Tachikawa (立川市; -shi) is a city located in western Tokyo, Japan.

As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 170,064 and the density of 7,976 people per km². The total area is 24.38 km². Showa Memorial Park, an expansive leisure and recreational facility operated by the national government, occupies 1.49 square kilometres of land that was formerly part of Tachikawa Air Base in Tachikawa and neighboring Akishima.

The city was founded on December 1, 1940.

Transportation

Tachikawa is on the JR Chuo Line. Trains traveling west from Tokyo Station through Shinjuku stop at Tachikawa Station before continuing to Hachioji and Takao. The JR Ome Line and Itsukaichi Line also serve the city, stopping at Tachikawa and Nishi Tachikawa stations. The Nambu Line links Tachikawa and Kawasaki, following the Tama River.

The Tama Toshi Monorail Line carries traffic north and south from Tachikawa. Several stations are in the city, and Tachikawa Minami and Tachikawa Kita stations flank JR Tachikawa Station.

National Route 20, the Koshu Kaido , carries automobile and truck traffic through Tachikawa in the east-west direction.

Bus service links Tachikawa and the major airports in the region, Haneda and Narita.

Geography

Tachikawa is about 40km west of the center of Tokyo. Kunitachi, Kokubunji, and Kodaira are east of Tachikawa, Higashi-Yamato , and Musashi Murayama are north of Tachikawa, Fussa, and Akishima west of Tachikawa, and Hino to the south.

The Tama River flows between Tachikawa and Hino.

Tamagawa-jousui (Tamagawa water supply) flows north of town, a great promenade is located on both banks. Tamagawa-jousui is also the name of a station.

External links

• Official website in Japanese