How about exploring a city that paid taxes in cloth? That’s the story behind Chofu’s name. Chofu is a city located in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. It offers a blend of history and modern life.
Chofu sits about 20 kilometers west of downtown Tokyo. It is on the Musashino Terrace. The Tama River and the Iruma River border it.
As of April 1, 2021, Chofu had an estimated population of 238,087. The city covers 21.58 square kilometers. That is about 11,000 people per square kilometer.
Chofu experiences warm summers and cool winters. Snowfall is light or nonexistent. The average annual temperature is 14.5 degrees Celsius. Rainfall averages 1647 mm per year. September sees the most rain. August is the hottest month at 26 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest at 3.1 degrees Celsius.
Chofu’s history stretches back to ancient times. The area was inhabited during the Japanese Paleolithic period. Many artifacts from the Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods have been found.
During the Nara period, Chofu became part of Musashi Province. In the Sengoku period, the Hojo and Uesugi clans fought over it. The Edo period saw prosperity. Chofu thrived as a post station on the Koshu Kaido road. It was also a center for silk production.
The name “Chofu” has an interesting origin. Residents paid taxes in cloth, not rice. This unique practice gave the city its name.
In 1889, Chofu Town was established. It was within Kanagawa Prefecture. In 1893, the area became part of Tokyo Metropolis. In 1955, Chofu Town merged with Jindai Village. This formed the modern city of Chofu.
Chofu operates with a mayor-council government. The mayor is directly elected. The city council has 28 members.
Today, Chofu is a regional commercial center. Many residents commute to central Tokyo for work. It serves as a bedroom community for Tokyo. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has its headquarters here.
The city offers several attractions. You can visit Fudaten Shrine. Explore the Jindai Botanical Garden. Discover Jindai Temple. It is famous for its soba noodle restaurants. Relax in Nogawa Park. Catch a show at Sengawa Theater. Watch a soccer game at Tokyo Stadium also known as Ajinomoto Stadium. It is home to FC Tokyo and Tokyo Verdy.
The Chofu City Fireworks Festival draws huge crowds. As many as 300,000 people gather along the Tamagawa River.
Chofu has a large cultural center. It supports groups that help foreigners integrate into Japanese society. Free lessons are offered in Japanese, Shodo, Ikebana and Karate.
Several notable people have called Chofu home. Kondo Isami was a samurai. He was born in Kami-Ishihara. Shigeru Mizuki was a cartoonist. He lived in Chofu for about 50 years. Saneatsu Mushanokoji was a novelist and playwright.