Sanmu


Sanmu is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east.
As of April 1, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 55,054, and a population density of 376 persons per km2. The total area is 146.38 km2.

Surrounding municipalities

The modern city of Sanmu was established on March 27, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Sanbu, Matsuo and Narutō, and the village of Hasunuma. The kanji for the city name are the same as for the former town of Sanbu, but is pronounced differently. Sanmu was damaged by a tsunami as a result of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Economy

Due to mixed plantings of pine, Japanese cypress, and Japanese cedar, Sanmu was a center of wood production until 1923 at the end of the Taishō period. Many in the town remain active in the woodworking and carpentry trade. Small-scale agriculture in Sanmu produces a variety of fruits and vegetables, but the town is noted for carrots, watermelon, peanuts. The town also attracts tourists to its numerous strawberry farms. Sanmu serves as a bedroom community for nearby Chiba and Tokyo, and housing development continues in the city.

Transportation

Railway