Hachiōji facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hachiōji 八王子市
Core city
View of top left, Downtown Hachioji, Komiya Park, Naganuma Park, Mount Takao, stone fence and bridge in Hachioji Castle site, Yakuoin in Mount Takao, Hachioji Ramen, Hachioji Traditional Festival on August
Flag Seal
Hachiōji Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo
First official recorded	3rd century AD (official)
Town settled	April 1, 1889
City settled	September 1, 1917
Area
• Total	186.38 km2 (71.96 sq mi)
Population  (March 2021)
• Total	561,344
• Density	3,011.83/km2 (7,800.59/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Phone number	042-626-3111
Address	3-24-1 Motohongo-cho, Hachiōji-shi, Tokyo 192-8501
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Bird Blue-and-white flycatcher Flower Lilium auratum Tree Ginkgo biloba

Hachiōji City Hall, where the city's government works.

Hachiōji (八王子市, Hachiōji-shi) is a large city in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of March 2021, about 561,344 people lived there. This makes it the most populated city in Tokyo outside of the main central areas. The city covers an area of about 186.38 square kilometers (72 square miles).

Geography of Hachiōji

The city area of Hachiōji, with mountains in the background.

Hachiōji is located in the western part of Tokyo, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of central Tokyo. It sits at the base of the Okutama Mountains. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides, forming a basin that opens up towards Tokyo in the east.

Mountains and natural spots

The mountains to the southwest include Mount Takao, which is 599 meters (1,965 feet) high. Another popular spot is Mount Jinba, standing at 857 meters (2,812 feet). Both mountains are great for hiking and can be reached easily by train or bus.

Neighboring towns and cities

Hachiōji shares its borders with several other cities and towns.

• In Tokyo Metropolis:
  • Machida
  • Tama
  • Fussa
  • Hino
  • Akishima
  • Akiruno
  • Hinohara
• In Kanagawa Prefecture:
  • Sagamihara

Climate in Hachiōji

Hachiōji has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. There is usually light or no snowfall. The average temperature for the year is about 13.9°C (57°F). September is the wettest month, with a lot of rain. The hottest month is August, and the coldest is January.

Population Growth in Hachiōji

The number of people living in Hachiōji has grown a lot over the last 90 years. Recently, the population has stayed about the same.

History of Hachiōji

The area where Hachiōji is today has a long history. It was once part of an old Japanese province called Musashi Province. For a long time, it was an important stop along the Kōshū Kaidō. This was a main road connecting Edo (which is now Tokyo) with western Japan.

Castles and old times

Hachiōji Castle was built in 1584 during a time of many wars in Japan, known as the Sengoku period. A powerful leader named Hōjō Ujiteru built it. However, the castle was destroyed in 1590 by another famous leader, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Later, during the Edo period, the area was directly controlled by the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan's military government.

Becoming a modern city

In 1889, Hachiōji became a town. Then, on September 1, 1917, it officially became a city. This was part of Japan's move to create modern towns and cities. In 2015, Hachiōji became a "Core city," which means it gained more local control over its own affairs.

Hachiōji and the Olympics

Hachiōji played a part in the 1964 Summer Olympics! The city hosted the road cycling events. There was also a special track for cycling, called a velodrome, where other cycling races took place.

Economy and Jobs in Hachiōji

In the past, during the Meiji period, Hachiōji was famous for making silk and silk fabrics. This industry was very important to the city's economy. However, by the 1960s, the silk industry slowly disappeared.

Today, Hachiōji is mostly a commuter town. This means many people who live here travel to Tokyo for work. The city is also home to many large colleges and universities, making education a big part of its economy.

Education in Hachiōji

Hachiōji is a major center for education, with many schools and universities.

Colleges and universities

The city has many well-known universities and colleges, including:

• Chuo University (Tama Campus)
• Digital Hollywood University
• Kogakuin University (Hachioji Campus)
• Kyorin University (Hachioji Campus)
• Meisei University (Hino Campus)
• Nihon Bunka University
• Soka University
• Tama Art University (Hachioji Campus)
• Takushoku University (Hachioji Campus)
• Teikyo University (Hachioji Campus)
• Tokyo Junshin University
• Tokyo Kasei-Gakuin University (Machida Campus)
• Tokyo Metropolitan University (Minamiōsawa Campus)
• Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
• Tokyo University of Technology (Hachiōji Campus)
• Tokyo Zokei University
• Nippon Engineering College
• Hachioji Municipal Nursing College [ja]

High schools

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government runs nine public high schools in Hachiōji. There is also a special school for the blind. In addition, there are eleven private high schools.

Some of the public high schools include:

Elementary and junior high schools

The city government of Hachiōji operates many public elementary and junior high schools. There are 70 public elementary schools and 37 public junior high schools. There are also four schools that combine both elementary and junior high levels.

Transportation in Hachiōji

Hachiōji is a busy city with many ways to get around, especially by train.

Train lines

Hachiōji Station, a major train hub in the city.

Several train companies and lines serve Hachiōji, connecting it to Tokyo and other parts of Japan.

• JR East - Chūō Main Line
  • Hachiōji – Nishi-Hachiōji – Takao
• JR East - Yokohama Line
  • Hachiōji-Minamino – Katakura – Hachiōji
• JR East - Hachikō Line
  • Hachiōji – Kita-Hachiōji – Komiya
• Keio Corporation - Keiō Line
  • Naganuma – Kitano – Keiō-Hachiōji
• Keio Corporation - Keiō Takao Line
  • Kitano – Keiō-Katakura – Yamada – Mejirodai – Hazama – Takao – Takaosanguchi
• Keio Corporation - Sagamihara Line
  • Keiō-Horinouchi – Minami-Ōsawa
• Tokyo Tama Intercity Monorail - Tama Toshi Monorail Line
  • Chūō-Daigaku-Meisei-Daigaku – Ōtsuka-Teikyō-Daigaku – Matsugaya
• Takaotozan Railway

Major highways

Several important highways pass through Hachiōji, making it easy to travel by car.

• Ken-Ō Expressway
• Chūō Expressway
• National Route 16
• National Route 20
• National Route 411

Sister Cities of Hachiōji

Hachiōji has special "friendship city" relationships with other cities around the world. These relationships help promote cultural exchange and understanding.

• Kaohsiung, Taiwan (since November 1, 2006)
• Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (since November 7, 2006)
• Tai'an, Shandong, People's Republic of China (since September 23, 2006)

Fun Places to Visit in Hachiōji

Hachiōji is a large city with many different areas. You can find busy city centers with shops, and also quiet, natural areas in the west.

• Mt. Takao (599 m) is a very popular place for hiking. You can easily get there using the Keiō Takao Line. It's also famous for a Buddhist temple called Takao-san Yakuōin Yūkiji (高尾山薬王院有喜寺).
• Mt. Jinba (855 m) is a bit harder to reach, requiring a bus ride. But it's worth it for the amazing view of Mt. Fuji on a clear day!
• Tama Forest Science Garden is a great place to learn about trees and nature.
• Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has many beautiful artworks to explore.
• Musashi Imperial Graveyard is a special place where two Japanese emperors, Taishō and Shōwa, are buried.
• Takiyama Castle and Hachiōji Castle are old castle ruins from the Sengoku period. They are important historical sites and are listed among Japan's top castles.

Images for kids

• 

  The sign at the top of Mount Takao.

• 

  The grave of Emperor Shōwa.

• 

  The grave of Emperor Taishō.

• 

  A reconstructed bridge at Takiyama Castle.

• 

  Stone wall and gate of Hachiōji Castle.

See also

In Spanish: Hachiōji (Tokio) para niños