Isehara 4.98

Isehara is a city located in central Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 102,037, with 44,039 households, and a population density of 1,800 persons per km2. The total area is 55.56 km2.GeographyIsehara is located in the hilly center of Kanagawa Prefecture. A large portion of the city is within the Tanzawa-Ōyama Quasi-National Park.Surrounding MunicipalitiesAtsugiHadanoHiratsukaHistoryThe area of present-day Isehara City was part of several large shōen in Sagami Province during the Kamakura period. During the Edo period, it was nominally part of Odawara Domain, although large portions were tenryō territory controlled by the Shogun in Edo through various hatamoto.After the Meiji Restoration and with the establishment of the district system in 1878, the area came under the control of, Kanagawa Prefecture and became Isehara Town on April 1, 1889. On March 26, 1896, Ōsumi District and Yurugi District were merged to create Naka District. The town began to experience rapid growth after the opening of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Electric Railway on April 1, 1929. On December 21, 1954, the town expanded through merger with neighboring Oyama Town and three villages. Its area expanded further on September 30, 1956 through annexation of a portion of neighboring Okazaki Village. Isehara was elevated to city status on March 1, 1971.