Machida, Tokyo

Machida (町田市, Machida-shi) is a city located in the western portion of the Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 April 2021, 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 71.80 square kilometres (27.72 sq mi). 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 (elevation 364 meters) 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 Kanagawa Prefecture Kawasaki Sagamihara Yamato Yokohama Tokyo Metropolis Hachiōji Tama Climate Machida has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) 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 Tokichiro Aoyama (1958–1970, 3 terms) Katsumasa Oshita (1970–1990, 5 terms) Kazuo Terada (1990–2006, 4 terms) Joichi Ishizaka (2006–present, 4th term incumbent) Education Universities and colleges 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 (ゆくのき学園) - For elementary, it occupies Oto Elementary (大戸小学校). For junior high, it occupies Musashigaoka Junior High School (武蔵岡中学校) Municipal junior high schools: Municipal elementary schools: 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 West Tokyo Korean 2nd Elementary School - North Korean school Transportation Railway Odakyu Electric Railway - Odakyu Odawara Line Machida - Tamagawagakuen-mae - Tsurukawa Tokyu Corporation - Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line Minami-machida Grandberry Park - Suzukakedai - Tsukushino JR East JR East - Yokohama Line Aihara - <Hashimoto - Sagamihara - Yabe - Fuchinobe - Kobuchi> - Machida - Naruse Keio Corporation - Keiō Sagamihara Line Tamasakai Highway Tōmei Expressway National Route 16 National Route 246 Notable people from Machida Aoba Fujino, football player Yū Kobayashi, football player Taiten Kusunoki, voice actor Ami Onuki, half of the J-pop group Puffy Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokémon; based Pallet Town on this town in the original Pokémon Red and Blue Masashi Takeda, Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist Megumi Toyoguchi, voice actress Local attractions Buaisō museum, former residence of the Shirasu family Grandberry Park (Grandberry Mall closed in Feb 2017, redeveloped and re-opened in November 2019) Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts Machida Squirrel Garden Tadao Park Snoopy Museum Sports F.C. Machida Zelvia, a football club based in Machida Pescadola Machida, a futsal club based in Machida References External links Media related to Machida, Tokyo at Wikimedia Commons Machida travel guide from Wikivoyage Machida City Official Website (in Japanese)