Fuchū (府中市, Fuchū-shi) is a city located in Tokyo Metropolis, in the central Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 260,895 and a population density of 8860 persons per km². Its total area was 29.43 square kilometres (11.36 sq mi).
The government of ancient Musashi Province was established in Fuchū by the Taika Reform, and the city prospered as the local center of politics, economy, and culture. It prospered as a post town on the Kōshū Kaidō in the Edo period, and the Kita Tama District public office was placed here after the start of the Meiji era.
Fuchū is located approximately 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 Musashino side of Musashino Plateau; the region between is the Tachikawa side of the Musashino Plateau. The cliffs are called hake in the local dialect. The Nogawa river, a tributary of the Tama River, grazes the northeast end of the city.
Tokyo Metropolis
Kokubunji
Koganei
Chōfu
Inagi
Tama
Hino
Kunitachi
645: With the Taika Reforms of the government of Musashi Province was established in Fuchū.
1333: The Battle of Bubaigawara was fought.
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.
1871: Establishment of the prefectural system. Parts of the city were transferred to Kanagawa Prefecture by the next year step by step.
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.
1922: Tama Railroad (present Seibu Tamagawa Line) is opened for traffic.
1925: Gyokunan Electric Railroad (part of the present Keiō Line) opened for traffic.
1929: Nanbu Railroad (present JR East Nambu 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.
Keio Corporation - Keiō Line
Musashinodai - Tama-Reien - Higashi-Fuchū - Fuchū - Bubaigawara - Nakagawara
Keio Corporation - Keiō Keibajō Line
Higashi-Fuchū - Fuchūkeibaseimonmae
JR East - Nambu Line
Fuchū-Hommachi - Bubaigawara - Nishifu
JR East - Musashino Line
Fuchū-Hommachi - Kita-Fuchū
Seibu Railway - Seibu Tamagawa Line
Tama - Shiraitodai - Kyōteijō-mae - Koremasa
Most bus routes in the city start at Fuchū Station. Other routes start at Tama-Reien Station, Higashi-Fuchū Station, Bubaigawara Station, Nakagawara Station, Tama Station, Koremasa Station, or Seisekisakuragaoka Station.
Chūō Expressway
Inagi Interchange (3.1; limited interchange)
Kunitachi Fuchū Interchange (4)
Fuchu Smart On/offrmap (under construction)
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.
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
Colleges and universities
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Primary and secondary education
Fuchū has five public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education, and one private combined middle/high school.
Fuchu High School
Fuchu-Higashi High School
Fuchu-Nishi High School
Fuchu Technical High School
Nogyo High School
Meitei Junior/Senior High School (private)
The city also has 11 public middle schools and 22 public and two private elementary schools, in addition to three special education schools.
Kyodo no mori open-air museum and park
Tokyo Racecourse hosts numerous G1 (Grade 1) races.
Ōkunitama Shrine
Fuchū Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is located here.
Fuchū is also home to Fuchu Prison, one of Japan's largest prisons
Suntory Sungoliath - a rugby team based in Fuchū
Toshiba Brave Lupus - a rugby team based in Fuchū
Toshiba Fuchu S.C. (TFSC) - a football club based in Fuchū
Fuchū was part of the route used for the athletic 50 kilometer walk and marathon events at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Shinnosuke Furumoto - voice actor
Kazunari Hosaka - professional soccer player
Jun Ichikawa - director
Rei Igarashi - voice actress
Tomomi Kasai - idol singer
Osamu Kobayashi - anime director
Tetsuya Komuro - musician
Kuroda Kan'ichi - Marxist politician
Seiji Mizushima - anime director
Homare Sawa - professional women's soccer player
Taro Sekiguchi - motorcycle racer
Kunihiko Takizawa - professional soccer player
Wakatoba Hiromi - sumo wrestler
Kaidō Yasuhiro - sumo wrestler
Naoki Urasawa - manga artist
Sakuho, Nagano, Japan
Hernals, Vienna, Austria
