Chitose, Hokkaidō

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**Chitose**
**千歳市**
Chitose's location in Hokkaidō (Ishikari), Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaidō
Prefecture	Hokkaidō (Ishikari)
Physical characteristics
Area	594.95 km² (229.71 sq mi)
Population (as of March 2008)
Total	92,323
Density	155 /km² (401 /sq mi)
Location	42°49′N, 141°39′E
Symbols
Tree	Japanese White Birch and Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Flower	Azalea and Hanashōbu (Iris ensata var. ensata)
Bird	Common Pheasant and Crested Kingfisher
Fish	Sockeye salmon and Chum salmon
Flag
Chitose Government Office
Mayor	Kōtarō Yamaguchi
Address	〒066-8686 2-34, Shinonomechō, Chitose-shi, Hokkaidō
Phone number	0123-24-3131
Official website: Chitose City

City office.

Chitose (千歳市, Chitose-shi^?) is a city located in Ishikari, Hokkaidō, Japan and home to the New Chitose Airport, the biggest international airport in Hokkaidō and closest airport to Sapporo, as well as the neighboring Chitose Air Base. The city is bounded by Eniwa in the north and by Tomakomai in the south.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 92,323 and the density of 155 persons per km². The total area is 594.95 km². The city was founded on July 1, 1958.

Chitose is one of the gateways to the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Lake Shikotsu and Mount Tarumae. Chitose also has a university (Chitose Institute of Science and Technology), 2 high schools, 18 junior high schools and 10 elementary schools. As befits its international aspirations, it was an early supporter (1990) of the JET Programme in Hokkaidō.

Chitose is accessed by two expressways with an interchange in the west and another in the north on a separate expressway and the Chitose-Eniwa Junction connecting with the Eastern Hokkaidō Expressway in the northwest. Chitose is also linked by route 36 and routes 274, 276, 337 and 453.

1 Twinnings
2 History
3 External links
4 See also

[edit] Twinnings

Chitose has sister city relationships with:

[edit] History

In 1926, the railway (now part of Hokkaido Railway Company (JR-Hokkaidō)) was opened in August of 1926. The railway became part of Japan National Railway (JNR) in 1943.

1880 Chitose (Chitose, Osatsu, Usakumai, Rankoshi, Izari, Shimamatsu) Village opened
1897 Eniwa (Izari and Shimamatsu) Village (now City) splits off
1915 Chitose (Chitose, Osatsu, Usakumai, Rankoshi) becomes a Second Class Municipality
1939 Chitose becomes a First Class Municipality
1942 Chitose Village becomes Chitose Town
July 1, 1958 Chitose Town becomes Chitose City