winter in Toyama being relatively mild, its position near the Sea of Japan places it within the heavy snow belt of Japan and on average of snow falls each season, almost all of it from December through March, as well as occasionally experiencing some tremendous amounts of snowfall.History
Early history
The area of present-day Toyama city was part of ancient Etchū Province.The Toyama Plain is good farmland and historically it was a point of strategic and traffic importance since prehistoric times.
Feudal period
During the Sengoku period, it was frequently a battlefield, coming under the control of warlord Sassa Narimasa, who built a castle town around Toyama Castle and channeled rivers to bringing about a flourishing agricultural industry.Early modern ages
;Edo periodThe area subsequently became part of Kaga Domain under the Maeda clan during the Edo period, during which time a positive industrial promotion policy was implemented on the production of Chinese medicine and washi.
Also, thanks to the improvement of kitamaebune sea transportation routes, these industries thrived and Toyama became known nationwide as the province of medicine.
Meiji period
After the Meiji Restoration, with the creation of the municipalities system, the city of Toyama was established on April 1, 1889, as one of the first 30 cities in Japan. Economically, the area developed heavy and chemical industries based on abundant hydroelectric electricity.Toyama has become one of the most influential cities on the Sea of Japan with its good water supply, drainage system and thriving agricultural, forestry, fishery, commercial and manufacturing industries.
World War II
During World War II, Allied prisoners of war (POWs) were sent to Toyama as forced labor. The city was almost completely destroyed on the night of August 1–2, 1945. At the time of the bombing, the city was a center for aluminum, ball-bearing and special steel production. Left unscathed however, were the war-related factories just outside the city. The city during the time had a population of around 150,000 residents. The city also held Kakure Kirishitan, or "Hidden Christians" in Japan, forced from Nagasaki into internment camps after the Tokugawa government tried to punish them for their Christian beliefs.Contemporary ages
2005 mergers
On April 1, 2005, the towns of Ōsawano and Ōyama, the towns of Fuchū and Yatsuo, and the villages of Hosoiri and Yamada were merged into Toyama. Kaminiikawa District and Nei District were both dissolved as a result of this merger.Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Toyama has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.Surrounding municipalities
;Gifu Prefecture;Nagano Prefecture
;Toyama Prefecture
Toyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 38 members.
Sister cities
Toyama is twinned with:| City | Country | State | Since |
| Mogi das Cruzes |  Economy, the regional power-supply monopoly, is based in Toyama. Bearing parts and industrial robot company Nachi-Fujikoshi and software company are also headquartered in Toyama.Regional banks include Hokuriku Bank, First Bank of Toyama, and Toyama Bank. EducationColleges and universities
TransportationAirwaysAirports
High-speed rail;West Japan Railway Company
; Ainokaze Toyama Railway
Expressway
Seaport
Festivals and events
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