Tsuchiura City Information

Demographics

Government

History

Pre-Jōmon period and Jōmon period

• Hunter-gatherers inhabited the coastal area of the Pacific Ocean (now Lake Kasumigaura) forming large shell middens, examples of which can be seen at the Kamitakatsu Archeological Site.

  Yayoi period

• Locals begin wet-rice cultivation and develop iron and bronze technology.

  Kofun period

• Burial mounds were used for burying important individuals. The site at Mushazuka held ancient treasures, such as accessories, swords and stone pillows (石枕）.The human bones found at this site have revealed the ancient ‘’Mizura’’ hairstyle.

  Asuka period

• Buddist influence begins to arrive in the area.

  Nara period

• During this period Japan came to be controlled by the central government under the Taihō Code. At that time Hitachi province (now Ibaraki prefecture) was divided into 11 districts. The Tsuchiura area covered parts of four districts.

  Heian period

• The Samurai class begins its rise to power. In 939, Taira no Masakado leads an uprising against the central government by attacking the provincial capital at Ishioka, a few kilometers to the north of Tsuchiura.

  Kamakura period

• Under the rule of the samurai Daimyo (lord), Haruhisa Oda, Buddhism flourished in Tsuchiura. Evidence of this can still be seen today at the Hannyaji Temple, with it’s large copper bell (one of the 3 ancient copper bells from Hitachi province). It is also during this time that the name ‘’Tsuchiura’’ appeared in historical text possessed by the Tō-ji Temple in Kyōto.

  Muromachi period

• This was a time of intense warfare in Japan, and the katana was a sign of power, position and prosperity. Examples of these can be seen at the Tsuchiura City Museum. Architecture from this period can also be seen at the Daisho-ji temple.

  Edo period

• Under the Tokugawa Shogunate Japan experienced peaceful times. Daimyo Tsuchiya encouraged commerce in Tsuchiura and in 1604 the trade road between Mito and Tōkyō was completed. In addition, a channel connecting Lake Kasumigaura to Edo bay was also completed around this time. This made Tsuchiura an important transportation hub and consequently the city developed rapidly.

  Meiji period

• During the restoration provinces and fiefdoms were changed into prefectures. In 1871, Ibaraki prefecture was established and in 1895 railroad service was started in Tsuchiura. The Gothic architecture of the old junior high school from this period can be seen at the Daiichi high school.

  Shōwa period

• Tsuchiura became a city when the towns of Manabe and Tsuchiura merged on November 3, 1940.
• The city suffered damages during an air raid on June 10, 1945 in World War II.
• On September 1, 1951 Tsuchiura absorbed parts of the village of Asahi (on the shores of Arakawa) and merged with the village of Towa.
• The city merged with the village of Kamiotsu on November 1, 1954.

  Heisei period

• Tsuchiura merged with the village of Niihari on February 20, 2006.

  Transportation

  Tsuchiura is serviced by the Jōban Line of the East Japan Railway Company. There are three stations in the city, Arakawaoki Station, Tsuchiura Station and Kandatsu Station running roughly from south to north. The city also has a major expressway running through it, the Jōban Expressway, which is operated by the East Nippon Expressway Company. Furthermore, many national highways criss-cross through Tsuchiura, such as Route 6. There is also an excellent local public bus system centered around Tsuchiura Station. In addition, operating to and from the station are many highway buses connecting the city to other cities and Narita International Airport.

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