Ayase, Kanagawa Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Ayase (綾瀬市, Ayase-shi) is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2021, the city had an estimated population density of 3,800 persons per km². The total area of the city is 22.28 km² (8.60 sq mi).

Geography Ayase is in the plains of north-central Kanagawa Prefecture along the banks of the Sagami River. The Hikiji River flows through part of the city. More than 18% of the city is occupied by the Naval Air Facility Atsugi (equivalent to about 78% of the total area of the base).

Surrounding municipalities Kanagawa Prefecture • Ebina • Yamato • Fujisawa.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Ayase grew rapidly during the late 20th century and has plateaued in the 21st.

History In the Edo period, the area of modern Ayase was part of the tenryō territory in Sagami Province controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, but administered through various hatamoto. After the Meiji restoration, the area became part of Kōza District, Kanagawa Prefecture. The village of Ayase was created on April 1, 1889, through the merger of eight small hamlets, and was elevated to town status on April 1, 1945. On November 11, 1978, Ayase became the newest city in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Government Ayase has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Ayase contributes one member to the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Kanagawa 13th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Ayase is known for its processed meat industry, and is the leading producer of pork products in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Education Ayase has ten public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools operated by the Kanagawa Prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private high schools.

Transport Ayase is not connected by rail, although the tracks of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen pass through the city. The nearest train stations are Kashiwadai Station and Sagamino Station (on the Sagami Railway in neighboring Ebina) and Chōgo Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line in Fujisawa.

Five numbered prefectural highways crisscross the city, but no national highway. The Tōmei Expressway passes through Ayase, and added the Ayase interchange in the summer of 2021. There is also a highway bus stop for the city.