Narita, Chiba

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**Narita**
**成田市**
Narita's location in Chiba, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba
Physical characteristics
Area	131.27 km² (50.68 sq mi)
Population (as of 2003)
Total	98,296
Density	748.81 /km² (1,939 /sq mi)
Location	35°47′N, 140°19′E
Symbols
Tree	Ume
Flower	Hydrangea
Flag
Narita Government Office
Mayor	Kazunari Koizumi
Phone number	0476-22-1111
Official website: Narita

City Office

The street of Narita-san temple

Narita (成田市, Narita-shi^?) is a city located in Chiba, Japan. It is the site of Narita International Airport, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 98,296 and population density of 748.81 persons per km². Its total area is 131.27 km².

1 History
2 Areas
3 Tourist Attractions
4 Education
5 Transportation
6 Sister cities
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

The street of Narita-san temple. (Photo: Erick Paiva Nouchi)

There are various theories regarding the origin of Narita's name, comprised of the characters for "become" (nari) and "rice paddy" (ta): that the name "Narita" comes from the ringing (nari) of thunder in the area, that nari is derived from an obsolete word for "fertile," and that the nari is derived from the word for "livelihood" (nariwai).

Narita is known to have been inhabited since prehistoric times; rice farming began in the area around 100 BCE. As the city is located roughly equidistant from the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay, around a number of small rivers, it was a natural political and commercial center for the region.

Urbanization of the area began during the Nara period. Narita-san Temple was founded in 940 CE.

Narita was incorporated as a town in 1889, and Narita City was founded on March 31, 1954. Growth in the area began in earnest in 1966, when Prime Minister Eisaku Sato laid out the plan for Narita International Airport. The development of the airport and accompanying access to central Tokyo led to widespread residential, commercial and industrial development in the city.

Narita was once part of Inba District until March 31, 1954. The city annexed the towns of Taiei and Shimofusa from Katori District on March 27, 2006 and the city now expanded into the Katori District areas. (In the same day in Chiba Prefecture, the cities of Katori, Sanmu, and the town of Yokoshibahikari in Sanbu District were created by the mergers)

The enlarged Narita now has an estimated population of 121,214. The total area is now 213.84km², as of May 1, 2006.

[edit] Areas

[edit] Central Narita

Central Narita (locally known as 町中 machinaka) is roughly defined as the area between Narita Station, Keisei Narita Station and the Narita-san Temple. The main road in central Narita is Omotesan-do (表参道), which is lined with about 150 small shops and has been extensively renovated in recent years; it is widely regarded as one of the best "traditional" city streets in Japan.

[edit] Narita New Town

Narita New Town is a planned residential area to the west of Narita Station. It has 16,000 homes with a total population of 60,000. The area was designed in 1968 based on the new towns surrounding London, England, and now houses most of the city's population. Although most residents of the New Town initially commuted to Tokyo or Chiba City for work, many now commute to cities in northwestern Chiba, and a number of businesspeople in central Narita have also moved into the New Town.

[edit] Kozunomori

Ito-Yokado

Kozunomori (公津の杜) is a suburban area of Narita located south of the New Town, about 4 minutes by train from Keisei Narita Station. It has a population of about 12,000. The Kozunomori station is flanked by a large Ito-Yokado department store, popular with foreign visitors who stay in and around Narita.

[edit] Airport and farm areas

Narita International Airport is located on the east side of Narita in an historically agricultural area called Sanrizuka (三里塚). The construction and later expansion of the airport led to intense civil unrest among Sanrizuka residents (see Narita International Airport's history). Although land expropriation and poorer farming conditions due to the airport's construction have caused Narita's farming population to drop two-thirds from pre-airport levels, the area immediately surrounding the airport remains lightly populated by farmers. Some abandoned farmland is now used for golf courses, while other plots of land have become unofficial dumping grounds for garbage.

[edit] Industrial areas

There are three main industrial zones in Narita: Nogedaira (野毛平) and Toyosumi (豊住) and Taiei. Both zones were laid out in the 1960s to take advantage of Narita Airport and the ability to quickly import and export goods by air. Most industries in Narita City predominantly employ Narita residents. An aircraft part repair plant operated by JAL (Japan Airlines) and Pratt & Whitney, called Japan Turbine Technologies is located at Taiei-kogyo-danchi, opposite to an Okubo store.

[edit] Tourist Attractions

Narita-san Shinsho Temple
Shiseki Park
Chiba Prefectural Boso Fudoki-no-oka Museum

[edit] Education

Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the city of Narita.

Public high schools are operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education.

Narita North High School [1]
Narita Seiryo High School [2]
Shimofusa High School [3]
Narita International High School [4]

[edit] Transportation

Narita International Airport Terminal One

Narita International Airport provides domestic and international services.

Narita's main train stations are Narita Station (JR Narita Line) and Keisei Narita Station (Keisei Main Line). Other train stations in the city include:

Airport Terminal 2 Station (Narita Line)
Higashi-Narita Station (Keisei Higashi-Narita Line, Shibayama Railway Line)
Kozunomori Station (Keisei Main Line)
Kuzumi Station (Narita Line)
Narita Airport Station (Narita Line)
Shibayama Chiyoda Station (Shibayama Railway Line)
Shimousa-Matsuzaki Station (Narita Line)

Rush hour Narita Express trains and Keisei Skyliner trains connect Narita to central Tokyo in approximately 1 hour.

The Higashi-Kanto Expressway connects Narita to Tokyo and Chiba City.

Chiba Kotsu and Narita Kuko Kotsu provide bus service through the city. The Narita City Loop Bus (成田市内循環バス), operated by both companies, operates on two circular routes around the city, stopping in major commercial areas and at all 7 major hotels.