Tosu, Saga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tosu 鳥栖市
City
Tosu City Hall
Flag Seal
Tosu Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Saga
Area
• Total	71.72 km2 (27.69 sq mi)
Population  (April 30, 2024)
• Total	74,334
• Density	1,036.45/km2 (2,684.39/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1118 Shukumachi, Tosu-shi, Saga-ken 841-8511
Symbols Bird Japanese white-eye Flower Japanese iris Tree Round leaf holly

Sun Messe Tosu

Tosu stadium

Tosu (鳥栖市, Tosu-shi) is a city in Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is located on the island of Kyushu. As of April 30, 2024, about 74,334 people live in Tosu. The city covers an area of 71.72 square kilometers. Tosu is known for being an important center for transportation and business in its region.

Geography

Tosu is located in the Saga Plains. The Chikugo River runs along the southern edge of the city. The flat areas are mostly used for growing rice. The main city area is also in these lowlands. The northwestern part of Tosu is in the eastern area of the Sefuri Mountains.

Mountains in Tosu

• Mount Ishidani (754 meters)
• Mount Kusenbu (848 meters)
• Shiroyama (501 meters)

Rivers in Tosu

• Akimitsu River
• Ara River
• Chikugo River
• Daigi River
• Hōman River
• Yamashita River

Dams in Tosu

• Kawachi Dam

Neighboring Cities and Towns

Tosu shares borders with several other places: Fukuoka Prefecture

• Chikushino
• Kurume
• Nakagawa
• Ogōri

Saga Prefecture

• Kiyama
• Miyaki

Climate

Tosu has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. There is usually little to no snow. The average temperature in Tosu is about 15.1°C. The city gets about 1766 mm of rain each year. September is usually the wettest month. August is the warmest month, with temperatures around 26.2°C. January is the coldest, with temperatures around 4.3°C.

Population Changes

The number of people living in Tosu has changed over the years. Here's how the population has grown:

History

The area where Tosu is now was once part of an old province called Hizen Province. During the Edo period (a long time ago in Japan), it was a special area ruled by the Tsushima-Fuchū Domain. This area was important for trade and for visitors from Korea.

People in this region were also known for their knowledge of traditional medicine. They used supplies brought from Korea. Tosu was one of the four main places for medicine in Japan before modern times.

In 1874, there was a conflict called the Saga Rebellion. A battle happened on Mount Asahi. Later, in 1889, several small villages were formed. One of these, Todoroki, became a town called Tosu in 1907. Another village, Tashiro, became a town in 1936. Finally, on April 1, 1954, Tosu merged with Tashiro and other villages to officially become a city.

Economy

Tosu is an important center for business and logistics in its region. This is because many major highways and train lines meet there. The local economy still relies on farming, making food products, and light manufacturing. A company called Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical, which makes medicines, has its main office in Tosu.

Education

Tosu has many schools for children and young adults. The city government runs eight public elementary schools and five public junior high schools. The Saga Prefectural Board of Education operates three public high schools.

Junior Colleges

• Kyushu Ryukoku Junior College

High Schools

• Tosu Commercial High School
• Tosu Senior High School
• Tosu Technical High School

Junior High Schools

• Kizato Junior High School
• Kounan Junior High School
• Tashiro Junior High School
• Tosu Junior High School
• Tosu Nishi Junior High School

Elementary Schools

• Asahi Elementary School
• Fumoto Elementary School
• Kizato Elementary School
• Tashiro Elementary School
• Tosu Elementary School
• Tosu Kita Elementary School
• Wakaba Elementary School
• Yayoigaoka Elementary School

Transportation

Tosu is one of the main transportation hubs in Kyushu. This means it's a central point where many roads and train lines connect.

Train Travel

The main train station is Tosu Station. It connects two important train lines: the Nagasaki Main Line and the Kagoshima Main Line. JR Kyushu - Kyushu Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

Shin-Tosu

JR Kyushu - Kagoshima Main Line

Yayoigaoka - Tashiro - Tosu - Hizen-Asahi

JR Kyushu - Nagasaki Main Line

Tosu - Shin-Tosu - Hizen-Fumoto

Highways

Tosu is also a major hub for highways. Several expressways meet at the Tosu Junction.

• Kyushu Expressway (Tosu Junction and Tosu Interchange)
• Nagasaki Expressway (Tosu Junction and Tosu Interchange)
• Ōita Expressway (Tosu Junction)
• National Route 3
• National Route 34
• National Route 500

Sister Cities

Tosu has a sister city relationship with:

• Zeitz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Fun Places to Visit

Tosu has many interesting places to see and things to do!

Local Attractions

Tosu Football Stadium

• Best Amenity Stadium: A stadium where sports events are held.
• Katsunoo Castle ruins: The remains of an old castle.
• Mount Asahi castle ruins: Another historical castle site.
• Tashiroōta Kofun: Ancient burial mounds.
• Yasunagata Site: An archaeological site.

Sightseeing Spots

• Azumaya
• Kawachi Dam area: A scenic area around the dam.
  • Torigoe and Yamabiko mountain retreats
  • Shimin no mori (Citizen's Forest)
  • Kawachi swimming pool
• Mount Asahi Park: A park on Mount Asahi.
• Mount Kusenbu: A mountain with beautiful nature.
  • Kyushu Nature Walk: A trail for hiking.
• Nakatomi Commemorative Medicine Museum: A museum about medicine.
• Ochōzu waterfall: A beautiful waterfall.
  • Numakawa swimming pool
• Saga racecourse: A place for horse racing.
• Tashiro Park
• Tosu Premium Outlets: A large shopping center with many stores.

Tosu Premium Outlets

Festivals and Events

Tosu hosts several exciting festivals and events throughout the year:

• Tosu Yayoi Matsuri (last Sunday of March)
• Hana no hi (May 4)
• Tori no hi (Sunday between May 10 and May 16)
• Matsuri Tosu (last Sunday of July)
• Tosu Yamakasa (first Saturday and Sunday of summer vacation)
• Doyō Yoichi (Saturday night market, end of July)

Sports

Tosu is home to several sports teams and has produced notable athletes:

• Hisamitsu Springs - a professional volleyball team in Japan's V. League.
• Sagan Tosu - a professional football team in Japan's J. League.
• Yuka Kobayashi - a famous athlete in Girls Keirin (a type of bicycle racing).

Notable People from Tosu

Some well-known people who come from Tosu include:

• Yuga Kawada - a famous jockey (horse racer).
• Koichi Ogata - a professional baseball player.
• Masayoshi Son - a very successful businessman who founded SoftBank.

See also

In Spanish: Tosu para niños