Neha Patil (Editor)

Sōsa

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Country
  
Japan

Prefecture
  
Chiba Prefecture

Population
  
39,379 (1 Apr 2012)

Region
  
Kantō

Phone number
  
0479-73-0084

Local time
  
Wednesday 1:25 AM

Sōsa httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Time zone
  
Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

-tree
  
Podocarpus macrophyllus

Weather
  
7°C, Wind S at 11 km/h, 80% Humidity

Points of interest
  
Hankoji, Nosakafureai Park, Sosa Memorial Park

Sōsa (匝瑳市, Sōsa-shi) is a city located in northeastern Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

Contents

Map of Sosa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan

As of April 2012, the city has an estimated population of 39,379 and a population density of 387 persons per km2. The total area is 101.78 km2.

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 40–50 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

  • Asahi, Chiba
  • Tako, Chiba
  • Katori, Chiba
  • Yokoshibahikari, Chiba
  • 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).

    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 Sosa City.
  • Census statistics

    Source: Japan Statistics Department, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications / National Census (translated)

    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.

    Shopping

  • Cainz Home Super Center, Yōkaichiba (Includes Beisia supermarket)
  • Ocean Mart 126 (shopping mall)
  • Financial institutions

  • Chiba Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • Chiba Industrial Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • Keiyo Bank, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • Choshi Credit Union, Yōkaichiba Branch
  • 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
  • Railway

  • JR East Sōbu Main Line
  • Iigura - Yōkaichiba
  • 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
  • National highways

  • Japan National Route 126
  • Japan National Route 296
  • 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 roads
  • 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.
  • 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

    Sōsa Wikipedia