Fuefuki, Yamanashi Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Fuefuki (笛吹市, Fuefuki-shi) is a city in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2019, the city had an estimated population density of 340 persons per km². The total area of the city is 201.92 square km (77.96 sq mi).

Geography Fuefuki is located in central Yamanashi Prefecture at an average altitude of 261 meters. Just over 58% of the area of the city is covered in forest. The Fuefuki River flows through the city.

Neighboring municipalities The following municipalities surrounding the city clockwise starting from Kōfu. • Kōfu • Yamanashi • Kōshū • Ōtsuki • Fuji-kawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District.

History Fuefuki was the centre of ancient Kai Province and contains many burial mounds from the Kofun period. The ruins of the Kai Kokubun-ji, the Nara period provincial temple are also found within the city limits, as is the Ichinomiya Asama Shrine, the ichinomiya of Kai Province. During the Edo period, all of Kai Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, with a daikansho based at the village of Isawa. During the cadastral reform of the early Meiji period on April 1, 1889, the rural districts of Higashiyatsushiro and Higashiyamanashi Districts were formed.

The modern city of Fuefuki was established on October 12, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Ichinomiya, Isawa, Misaka and Yatsushiro, the village of Sakaigawa (all from Higashiyatsushiro District), and the town of Kasugai (from Higashiyamanashi District). The name refers to the Fuefuki River that flows through the city. The city hall is located at the former Isawa Town Hall, and other former towns and village halls were converted to satellite offices.

On August 1, 2006, Fuefuki later absorbed the village of Ashigawa (also from Higashiyatsushiro District. Higashiyatsushiro District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government Fuefuki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 19 members.

Economy The economy of Fuefuki is based on agriculture (horticulture), seasonal tourism and the production of wine. Fuefuki is the largest producer of grapes and peaches in Japan.

Education Fuefuki has 14 public elementary schools and five public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Yamanashi Prefectural Board of Education.

Elementary Schools: 1 Isawa Minami (South) 石和南

2 Isawa Higashi (East) 石和東

3 Isawa Kita (North) 石和北

4 Fujimi 富士見

5 Isawa Nishi (West) 石和西

6 Misaka Higashi (East) 御坂東

7 Misaka Nishi (West) 御坂西

8 Ichinomiya Nishi (West) 一宮西

9 Ichinomiya Minami (South) 一宮南

10 Ichinomiya Kita (North) 一宮北

11 Yatsushiro 八代

12 Sakaigawa 境川

13 Kasugai 春日居

14 Ashigawa 芦川; Junior High Schools: 1 Isawa 石和

2 Misaka 御坂

3 Ichinomiya 一宮

4 Asakawa 浅川

5 Kasugai 春日居; High School: 1 Fuefuki 笛吹.

Transport: Rail • East Japan Railway Company - Chūō Main Line ◦ Isawa-onsen - Kasugaichō

Transport: Road • Chūō Expressway • National Route 20 • National Route 137 • National Route 140 • National Route 358 • National Route 411.

Local attractions • Yamanashi Prefectural Museum • The Shakado Museum of Jomon Culture.