Sasebo 佐世保市
Core city
Sasebo Station, Huis Ten Bosch, Arkas Sasebo, Kuroshima Church, Sasebo Yonkacho, Yosakoi Sasebo Matsuri
Flag Emblem
Location of Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture
Sasebo Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°11′N 129°43′E / 33.183°N 129.717°E / 33.183; 129.717Coordinates: 33°11′N 129°43′E / 33.183°N 129.717°E / 33.183; 129.717
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Nagasaki Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Norio Tomonaga (since May 2009)
Area
• Total	426.47 km2 (164.66 sq mi)
Population (October 1, 2016)
• Total	251,417
• Density	590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Flowering Dogwood
• Flower	Lilium speciosum
• Bird	Leomire
Time zone	UTC+9 (JST)
City hall address	1-10 Hachiman, Sasebo-shi, Nagasaki-ken 857-8585
Website	www.city.sasebo.lg.jp/languages/english/index.html

Sasebo (佐世保市, Sasebo-shi) is a core city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2016^[update], the city has an estimated population of 251,417 and a population density of 590 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km² (165 sq mi).

The city includes a part of Saikai National Park. Located in the southern part of the city is the Dutch-styled theme park Huis Ten Bosch.

History[edit]

The area of present-day Sasebo was a small fishing village under the control of nearby Hirado Domain until shortly after the start of the Meiji period. Imperial Japanese Navy Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō, when surveying the coasts of northwestern Kyūshū for the site of a navy base, selected his location based on its protected, deep-water harbor, geographic proximity to China and Korea, and the presence of nearby coal fields. Sasebo Naval District, founded in 1886, became the major port for the Japanese navy in its operations in the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, and remained a major naval base to the end of World War II. Along with the base facilities, the navy also constructed the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, which included major shipyards and repair facilities.

Sasebo City was founded on April 1, 1902. The city which had 206,000 inhabitants in 1945 suffered severe damage by bombing on June 29, 1945 during World War II and was destroyed by 48%.^[1] Sasebo was one of the original 17 targets selected for the dropping of the atomic bomb.

After the end of the war, part of the base facilities were taken over by the United States Navy, forming U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo. Some parts of the base are shared with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, in particular the JMSDF, though the primary base of the JGSDF's Western Army Infantry Regiment is also among the facilities there.

Mergers[edit]

Sasebo City Hall

• On April 1, 2005 the towns of Sechibaru and Yoshii (both from Kitamatsuura District) were merged into Sasebo.


• On March 31, 2006 the towns of Kosaza and Uku (both from Kitamatsuura District) were merged into Sasebo.


• On March 31, 2010 the towns of Emukae and Shikamachi (both from Kitamatsuura District) were merged into Sasebo.^[2]

Economy[edit]

Shipbuilding and associated heavy industries continue to dominate the economy of Sasebo. Adjacent to the naval base is the Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. shipyard. The Port of Sasebo has an active fishing fleet, and many oyster and pearl farms are located on the Kujū-ku Islands.^[3]

The Mikawachi district has a 400-year-old pottery manufacturing industry.^[4]

Sasebo Station is the westernmost station in the JR passenger train system and is about two hours by train from Hakata Station in the city of Fukuoka (via the Midori line) and about an hour and half from Nagasaki Station in the city of Nagasaki. Across the street from Sasebo Station is the Sasebo Bus Center, which provides connecting service to many local destinations.

Climate[edit]

The climate is similar to that of Norfolk, Virginia. Rainy season lasts from early June to mid-July, and the summer is hot and humid. During the winter, there may be light snowfall and some freezing.^[5]

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sasebo has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter.

Points of interest[edit]

Huis Ten Bosch theme park

• Seishin Cathedral, a large church which was built in a neogothic style in 1930, is the symbol of Sasebo. It is opposite the main railway station in Miura-cho district.^[7] Sasebo is the only Japanese city which uses the symbol of a Christian church as part of its seal/flag.


• Kujū-ku Islands


• 
  Kōzakihana, westernmost point on the island of Kyūshū


• Tenkaihō


• Saikai Pearl Sea Resort


• Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces Museum


• Sasebo Zoological Park and Botanical Garden


• 
  Huis Ten Bosch (theme park), inspired by a Dutch trading post in nearby Hirado


• 
  Hirado, to the north, was a foreign trade port and where William Adams is buried (James Clavell based his novel Shōgun (1975) on Adams' life)


• 
  Ureshino, to the south, has hot springs resorts

Panoramic view of Sasebo

Sister city relations[edit]

Sasebo has sister-city relations with three places outside Japan and one within the country:^[8]

• 
  Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States


• 
  Coffs Harbour, Australia


• 
  Xiamen, China


• 
  Kokonoe, Ōita
  

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sasebo, Nagasaki.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Sasebo.

• 
  Sasebo City official website (in Japanese)
  


• 
  Sasebo Tourist Information site (in English)
  


• 
  Japan National Tourism organization (in Japanese)