Akigawa

The name of a former city in the western part of Tokyo. In 1972, Akita Town was incorporated as a city and renamed Akigawa City. In 1995, it merged with Itsukaichi Town to form Akiruno City. The former Akigawa City area is located between the Tama River and the Akigawa River, with the two rivers at their confluence. Located at the eastern foot of the Kanto Mountains, the Akiru Plateau spreads out between the Kusabana Hills to the north and the Akigawa Hills to the south. Both hills are beautiful in nature and have been made into metropolitan parks, making them popular day trip destinations for Tokyo residents. The history of plateau development is long, as can be seen in the Nishiakiru Stone Age Dwellings, a nationally designated historic site. According to the Engishiki, Ogawa Maki, one of the Musashino government ranches, was established here in the early 10th century. Mulberry fields spread throughout the area from the Edo period onwards, but have hardly been seen since the 1980s. The area is served by the JR Itsukaichi Line, and since electrification in 1960, residential development has progressed and the population has rapidly increased. There is a comprehensive leisure park, Tokyo Summerland.

[Kiyoshi Sawada]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東京都西部にあった旧市名。1972年（昭和47）秋多(あきた)町が市制施行し、秋川市と改称。1995年（平成7）五日市町(いつかいちまち)と合併し、あきる野市となる。旧秋川市地域は多摩川と秋川の合流点を基点として、両河川に挟まれている。関東山地の東麓(とうろく)に位置し、北の草花(くさばな)丘陵と、南の秋川丘陵の間に、秋留(あきる)台地が広がる。丘陵はともに自然美に優れ、都立自然公園となり、都民の日帰り観光地となっている。国指定史跡の西秋留石器時代住居跡にみられるように、台地開発の歴史は古い。また『延喜式(えんぎしき)』によると、10世紀初期武蔵(むさし)官牧の一つ小川牧が置かれたという。江戸時代以降は桑畑が広がったが、1980年代以降はほとんどみられない。JR五日市線が通じ、1960年の電化以後、住宅地化が進み人口が急増している。総合レジャーランドの東京サマーランドがある。

［沢田　清］

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