Nishi-ku, Yokohama

Nishi 西
—  Ward of Yokohama  —
西区• Nishi-ku
Minato Mirai 21, with Landmark Tower second from the left
Flag
Location of Nishi in Kanagawa
Nishi
Coordinates: 35°27′13″N 139°37′1″E / 35.45361°N 139.61694°E / 35.45361; 139.61694Coordinates: 35°27′13″N 139°37′1″E / 35.45361°N 139.61694°E / 35.45361; 139.61694
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Kanagawa
City	Yokohama
Area
- Total	7.04 km2 (2.7 sq mi)
Population (February 2010)
- Total	93,210
- Density	13,210/km2 (34,213.7/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Symbols
- Tree	Osmanthus
- Flower	Narcissus
Address	1-5-10 Chuo, Nishi-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 220-0051
Website	Nishi Ward Office

Nishi Ward Office

Nishi-ku (西区^?) is one of the 18 wards of the city of Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the ward had an estimated population of 93,027 and a density of 13,210 persons per km². The total area was 7.04 km².

Geography

Nishi Ward is located in eastern Kanagawa Prefecture, and near the geographic center of the city of Yokohama. It is the smallest of the wards of the city in terms of area, but it includes the major commercial hub of Yokohama extending from the Yokohama Station area through the new Minato Mirai 21 complex, which is home to the Yokohama Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Japan. The ward consists of central lowlands through which the Tōkaidō Main Line and Route 1 pass. The northernmost and southernmost points are upland. The Minato Mirai complex is built on reclaimed land.

Surrounding municipalities

• Hodogaya Ward
• Kanagawa Ward
• Naka Ward
• Naka Ward
• Minami Ward

History

Part of the domains of the Miura clan during and after the Kamakura period, the area of present-day Nishi Ward was part of the tenryō territory in Musashi Province controlled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate, but administered through various hatamoto. Parts of the territories of Kanagawa-juku and Hodogaya-juku, post stations on the Tōkaidō are within the borders of the present Ward. After the Meiji Restoration, the area was divided between the new Tachibana and Kuraki Districts in Kanagawa Prefecture and further divided into numerous villages. Yokohama's wards were established on October 10, 1927, with this area becoming part of the Kanagawa and Naka Wards. On April 1, 1944, Nishi became an independent ward within the city of Yokohama.

Economy

Nishi Ward is a regional commercial center and the main business district of modern Yokohama. The world headquarters of Nissan is located in Nishi Ward. Other major companies headquartered in the Ward include:

• JGC Corporation
• Sagami Railway
• Okamura Corporation
• Kiyoken Co Ltd
• Ebara Foods Industry Co., Inc
• Computer System Engineering Co., Ltd

Japan Airlines at one time operated a domestic flights only ticketing facility in the Sky Building of the Yokohama City Air Terminal (YCAT) in Nishi-ku.^[1] On March 31, 2011 the ticket counter closed.^[2]

Transportation

Railroads

• East Japan Railway Company – Tōkaidō Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Negishi Line, Yokohama Line
  • Yokohama
• Keihin Electric Express Railway - Keikyū Main Line
  • Yokohama - Tobe
• Tokyu Corporation - Tōkyū Tōyoko Line
  • Yokohama - Shin-Takashima - Minatomirai
• Sagami Railway - Sagami Railway Main Line
  • Yokohama - Hiranumabashi - Nishi-Yokohama
• Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Company – Minatomirai Line
  • Yokohama –Shin-Takashima –Minatomirai
• Yokohama City Transportation Bureau – Blue Line
  • Yokohama – Takashimachō

Highways

• Shuto Expressway Kanagawa No. 1
• Shuto Expressway Kanagawa No. 2
• Routes 1
• Route 16

Prefecture roads

• Kanagawa Prefecture Road 13

Ferry

• The Port Service

Education

Three universities are located in Nishi Ward. The oldest is Yokohama National University, established in 1876. KU Port Square, part of the private Kanagawa University, established in 1928, lies within the ward. The third is Yashimagakuen University.

Local attractions

• Nogeyama Zoo
• Minato Mirai 21
• Yokohama Museum of Art

Events

Each June, Nishi Ward hosts the Yokohama Kaikō Festival to commemorate the opening of the city's port. In August, the Yokohama Carnival takes place near Yokohama Station.

Noted people from Nishi Ward

• Minoru Suzuki, professional wrestler

References

• Kato, Yuzo. Yokohama Past and Present. Yokohama City University (1990).

1. ^ "JAL Group Offices Information." Japan Airlines. March 28, 2009. Retrieved on July 21, 2011. "Sky Bldg.(Inside of YCAT), 2-19-12 Takashima Nishi-ku Yokohama City, 220-0011"
2. ^ "JAL Group Offices Information." Japan Airlines. Retrieved on July 21, 2011. "Ticketing counters have closed on March 31, 2011. KANTO YOKOHAMA CITY AIR TERMINAL"

External links

• Nishi Ward Office
• City of Yokohama statistics