Fujinomiya, Shizuoka

Fujinomiya(富士宮市,Fujinomiya-shi)is acitylocated in centralShizuoka Prefecture,Japan. As of 1 July 2019,  the city had an estimatedpopulationof 132,507 in 56,655 households,and apopulation densityof 340 persons per km². The total area of the city is 388.99 square kilometres (150.19 sq mi).
The city name comes from the former shrine name ofFujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha, "Fujinomiya".It is an ancient settlement that developed as a prosperoustoriimae-machi(town in front oftorii) of Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha, where theFuji clanserved as thehigh priestof the shrine. Nearby is the sanctuary ofTaiseki-jitemple, founded in 1290 byNikkō Shōninas the headquarters ofNichiren ShōshūBuddhism.
Fujinomiya is closely related to Mount Fuji,and was located in the crossroad of Ōmiya and Murayamaguchi mountain pilgrimage trails. During theKamakura period, the hunting eventFuji no Makigariarranged byshogunMinamoto no Yoritomowas held in the ancient region ofFujino, where theRevenge of the Soga Brothersincident also took place. These events were disseminated as historical materials such asŌrai Mono(historical primary education textbooks created mainly in the form of letters), and as the subject of entertainment such askabuki,noh, andjōruri.
Fujinomiya was apost town(fortified during theSengoku period) on the primary route connecting Suruga withKai Province. During theEdo period, the area wastenryōterritory under direct control of theTokugawa shogunate. British consul SirRutherford Alcockmade the first recorded ascent on Mount Fuji by a non-Japanese person from Fujinomiya in 1860. During the cadastral reform of the earlyMeiji periodin 1889, the area was reorganized into Omiya Town and eight villages withFuji District, Shizuoka.
On 1 June 1942, the modern city was established with the merger of Omiya town with neighboring Fujioka village. The city expanded by annexing neighboring Fujine village in 1955, and Kitayama, Shiraito, Kamiide and Ueno villages in 1956.
From 1987,Aum Shinrikyohad their headquarters in the city.
The most recent merger was on 23 March 2010, when the town ofShibakawa(fromFuji District) was merged into Fujinomiya.
Fujinomiya is located in central Shizuoka Prefecture on an upland plateau on the foothills and lower slopes of Mount Fuji, with an altitude ranging from 35 to 3,336 m (115 to 10,945 ft). The average temperature is 15.6 °C (60.1 °F). Much of the city lies within the borders ofFuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.  Fujinomiya is known as one of the main starting points for climbing trips toMount Fuji, the summit of which is partly within the borders of the city. As with most of Shizuoka Prefecture, the area enjoys a warm maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classificationCfa).  The average annual temperature in Fujinomiya is 14.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1881 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 4.4 °C.
Per Japanese census data,the population of Fujinomiya has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.
Fujinomiya has amayor-councilform of government with a directly elected mayor and aunicameralcity legislature of 22 members.
Fujinomiya is an industrial center within Shizuoka Prefecture, traditionally with a heavy emphasis on thepaper industry. Other manufacturing industries include rotating equipment, automotive parts, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Fujinomiya has 21 public elementary schools and 13 public junior high schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private junior school, and two private high schools. The prefectural Shizuoka Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry College is also located in Fujinomiya.