Hamamatsu is a city blessed by nature, surrounded by the Akashi mountain range to the north and Tenryu River to the east. To the west lies the Enshu Sea and to the south Lake Hamana. These diverse landscapes weave together to form a breathtaking portrait, with countless scenic spots and attractions. The total land area is 1,511.17 km2 (as reported by the Geographical Survey Institute), making it the second largest city in Japan after Takayama in Gifu Prefecture.
Hamamatsu enjoys a mild climate year-round, although a strong, dry wind called "Karakkaze" that blows from the northwest in the winter makes it feel colder than the actual temperature. The sand patterns created by this Karakkaze on the sand dunes of the Enshu Sea are beautiful to see.
Demographic Profile
Population: 814,815
No. of households: 299,462
Land area: 1511.17 km2
Distance between the Eastern and Western borders: 52 km
Distance between the Southern and Northern borders: 73 km
No. of townships: 536
(As of July 1st 2005)
No. of households: 299,462
Land area: 1511.17 km2
Distance between the Eastern and Western borders: 52 km
Distance between the Southern and Northern borders: 73 km
No. of townships: 536
(As of July 1st 2005)
When Hamamatsu became a municipality in 1911 it had only 36,782 people. It continued to grow as it merged with surrounding villages and towns and as more people continued to move into and were born into the city. The population exceeded 100,000 in 1928, just 17 years after municipalization.
Although the population dropped to 81,437 in 1945 due to World War II, it quickly regained its momentum, reaching 200,000 in 1954 and 300,000 in 1957.
In 1982 Hamamatsu became a city with half a million people. It is rare for a city that is neither a prefectural capital nor a satellite city near a metropolitan area to have such a large population.
On July 1st 2005 Hamamatsu's population reached over 800,000 when it amalgamated with 11 surrounding cities, towns and villages in the Tenryu River and Lake Hamana regions, becoming the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture. The number of residents holding Alien Registration cards has also been increasing year by year; currently there are approximately 29,000 foreign residents in Hamamatsu, accounting for 3.5% of the population. Hamamatsu may also boast that it has the largest number of Brazilian residents in the country; they make up about 60% (16,000) of the city's foreign population.
Although the population dropped to 81,437 in 1945 due to World War II, it quickly regained its momentum, reaching 200,000 in 1954 and 300,000 in 1957.
In 1982 Hamamatsu became a city with half a million people. It is rare for a city that is neither a prefectural capital nor a satellite city near a metropolitan area to have such a large population.
On July 1st 2005 Hamamatsu's population reached over 800,000 when it amalgamated with 11 surrounding cities, towns and villages in the Tenryu River and Lake Hamana regions, becoming the largest city in Shizuoka Prefecture. The number of residents holding Alien Registration cards has also been increasing year by year; currently there are approximately 29,000 foreign residents in Hamamatsu, accounting for 3.5% of the population. Hamamatsu may also boast that it has the largest number of Brazilian residents in the country; they make up about 60% (16,000) of the city's foreign population.