Ichinomiya, Chiba
Geography. Ichinomiya is located in the eastern part of Chiba prefecture, about 35 kilometers from the prefectural capital at Chiba and 60 to 70 kilometers from central Tokyo. Facing the Pacific Ocean coast of central Bōsō Peninsula, the eastern part of the town includes a section of the popular Kujūkuri Beach, whereas the western part is in the Bōsō Hill Range with long and deep valleys extend into the forest, and there are scattered ponds for agricultural water.The Ichinomiya River crosses the north from east to west and flows into the Pacific Ocean. The highest elevations in  the town are at Mount Shiroyama , a former castle site, Mount Takafuji , and Mount Gundari . Neighboring municipalities. Chiba Prefecture Climate. Ichinomiya has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen "Cfa") characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ichinomiya is 15.4 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1717 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.8 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Ichinomiya been growing over the past 20  years. History. The area of present-day Ichinomiya has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The area takes its name from the Tamasaki Shrine, the "Ichinomiya," or first shrine of Kazusa Province. During the Sengoku period, the Satomi clan, the virtually independent rulers of the Bōsō Peninsula, established a castle at Ichinomiya. The area was devastated by the 1703 Genroku earthquake, during which a tsunami extended 1.5 kilometers inland from the coast. During the Edo period, a 13,000 "koku" feudal domain called Ichinomiya Domain ruled the area. After the start of the Meiji period, the area rapidly developed as a summer  health resort, with many noted politicians, military figures, artists and writers establishing summer residences. Ichinomiya Town was created within Chōsei District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Ichinomiya merged with the neighboring village of Torami on November 3, 1953. Government. Ichinomiya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Together with the other municipalities in Chōsei District, Ichinomiya contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Chiba 11th district of the lower  house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. The primary industry of Ichinomiya is specialized agriculture, with concentration on tomato, melons and fruits. The tourist and resort industry is also a major component of the local economy. The town is also located within the Minami Kantō gas field, and extraction of natural gas contributes to the local economy. Education. Ichinomiya has two public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Chiba Prefecture Board of Education. The prefectural also operates one special education school for the handicapped . Transportation. Railway. JR East – Sotobo Line