As of 1 April 2021[update], the city had an estimated population of 260,508, and a population density of 8,900 persons per square kilometer.[1] The total area of the city is 29.43 square kilometres (11.36 sq mi).
Geography
Fuchū is located about 20 km west of the centre of Tokyo. Using the Keiō Line from Shinjuku, it is 25 minutes to Fuchū Station (main station). It spreads across the Musashino Terrace on the left bank of the Tama River, facing the Tama hills on the opposite shore. The Tama River flows through the southernmost end of the city from west to east. The Kokubunji cliff runs west to east along the north; the Fuchū cliff runs west to east through the center of the city. The former has a height of 10 to 15 m, and the latter, 10 to 20 m. Sengenyama with an altitude of 79 m is in the northeast part, and the height from the foot is about 30 m. The region is mostly flatland. To the south of the Fuchū cliff is the Tama River lowlands while to the north of the Kokubunji cliff is the Richa-spencu side of Richa-spencu Plateau; the region between is the Tachikawa side of the Richa-spencu Plateau. The cliffs are called hake in the local dialect. The Nogaysa river, a tributary of the Tama River, grazes the northeast end of the city.
Fuchū has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Fuchū is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1647 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.6 °C.[2]
Climate data for Fuchū, Tokyo (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Fuchū increased rapidly in the mid-20th century and has continued to grow at a slower pace in the decades since.
1602: The Fuchū post-town was established with the upgrading of the Kōshū-dochu road (Kōshū Highway).
1868: Nirayama Prefecture was established, and the southwest part of the city region becomes part of it. The remainder was under the jurisdiction of the Musashi prefectural governor.
1869: Shinagawa Prefecture was established, and except for the southwest part, the city becomes part of the prefecture.
1878: Tama District of Kanagawa Prefecture was divided into three districts: North Tama, South Tama, West Tama, and one district in Tokyo Prefecture: East Tama. The city region became part of North Tama District, whose district offices were established in the city.
1880: Four towns and one village of the central area of the city region merged into Fuchū-eki.
1889: Eight villages of the eastern area of city region merged into Tama Village, and three villages of the western area merged into Nishifu Village. Fuchū-eki reorganized as a town, without changing its name.
1893: Three Tama districts were admitted to Tokyo Prefecture. Fuchū-eki changed its name to Fuchū Town.
1910: The Tokyo Gravel Railroad (later JNR Shimogawara Line) is opened for traffic.
1913: Telephone service commenced.
1916: Keiō Electric Tram (part of present Keiō Line) opened for traffic.
1925: Gyokunan Electric Railroad (part of the present Keiō Line) opened for traffic.
1929: Nanbu Railroad (present JR EastNambu Line) opened for traffic.
1943: Tokyo Prefecture merged with Tokyo City, forming Tokyo-to.
1954 April 1: Fuchū Town, Tama Village, Nishifu Village merged into Fuchū City, with the structure of a city.
1956: New Kōshū Highway is opened for traffic between Higashi Fuchū and Honshūku.
1961: New Kōshū Highway is opened for traffic between Higashi Fuchū and Chōfu.
1968: The 300 million yen robbery occurred in Harumicho. This was the biggest robbery in the history of the nation.
1973: The Musashino Line opened for traffic. The Shimogawara Line closed.
Government
Fuchū has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 30 members. Fuchū contributes two members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokyo 18th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Chōfu Interchange (3) is not located in Fuchū city area, but serves the eastern half of city.
National highways
National Route 20 (Kōshū Highway); Chūō Expressway and Route 20 are parallel to Keiō Line Railway, and run east to west, connecting Fuchū and central Tokyo.
Prefectural roads
Tokyo Prefectural Route 9 Kawasaki Fuchu line Fuchū highway (also called the Kawasaki highway), Koremasa Bridge
Tokyo Prefectural Route 14 Shinjuku Kunitachi line Tohachi Road
Tokyo Prefectural Route 15 Fuchu; Kiyose line Koganei Highway
Tokyo Prefectural Route 17 Tokorozawa Fuchu line Fuchū Highway
Tokyo Prefectural Route 18 Fuchu Machida line Kamakura Highway, Sekido Bridge
Tokyo Prefectural Route 20 Fuchu Sagamihara Line Fuchū Yotsuya Bridge (Yaen Highway)
Tokyo Prefectural Route 110 Fuchu Mitaka line Hitomi Highway, Shin-Koganei Highway
Tokyo Prefectural Route 133 Ogawa Fuchu line Kokubunji Highway
Tokyo Prefectural Route 229 Fuchu Chōfu line Old Kōshū Highway
Tokyo Prefectural Route 245 Tachikawa Kokubunji Line Takikubo Dori
Tokyo Prefectural Route 247 Fuchu Koganei line (the section in Fuchū is unopened for traffic)
Tokyo Prefectural Route 248 Fuchu Kodaira line Shin-Koganei Highway
Local attractions
Baba Daimon Keyaki avenueOne of the giant drums for the Kurayami festival held at Okunitam Shrine every spring
^"International Exchange". List of Affiliation Partners within Prefectures. Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fuchu, Tokyo.