Inzai


Inzai is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
As of February 2011, the city has an estimated population of 89,505, and a population density of 723 persons per km². The total area is 123.80 km².

Geography

Inzai is located in the important area of northern Chiba Prefecture connecting Tokyo and Narita. Besides Tone River that flows in the north, Teganuma Lake that lies in the north-west, Imba Lake that lies in the south-east of the city, the city is also surrounded by natural environment such as natural forest.

Surrounding Municipalities

The area of Inzai has been inhabited since the Japanese Paleolithic period, with some stone tools having been found in Kikaribyo that were used by people during that time. During the Edo period, the village of Kioroshi developed as a port at the bank of Tone River.
After the Meiji Restoration, on April 1, 1889, the town of Kioroshi, and the villages of Omori, Taisha, Funoho, Rokugo, Munakata, Hongo and Eiji were founded. The Meiji Era is also the golden age for steam ships in Tone River sailing from Tokyo to Chōshi. Taisha was raised to town status on March 1, 1913 and renamed Omori Town. In 1942, a pilot training center was built in Sofuke. This place was hit by Allied air raids in World War II. After the war the training center was abandoned.
On December 1, 1954, the town of Inzai was founded through the merger of the towns of Kioroshi and Taisha, and the villages of Eiji and Funaho. At the time the population was about 11,000.
The development of the Chiba New Town project and the Hokusō Line considerably boosted the development of Inzai from the mid-1980s. Inzai was elevated to city status on April 1, 1996.
On March 23, 2010, Inzai absorbed the villages of Inba and Motono to create the new and expanded city of Inzai.

Economy

Shopping Centers

The main shopping centers in Inzai are:

Railway

There are thirteen public elementary schools, six public junior high schools, one senior high school, and two private universities in Inzai. Inba High School is operated by the Chiba Prefectural Board of Education.

Universities