Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Marugame (丸亀市) is a city located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Marugame occupies the centre of an alluvial plain. The total area of the city is 111.79 square km (43.16 sq mi).

Geography Marugame is located in north-center Kagawa Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, facing the Seto Inland Sea to the north. The city covers the north-eastern part of the Marugame Plain and part of the Shiwaku Islands. As with many other cities and towns in Kagawa Prefecture, there are many reservoirs. The Doki River flows from north to south through the centre of the city, and to the south is Mount Tsutsumi, also known as Hatoko Fuji, one of the "Sanuki Seven Fujis". Mount Iino, nicknamed Sanuki Fuji located on the border between Marugame and Sakaide is another of the "Sanuki Seven Fujis".

Neighbouring municipalities Kagawa Prefecture • Sakaide • Zentsūji • Utazu • Ayagawa • Tadotsu • Mannō.

History The area of Marugame was part of ancient Sanuki Province and has been inhabited since ancient times, with many kofun burial mounds found within the city limits. From the Heian period onwards, it was noted as an entry point for pilgrims to the Kotohira-gū shrine. During the Edo Period, the area developed as the castle town for Marugame Domain, which was ruled for 210 years by the Kyōgoku clan. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Marugame was established with the creation of the modern municipality system on February 15, 1890. It was elevated to city status on April 1, 1890, becoming the 53rd city in Japan. During the 1950s the south-east area of the city and some islands were amalgamated to form new parts of the city.

On March 22, 2005, the towns of Ayauta and Hanzan (both from Ayauta District) were merged into Marugame to create the current expanded city of Marugame. • The former Ayauta was founded in 1959 with the merger of the villages of Kumatami and Okada. Kumatama was founded by the merger of the villages of Kurikuma and Tomikuma in 1951. • The former Hanzan was founded in 1956 with the merger of the villages of Sakamoto and Hokunji.

Government Marugame has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Marugame, together with Naoshima, contributes four members to the Kagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Kagawa 2nd district and the Kagawa 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Marugame has a mixed economy centered on agriculture (rice, vegetables, chicken, peaches) and manufacturing along a coastal belt of reclaimed land which contains a number of industrial parks, textile plants and shipyards. Traditionally, the city was noted for its production of uchiwa fans, claiming a 90% market share; however, due to mechanization and changes in fashion, only two workshops are left in the city. Due to its well-developed transportation network, industry is expanding, and the city is increasingly becoming a commuter town for neighboring Takamatsu.

In 2015, Imabari Shipbuilding announced the construction of a large dry dock capable of building world-class containerships in Marugame.

Education Marugame has 18 public elementary schools and eight public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Kagawa Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there are one private middle school, two private high schools and two correspondence high schools. The prefecture also operates one middle school and one high school.

Transport: Rail JR Shikoku - Yosan Line • Kurikuma - Okada; Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad - Kotohira Line • Marugame - Sanuki-Shioya

Transport: Road • Takamatsu Expressway • National Route 11 • National Route 32 • National Route 319 • National Route 377 • National Route 438.

Local attractions • Marugame Castle, National Historic Site and one of only 12 Japanese castles with original wooden tenshu (keeps) remaining. • Kaitenyama Kofun, National Historic Site • Shiwaku Kinbansho, National Historic Site • Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA), situated just east of the railway station, houses the works of Genichiro Inokuma, as well as playing host to many visiting exhibitions. • Reoma World, a recreational facility with many attractions, two restaurants, a spa and hotel in the theme park.

Events • Marugame Half Marathon - Occurring in early February, the race attracts thousands of runners each year. Held since 1947, the Asian record in the half marathon was set on the course by Kayoko Fukushi in 2006.