Takeo, Saga

Takeo (武雄市, Takeo-shi) is a city located in Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. In 2011, the city government was the first in Japan to switch to using Facebook for its website.

As of October 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 48,845 and a population density of 257 persons per km². The total area is 195.44 km².

On March 1, 2006, the towns of Kitagata and Yamauchi (both from Kishima District) were merged into Takeo.

Geography

Takeo is located in the western part of Saga Prefecture. It is approximately 28 kilometers (17 mi) west of Saga City and approximately 30 kilometers (19 mi) east of Sasebo. Takeo has a complex topography including mountains, mountain basins and riverside plains.

• Mountains:　Mt. Mifune (210 m), Mt. Hachiman (764 m), Mt. Bi (518 m), Mt. Jinroku (447 m)
• Rivers: Rokkaku River, Shiomi River, Yamanaka River

Adjoining municipalities

• Saga Prefecture
  • Arita
  • Imari
  • Karatsu
  • Ōmachi
  • Shiroishi
  • Taku
  • Ureshino
• Nagasaki Prefecture
  • Hasami

History

• 1889-04-01 - The modern municipal system was established. The current city region is occupied by 1 town (Takeo) and 11 villages (Asahi, Hashishita, Higashikawanobori, Kitagata, Kitsu, Nakato, Nishikawanobori, Sumiyoshi, Takeo, Takeuchi and Wakaki).
• 1900-06-07 - Takeo Village was incorporated into Takeo Town.
• 1944-04-29 - Kitamura Village became Kitamura Town.
• 1954-04-01 - Takeo Town absorbed the villages of Asahi, Hashishita, Higashikawanobori, Nishikawanobori, Takeuchi and Wakagi to create Takeo City. The villages of Sumiyoshi and Nakato were merged to create Yamauchi Village.
• 1956-04-01 - Hashishita Village was split and was incorporated into Kitagata and Shiroishi (respectively).
• 1960-09-01 - Yamauchi Village became Yamauchi Town.
• 2006-03-01 - The towns of Kitagata and Yamauchi were incorporated into Takeo City.

Education

Further information: Education in Japan

High schools

• Saga Prefectural Takeo High School

Junior high schools

• Takeo Junior High School
• Takeo Kita Junior High School
• Kawanobori Junior High School
• Kitagata Junior High School
• Yamauchi Junior High School
• Seiryo Junior High School

Elementary schools

• Takeo Elementary School
• Mifunegaoka Elementary School
• Asahi Elementary School
• Tachibana Elementary School
• Wakaki Elementary School
• Takeuchi Elementary School
• Higashikawanobori Elementary School
• Nishikawanobori Elementary School
• Kitagata Elementary School
• Yamauchi Higashi Elementary School
• Yamauchi Nishi Elementary School

Transportation

Air

The nearest airports are Saga Airport followed by Nagasaki Airport.

Rail

• JR Kyushu
  • Sasebo Line
    • Kitagata Station - Takahashi Station - Takeo-Onsen Station - Nagao Station - Mimasaka Station

The main station is Takeo-Onsen.

Road

• Expressways:
  • Nagasaki Expressway
    • Takeo-Kitagata Interchange - Kawanobori Service Area - Takeo Junction
  • Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway
    • Takeo Junction - Takeo Minami Interchange
• National highways:
  • Route 34
  • Route 35
  • Route 498
• Main prefectural roads:
  • Saga Prefectural Route 1 (Sasebo-Ureshino)
  • Saga Prefectural Route 25 (Taku-Wakagi)
  • Saga Prefectural Route 26 (Imari-Yamauchi)
  • Saga Prefectural Route 36 (Takeo-Fukudomi)
  • Saga Prefectural Route 38 (Ōchi-Yamauchi)
  • Saga Prefectural Route 45 (Ureshino-Yamauchi)
  • Saga Prefectural Route 53 (Takeo-Imari)

Notable places and festivals

• Takeo Onsen
• Takeo Jinja
• Takeo Keirin Track
• Saga Prefectural Space and Science Museum
• Mifunegaoka Plum Grove
• Kitagata Shiki no Oka Park
• Daishō-ji
• Chūō Park
• Mt. Kurokami, Fūfu Rock
• Kurokami no Roman festival
• Mifuneyama Garden
• Keishūen Garden, Yōkō Museum

Notable people

• Keisuke Hiwatashi, former mayor

Sister cities

• Sebastopol, California

External links

• City Government