History of Gotemba

History of Gotemba <<

It was approximately 6,000-7,000 years ago during the Jomon period when people started to live in the Gotemba region. This region was blessed with the springs of Kise River and Ayuzawa River and it was surrounded by Mt. Fuji through to the ridgeline of Mt. Hakone.
Many architectural potteries and residences were discovered on the sides of Mt. Hakone.
The volcanic mountain, Fuji was active back at that time. People continuously ran away for refuge during eruptions and came back to Gotemba when the eruptions had settled.

During the Yayoi Period, the rice culture was imported into Japan. With the introduction of agriculture, people started to move down to the fields from the mountains in order to cultivate rice fields. Groups of people started to live around the water in the Kofun Period. The remains of Nakata are representative ruins from that period.

The volcanic activities of Mt. Fuji settled and trees and plants started to grow. People made scattered villages here and there and people from other regions started to visit Gotemba. In the 7th century, legal codes were established by the noblemen in Nara and the Heians reigned over Japan. Roads linking the capital, Nara, to local areas were constructed and as the Gotemba region was an important connecting location between Sagami, the eastern regions and capitals, the biggest station in Suruga (now Shizuoka) was established.

In the 10th and 11th century, a manor of the Ise Shrine named ' Oonuma Ayuzawa Mikuriya' was built. This region was named 'Mikuriya' and it has remained so-called even until now. In May 1193 (kenkyu 4), a Fuji area hunting group called ‘Fuji no Makigari’ led by General Yoritomo Minamoto was created. There are some legendary stories telling us about it and places named after it.
There are ruins of Fukasawa Castle, which was built in the Sengoku Period. The Takeda and The Houjyo had fights over the castle in 1569 (Eiroku 12) and 1571.

In the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ieyasu Tokugawa had victory and achieved almost unlimited political power and wealth. In 1603, Ieyasu established his government in Edo (now Tokyo). The Tokugawa shoguns continued to rule Japan for over 250 years.
Gotemba was named after ‘Goten’, which means ‘a castle’. Ieyasu gave orders to build a ‘Goten’, to accommodate travelers on their way from Sumpu (now Shizuoka City) to Edo. The town gradually developed around the castle.

In 1633 (kanei10), the Gotemba region was incorporated into the Odawara feudal clan. People were living on cultivated fields, burning charcoal and selling firewood, winnow, colander etc.
In November 1707 (Einen 4), the ashes from the eruption of Mt. Fuji caused great damage on the crops. The drastic restoration project was led by Hanzaemon Ina.
When the Meiji Period started and new capital, Tokyo, was established in 1868, Gotemba was included in the Shizuoka feudal clan from Odawara. In 1872 (Meiji 4), Japanese feudal lords returned to their domains and became the governors of their former controlled areas. The Shizuoka clan has become Shizuoka Prefecture. Gas lamps were introduced, the Mt, Fuji east climbing route was laid in 1884 (Meiji 16) and Gotemba was becoming known as a regular tourist attraction.

1890 (Meiji 22) was the most epoch-making year for Gotemba. The Gotemba train station on Tokaido line was opened in February. In April, Miyuriya town, Fujioka village, Harasato village, Inno village, Tamaho village and Takane village were inaugurated.
In 1889, the Gotemba carriage railroad ran between Subashiri and Niihashi and carried a lot of goods. It was crowded especially in summer with people coming to climb Mt. Fuji.

In 1910 (Meiji 42), an agreement was reached to use the field at the bottom of Mt. Fuji for military maneuvers and related facilities. These were established in Takigahara and Itazuma. Later, another camp base was established in Komakado. In 1914 (Taisho 3), Mikuriya town was renamed to Gotemba town. Gotemba was going through a difficult stage due to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (Taisho12), the Great Depression and the Pacific War.

In 1954 (Showa 28), Gotemba town, Fujioka village, Harasato village, Inno village and Tamaho village were united as the ‘Promotion of the unity of town and villages Law’ was introduced and enforced.
On February 11th, 1956 (Showa 31), Gotemba City (pop. 42,000) was established.
Takane village was incorporated on January 1st in the following year, and Furusawa region was joined from Oyama town on September 1st in 1958 (Showa 33).
The city developed gradually and its economy became stronger during the period of High Economic Growth in the 1960’s(Showa 40’s). The opening of the Tomei Expressway in 1969(Showa44) was a landmark for the history of Gotemba.

The city had only local industry and agricultural tourism to rely on, but enterprises advanced into Gotemba and about 10 companies were moved to the Komakado Industrial Region in 1984(Showa59). They are contributing to the vitalizing of commerce and the environment.

The re-adjustment of land was promoted successfully and the Ninooka, Higashitanaka and Ayuzawa residence areas were rezoned. The city had its planning project to improve the water and sewage system, parks, roads and the area around Gotemba Train Station, which is the entrance of the city. The population of the city increased to over 80,000 in 1994 (Heisei6).

*The number in parentheses are era names called Nengo.They are used in Japan to reckon time.