Sanmu

Sanmu 山武市
City
Sanmu City Hall Sanmu City Hall
Flag of Sanmu Flag Official seal of Sanmu Seal
Location of Sanmu in Chiba Prefecture Location of Sanmu in Chiba Prefecture
Sanmu
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba Prefecture
Area
• Total	146.38 km2 (56.52 sq mi)
Population (April 1, 2012)
• Total	55,054
• Density	376/km2 (970/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
• Tree	Cryptomeria
• Flower	Chrysanthemum
• Bird	Japanese bush-warbler
Phone number	0475-80-1112
Address	296 Maidai, Sanmu-shi, Chiba-ken 289-1392
Website	City of Sanmu HP

Sanmu (山武市, Sanmu-shi) is a city located in northern portion of Bōsō Peninsula of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east.

As of April 1, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 55,054 and a population density of 376 persons per km². The total area is 146.38 km².

Surrounding municipalities

• Tōgane, Chiba
• Yachimata, Chiba
• Tomisato, Chiba
• Kujūkuri, Chiba
• Shibayama, Chiba
• Yokoshibahikari, Chiba

History

The modern city of Sanmu was established on March 27, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Sanbu, Matsuo and Narutō, and the village of Hasunuma (all from Sanbu District). The kanji for the city name are the same as for the former town of Sanbu, but are is pronounced differently. Sanmu was damaged by a tsunami as a result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Economy

Due to mixed plantings of pine, Japanese cypress, and Japanese cedar, Sanmu was a center of wood production until 1923 at the end of the Taishō period. Many in the town remain active in the woodworking and carpentry trade. Small-scale agriculture in Sanmu produces a variety of fruits and vegetables, but the town is noted for carrots, watermelon, peanuts. The town also attracts tourists to its numerous strawberry farms. Sanmu serves as a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo, and housing development continues in the city.

Transportation

Railway

• Jr East – Sōbu Main Line
  • Hyūga - Narutō - Matsuo

• Jr East – Tōgane Line
  • Narutō

Highway

• Chiba-Tōgane Road
• Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line
• Japan National Route 126

Noted people from Sanmu

• Itō Sachio – Writer
• Kumiko Aso - actress

Gallery

• 

  Aerial view of Sanmu and Kujūkuri Beach

• Chiba-r111.JPG

  Street view of Sanmu

• Naruto Sta. reform.jpg

  Narutō Station

• Choshoji hondo 2.jpg

  Hondō of Fudō-in Chōshō-ji

• 

  Niōmon of Fudō-in Chōshō-ji

External links

• Sanmu City official website (Japanese)