Hachioji is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.

As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and the density of 2,962.27/km2. The total area is 186.31 km2. It is the eighth largest city in the Greater Tokyo Area. The city is surrounded on three sides by mountains, forming the Hachi?ji Basin which opens up toward the east in the direction of Tokyo. The mountain ranges in the southwest include Mount Takao (599 m) and Mount Jinba (857 m), two popular hiking destinations which can be reached by train and bus, respectively. Two major national roads, Route 16 (which connects Kawagoe in the north with Yokohama in the south) and Route 20, the former K?sh? Kaid?.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Attractions
3 Transportation
4 Education
4.1 Universities
5 See also
6 References
7 External links


[edit] History
Although Hachi?ji only gained city status on September 1, 1917, it has been an important junction point and post-town along the K?sh? Highway, the main road that connected the historical Edo (today's Tokyo) with Western Japan since medieval times, especially during the Edo period. For a short period of time, a castle, Hachi?ji Castle (八王子城, Hachi?ji-j??) existed in the area. It was built in 1584 by H?j? Ujiteru (北条氏照?), but was soon destroyed in 1590 during General Toyotomi Hideyoshis attempt to gain control over all of Japan. During the Meiji period, Hachi?ji prospered as an important location for the production of silk and silk textiles. The industry faded away, however, in the 1960s. Today, Hachi?ji mainly serves as a commuter town for people working in Tokyo, and as a location for many large colleges and universities.

During World War II, captured American airmen were beheaded with samurai swords in Hachioji. When American pilots saw the published photos of the executions, they adopted the motto, "Save one for Hachioji," meaning hold back one bomb from their assigned bombing runs and drop it on Hachioji. The destruction was so extensive that, for decades after the war, American military personnel were warned not to visit Hachioji, because of the residual hostility to Americans.

During the 1964 Summer Olympics, the city played host to the road cycling events. A velodrome in the city played host to the track cycling events.

[edit] Attractions

Sh?wa emperor's grave
Taish? emperor's graveHachioji stretches over a vast area, combining such diverse parts as the densely populated city center and its shopping district with the hardly populated rural areas in the west. Mt. Takao (599m) is a very popular hiking destination in the southwest, easily accessible through the Keio Takao Line. It is famous for the Takao Shrine (高尾神社, Takao-jinja?) and the Shingon Buddhist temple Takao-san Yaku?in Y?kiji (高尾山薬王院有喜寺?). The Tama Forest Science Garden is also of interest. Mt. Jinba (855 m) is more difficult to reach, requiring a one-hour bus ride from the city center. It is popular, however, because of the scenic view toward Mt. Fuji.

Little remains of Hachi?ji Castle. A rare attraction, however, is the Imperial Mausoleum (多摩御陵, Tama Gory??) in which the Taish? and Sh?wa emperors are buried.

[edit] Transportation
The JR East Ch?? Main Line and the Kei? Electric Railway provide rail service to Hachi?ji: JR eastward to Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station, westward to Sagamiko and K?fu; Kei? to Shinjuku.

The Ch?? Expressway is a divided, limited-access toll road that serves Hachi?ji, roughly parallel to the Ch?? Line. Hachi?ji also lies on Japanese National Route 16 and Route 20.

[edit] Education
The city operates its public elementary and junior high schools.

Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education

Fujimori High School [1]
Hachioji East High School [2]
Hachioji North High School [3]
Hachioji Soushi High School [4]
Hachioji Takushin High School [5]
Hachioji Technical High School [6]
Katakura High School [7]
Matsugaya High School [8]
Minamitama High School [9]
Shoyo High School [10]
The metropolis operates the Hachioji School for the Blind [11]

Nippon Engineering College [12] is also in Hachi?ji.

[edit] Universities
Chuo University
Digital Hollywood University
Hosei University (Tama Campus)
Kogakuin University
Kyorin University (Hachi?ji Campus)
Meisei University (Hino Campus)
Nihon Bunka University
Soka University of Japan, which has a sister school in the USA, Soka University of America
Tama Art University (Hachi?ji Campus)
Takushoku University (Hachi?ji Campus)
Teikyo University (Hachi?ji Campus)
Tokyo Junshin Women's College
Tokyo Kasei-Gakuin University (Machida Campus)
Tokyo Metropolitan University
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences
Tokyo University of Technology (Hachi?ji Campus)
Tokyo Zokei University of Art and Design