Updated:February 15, 2024

OUTLINE OF FUJISAWA CITY

FUJISAWA CITY

Fujisawa City lies in the center of the Japanese Archipelago and is a city facing the Pacific Ocean that is washed by its warm Black Current. Located in the central part of Kanagawa Prefecture adjoining western Tokyo, Fujisawa is a cultural city with a population of approximately 440,000 and is endowed with all facets of housing, industry, agriculture, commerce, tourism and education. It is conveniently placed about 51km from Tokyo Station on the Tokaido train line and 56km from Shinjuku on the Odakyu train line. In the northern part of the city, the Sagami Plateau, which was formed by the activity of the Fuji volcanic zone about 400,000 years ago, extends into gentle hills that rise to an elevation of 40 to 50 meters. In the south, lie the alluvial lowlands of the Shonan dunes, which has an area of 69.56km2 extending 12km north to south and 6.5km east to west. The Sakai and Hikiji rivers run north to south through this long and narrow land, where eventually their waters empty into Sagami Bay.

Summer at Katase and Kugenuma Beaches

The warm current of Sagami Bay ensures a pleasantly comfortable environment with warm winters and cool summers that attract many people. The city was formed in the distant past of Japan’s middle ages as a temple town built around Yugyoji Temple and in more recent history, as a staging post along the Tokaido Road. Enoshima Island in particular, enshrines Benzaiten (the Indian goddess Sarasvati) is visited by people from all over Japan as a beautiful sightseeing spot and a place of worship. In order to meet the needs of the urban problems such as global environment, information-oriented society, internationalization, the low birth rate, and the ageing of society, Fujisawa is continually improving upon the environment and a solid welfare system for its citizens, while standing as the progressive center for the Shonan area.