Tōgane, Chiba Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Tōgane (東金市, Tōgane-shi) is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 650 persons per km². The total area of the city is 89.12 square km (34.41 sq mi).

Tōgane is home to the Kurenai-kai School of Japanese embroidery, which produces handmade obi and kimono in the traditional Japanese style.

Geography Tōgane is located in center-eastern Chiba Prefecture at the border of the Bōsō Hill Range. It is approximately 25 km from the prefectural capital at Chiba and 50 to 60 km from downtown Tokyo. The city has a number of large exclave surrounded by the city of Sanmu, and Sanmu likewise has two enclaves within with borders of the Tōgane exclave.

Surrounding municipalities Chiba Prefecture • Midori-ku, Chiba • Wakaba-ku, Chiba • Sanmu • Yachimata • Ōamishirasato • Kujūkuri.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Tōgane has recently plateaued after several decades of growth.

History During the Edo Period, Tōgane was the location of a villa on Lake Hakkaku used by the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada for falconry. The town of Tōgane was founded on April 1, 1889 as part of Sanbe District, Chiba Prefecture with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Sanbe District became Sanbu District on April 1, 1897. The town expanded on April 1, 1953 through annexation of the neighboring villages of Okayama, Masaki, Toyonari, Kohei and a portion of the village of Yamato. It was elevated to city status on April 1, 1954 after further expansion through annexation of parts of the neighboring villages of Hara and Fukuoka.

Government Tōgane has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Tōgane contributes one member to the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Chiba 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Tōgane is known for strawberry picking in February and March. Strawberries are grown in greenhouses. Because there is not much industry remaining in some rural areas of Japan like Tōgane, antique markets are gaining popularity as old farmhouses are torn down.

Education • Josai International University • Tōgane has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail JR East – Tōgane Line • Fukutawara - Tōgane - Gumyō

Transport: Road • Ken-Ō Expressway • Chiba-Tōgane Road • National Route 126 • National Route 128 • National Route 409.