Sōsa

Sōsa
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 35,674 in 14,688 households and a population density of 350 persons per km². The total area of the city is .
Geography
Sōsa is located in far northeastern Chiba Prefecture. It is bordered to the north by the Pacific Ocean on the southwest. The land is mostly flat, and much is from 40 to 50 meters above sea level in average elevation.
The northern section, a mixture of valleys, ports and rice fields, consists of a plateau made up of complicated terrain and features. The southern half consists of flat terrain facing Kujūkuri Beach.
Through the center of the city runs both the Japan Railways (JR) Sōbu Main Line and Japan National Route 126, which run east-west. To the west of the center of Sosa is Japan National Route 296, which runs north-south.
Neighboring municipalities
Chiba Prefecture
Asahi
Tako
Katori
Yokoshibahikari
Climate
Sōsa has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Sōsa is 15.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1557 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.1 °C.
Demographics
Census statistics
History
Sōsa was founded on January 23, 2006 as a result of the merger between the former city of Yōkaichiba, and the former town of Nosaka (from Sōsa District).
A 8 December 1915
B 3 November 1948
C 31 March 1954
D 1 July 1954
E 17 July 1954
F 23 January 2006
Events
1 June 1897 – Yōkaichiba Station opened.
9 October 1946 – Service on Narita Railway Tako Line was discontinued.
1 April 1970 – Japan National Route 296 was opened.
23 January 2006 – Yōkaichiba City and Nosaka Town were merged to form Sōsa City.
Government
Sōsa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Sōsa contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Sōsa is a regional commercial center whose economy is primarily agricultural. Sōsa is well known for growing trees that are sold all over Japan.
Major retail
Shopping
Cainz Home Super Center, Yōkaichiba (Includes Beisia supermarket)
Ocean Mart 126 (shopping mall)...closed due to The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake
Financial institutions
Chiba Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
Chiba Industrial Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
Keiyo Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
Choshi Credit Union, Yōkaichiba Branch
Education
High schools
Sōsa Prefectural Public High School, Chiba Prefecture
Keiai University Yōkaichiba High School
Junior high schools
Yōkaichiba Public Junior High School No. 1
Yōkaichiba Public Junior High School No. 2
Nosaka Public Junior High School
Elementary schools
Heiwa Public Elementary School
Chinkai Public Elementary School
Yōkaichiba Public Elementary School
Sosa Public Elementary School
Toyosaka Public Elementary School
Suka Public Elementary School
Kyoko Public Elementary School
Yoshida Public Elementary School
Iidaka Public Elementary School
Toyowa Public Elementary School
Sakae Public Elementary School
Noda Public Elementary School
Transportation
Railway
JR East – Sōbu Main Line
–
Bus transportation
Municipal bus routes
Purple Line (to Toyosaka, Yoshida)
Pink (to Idaka, Sosa)
Orange (to Toyowa, Chinkai)
Yellow (to Heiwa, Kyoko)
Light Green (to Noda, Eastern-Suka)
Light Blue (to Sakae, Western- Suka)
Major bus companies
JR Bus Kanto Company
Chiba Kotsu
Highway bus
Yōkaichiba Bus Route (Tokyo Station – Sōsa City Hall)
Bus stops at the following areas:
Tokyo Station (Departing from Tokyo Station: Yaesu Entrance, Arriving at Tokyo Station: Nihonbashi Entrance)
Tomisato Bus Terminal
Tomisato Nanae Square
Radison Hotel
Sanrizuka Park
Jitaku (Residential) Entrance
Kuko Hakubutsukan (Aviation Museum)
Shiromasu
Somei
Tako
Tako Michi no Eki (Road Station)
Yoshida
JR Bus- Yōkaichiba Branch
JR Yōkaichiba Station
Sōsa City Hall
Choshi-Chiba-Makuhari Route
Bus stops at the following areas:
License (Menkyo) Center
JR Kaihimmakuhari Station
Chiba Minato Station (Monorail)
Chiba Central Station (Keisei)
JR Chiba Station
Chuo 3 Chome (Central District 3)
Matsuo-Yokoshiba IC (Highway Interchange)
Matsuo
Yokoshiba
Iigura
Yokaichiba
Sosa City Hall
JR Higata Station
Asahi
Unakami
Iioka Health and Welfare Center
Iioka
Kousoku Yagi
Kousoku Obama
Kousoku Misakicho
Toshiba
Jinyacho
Roadways
National highways
Prefectural roads
Main artery roads
Chiba Prefectural Road 16, Sawara – Yōkaichiba Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 30, Iioka – Ichinomiya Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 45, Yōkaichiba – Yachimata Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 48, Yōkaichiba – Nosaka Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 49, Yōkaichiba – Sakae Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 74, Tako – Sasamoto Line
General roads
Chiba Prefectural Road 104, Yokaichiba – Idono – Asahi Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 106, Yokaichiba – Sawara Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 109, Yokoshiba Depot – Yoshida Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 114, Yokaichiba – Yamada Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 122, Iioka – Katakai Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 149, Yōkaichiba – Fuma Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 212, Yōkaichiba Depot Line
Chiba Prefectural Road 299, Heiwa – Kyoko Line
Farm road
Toso Region Farm Roads
Area highways, toll roads
Choshi Renraku Road
Currently the above road is not within city limits, but according to plans, the Yōkaichiba IC (Interchange) is planned for construction. The plan is to extend the road from Yokoshiba-Hikari IC area toward the city of Choshi.
Places and events
Locations
Oio Shrine which dates back to Emperor Sujin Era, Year 7 (258 AD)
Iidaka Temple (known locally as “Iidaka Danrin (ato)”)
Chōtoku Temple
Chōfuku Temple (in Kawamukai area)
Shingon-Chisan, Buddhist Sect (Setsubun Buddhist Mass is held every new year)
Suka Eastern Orthodox Church
Exhibition and community areas
Matsuyama Art Museum
Fureai Koen (Park)- Yōkaichiba
Formally named the “Municipal and Agricultural Exchange Terminal Community Park of Yōkaichiba”, Sosa City established and controls this institution for the promotion of activity in local industry with the intention of exchange between the municipal and the agricultural parts of the city.
Horikawa-hama (Beach) Swimming Area
At a shoreline of roughly 150m, this beach area's waves are calm compared to nearby Kujukuri Beach.
Festivals
Odaka Hadaka Matsuri (early January)
Jinkumi Lion Dance (every January)
Yōkaichiba Bon Festival Dance
(Yaegaki Shrine) Gion Festival (every August 4 & 5)
Yokappe Festival (every October)
Notable people of Sōsa
Kan Kase (former member, Japanese National Diet)
Takeo Chii (actor, local promoter)
Nobuko Sakuma (actress, fashion model)
Arekisanda Oryō (Comedian)
Yumiko Kobayashi (voice actress)
Shigeya Iijima (baseball player, Japan professional league)
Masaru Uno (baseball player, Japan professional league)
Nichirō (Buddhist prelate, Kamakura Era)
References
External links
Official Website
Cities in Chiba Prefecture
Populated coastal places in Japan
Sōsa