Itō, Shizuoka Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Itō (伊東市, Itō-shi) is a city located on the eastern shore of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2023, the city had an estimated population density of 510 persons per km². The total area was 124.13 square km (47.93 sq mi).

Geography Itō is located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, on the north-east corner of Izu Peninsula, facing Sagami Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is hilly, and the heavily indented coastline is scenic. Much of the coastal area of the city is within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and due to this, the city is noted for its onsen hot springs with many hotels and resorts. It is located within the Izu-Tobu volcanic zone. Due to its proximity to the Tokyo metropolis and ease of transportation, it has been noted as the most visited national park in all Japan.

Surrounding municipalities Shizuoka Prefecture • Atami • Izu • Izunokuni • Higashiizu.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Itō peaked in around the year 2000.

History During the Edo period, all of Izu Province was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate, and the area now comprising Itō was occupied by 15 small farming and fishing hamlets. It was in this area that the Tokugawa shogunate ordered Englishman William Adams to construct Japan's first western-style sailing vessels in 1604. The first ship, an 80-ton vessel, was used for surveying work, and the second ship, the 120-ton San Buena Ventura was sailed to Mexico. The period is commemorated in Itō by a street named after Adams (Anjinmiuradori). The area was reorganized into four villages (Tsushima, Itō, Komuro and Usami) within Kamo District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system in the early Meiji period in 1889, and was transferred to Tagata District in 1896.

On January 1, 1906 the village of Itō was elevated to town status. The 1923 Great Kanto earthquake caused damage in Itō with a 5 meter high tsunami. Train services started in 1938. It annexed neighboring Komuro Village on August 10, 1947 and became the city of Itō. In 1950 Itō was proclaimed an "International Tourism and Cultural City" by the central government. It further expanded through annexation of neighboring Tsushima and Usami villages on April 1, 1955. Izu-Kōgen Station Opened on December 10, 1961 which helped promote the local resort area.

Government Itō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members. The city contributes one member to the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly.

Economy Itō is one of the well known hot spring resort towns near the greater Tokyo metropolis, one of the best three in all of Japan, thus tourism is the mainstay of the economy. Commercial fishing and the production of stockfish form a secondary economy. Itō has a fishing commercial harbour as well as the popular Michi no Eki Itō Marine Town rest area with a yacht harbour, along the coast along Road 135.

Education Itō has ten public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government and two public high schools operated by the Shizuoka Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, the prefecture also operates one special education school for the disabled.

Transport: Rail • East Japan Railway Company - Itō Line; ◦ Itō - Usami • Izukyu Corporation - Izu Kyūkō Line; ◦ Itō - Minami-Itō - Kawana - Futo - Jōgasaki-Kaigan - Izu-Kōgen.

Transport: Road • National Route 135.

Local attractions • Itō Onsen • Usami Onsen • Akazawa Onsen • Jōgasaki Coast • Mount Ōmuro.