Shimizu, Shizuoka

Shimizu 清水町
Town
Kano River in Shimizu Town
Flag Seal
Location of Shimizu Town in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shimizu
Coordinates: 35°5′56.4″N 138°54′10.3″E / 35.099000°N 138.902861°E / 35.099000; 138.902861
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu Tōkai
Prefecture	Shizuoka
District	Suntō
Area
• Total	8.81 km² (3.40 sq mi)
Population (August 2019)
• Total	32,453
• Density	3,700/km² (9,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
• Tree	Castanopsis
• Flower	Chrysanthemum
• Bird	Common kingfisher
Phone number	055-973-1111
Address	210-1 Dōniwa, Shimizu-chō, Suntō-gun, Shizuoka-ken 411-8650
Website	Official website

Shimizu (清水町, Shimizu-chō) is a town in Suntō District of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2019^[update], the town had an estimated population of 32,453 in 14058 households,^[1] and a population density of 3,700 persons per km². The total area of the town was 8.81 square kilometres (3.40 sq mi).

Geography

Shimizu is located at the northern end of Izu Peninsula. Both the Kakita River and the Kano River flow through the town. The area has a temperate maritime climate with hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters.

Neighboring municipalities

Shizuoka Prefecture
- Numazu
- Mishima
- Nagaizumi

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[2] the population of Shimizu has been increasing over the past 70 years.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1940	6,033	—
1950	8,859	+46.8%
1960	10,841	+22.4%
1970	21,036	+94.0%
1980	26,408	+25.5%
1990	27,755	+5.1%
2000	30,870	+11.2%
2010	32,304	+4.6%

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Shimizu is 15.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1925 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.8 °C.^[3]

History

Shimizu is located in the far eastern portion of former Suruga Province, and was largely tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate in the Edo period. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system of the early Meiji period in 1889, the area was reorganized into the village of Shimizu within Suntō District, Shizuoka through the merger of 11 small hamlets.

Shimizu attained town status in 1963. There have been numerous unsuccessful attempts to merge Shimizu into neighboring Numazu (1966, 1967, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007).

Economy

The economy of Shimizu is largely based on agriculture. The town also serves as a bedroom community for the industrial zones in neighboring Numazu and Mishima.

Education

Shimizu has three public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Railway

Shimizu does not have any passenger railway service.

Highway

National Route 1

Mascot

Shimizu's mascot is Yusui-kun (ゆうすいくん). He is a elf who lives in the Kakita River. He wears a Mount Fuji-like hat and a cape with Kakita River and Mishimabaikamo flower motifs. His uniform has a pocket that can store green rice (a special kind of rice) and several books. Depending on the season, he changes his hat (white and green for spring, green for summer, white and brown for fall and white for winter) and his gloves and boots (red for spring, blue for summer, brown for fall and white for winter). His job is a park ranger. As a park ranger, he must protect the Kakita River (and nature in general) while making everyone's dreams come true. Because of his handsome looks as a park ranger, he is nicknamed the "Cute Hero" (かわいいヒーロー, Kawaī hīrō). He is unveiled on 11 May 2013.^[4]