Zushi, Kanagawa

Updated on Nov 29, 2023

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Country Japan - Tree Camellia Area 17.28 km² Local time Sunday 11:41 PM		Region Kantō - Flower Tricyrtis hirta Population 58,087 (1 Jun 2012) Prefecture Kanagawa Prefecture

Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) Address 5-2-16 Zushi, Zushi-shi, Kanagawa-ken 249-8686 Weather 6°C, Wind NW at 11 km/h, 78% Humidity Points of interest Hiroyama Park, Ikegonomori Natural Park, Jinmu‑ji Temple, Zushi City Homeland History M, Hisagioike Park

Kid playing at zoo aden at zoo near zushi kanagawa japan

Zushi (逗子市, Zushi-shi) is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Map of Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan

As of June 2012, the city has an estimated population of 58,087 and a population density of 3,350 per km². The total area is 17.34 km² (6.70 sq mi).

Geography

Zushi is located at the head of Miura Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city is built on an alluvial plain formed by the Tagoe River (田越川) and surrounded by low, steep hills.

Surrounding municipalities

Kamakura

Yokosuka

Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama

Hayama

History

The area of Zushi has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and numerous Kofun period and Yayoi period remains have been discovered. During the Heian period, it came under the control of the Miura clan, and during the Kamakura period formed part of the outer fortifications for Kamakura. The port of Kotsubo is mentioned frequently in the Azuma Kagami. The name 'Zushi' has been written in many different ways, including 豆師・図師・厨子・豆子. The term "zushi" itself means a street, an alley or an intersection and came to the Kantō region from Kyoto. One of its first appearances is in a Hōjō clan document as 豆師. During the Edo period, along with most of eastern Sagami Province, the area was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and administered by various hatamoto.

In the April 1, 1889, cadastral reform after the Meiji Restoration, Tagoe Village within Miura District Kanagawa Prefecture was created through the merger of six local hamlets. Development of the area was encouraged by the opening of the Yokosuka Line railway on June 16, 1889. Tagoe Village changed its name to Zushi Village on April 1, 1924; however, on April 1, 1943 it was annexed by Yokusuka city. Zushi regained its status as an independent municipality on July 1, 1952, as Zushi Town. City status was gained on April 15, 1954. Zushi developed as a resort area in the 1960s, with the opening of Zushi Marina in 1967. In the mid-1990s, the city was the center of a political controversy involving the creation of a housing area for the United States Navy at Ikego, the site of a former Imperial Japanese Navy ammunition depot, to support the expansion of nearby Yokosuka Naval Base.

Government and politics

Zushi mayoral election, 2006

Economy

Zushi is a popular beach resort, and has attracted many famous writers (e.g. Roka Tokutomi), media personalities (e.g. Yujiro Ishihara and Mino Monta), musicians and politicians (e.g. Shintaro Ishihara) as either a residence or location for a second home. The city is largely a bedroom community for Tokyo and Yokohama.