Mihama-ku

Mihama 美浜区
Ward
Mihama Ward
Aerial view of Mihama
Seal
Location of Mihama in Chiba
Mihama
Coordinates: 35°38′25″N 140°03′47″E / 35.64028°N 140.06306°E / 35.64028; 140.06306
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Chiba
City	Chiba
Area
• Total	21.16 km2 (8.17 sq mi)
Population  (April 2012)
• Total	149,314
• Density	7,060/km2 (18,300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Address	5-15-1 Masago, Mihama-ku Chiba-shi, Chiba-ken 261-0011
Website	Official website of Mihama-ku

Mihama Ward (美浜区, Mihama-ku) is one of the six wards of the city of Chiba in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of April 2012, the ward had an estimated population of 149,314 and a population density of 7,060 persons per km². The total area was 21.16 km².

Mihawa Ward is located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, and consists entirely of reclaimed land from Tokyo Bay. As such, the area is flat, and portions are below sea level.

• 
  Mihama Ward within Chiba
• 
  The Beach of Mihama-ku

• Hanamigawa Ward
• Chuo Ward
• Inage Ward
• Narashino, Chiba

Being land formerly underwater, Mihama had no predecessor towns or villages before the reform of the old provincial system in 1872.

Reclamation of 19 kilometers of white sand beach and mudflats along the shore of Tokyo Bay began in 1912, with the construction of Japan's first civilian aerodrome. The site is commemorated today by the Inage Civil Aviation Commemoration Center. Following World War II, the expanding Tokyo Metropolis created a demand for additional factory locations and public housing. The development of the Kaihin New Town from 1969 to 1995 was one such project. With the promotion of Chiba to a designated city with additional autonomy from Chiba prefecture and the central government on April 1, 1992, Mihama Ward was created as an administrative unit.

• 
  Mihama Ward Office (Dec 11, 2011)

Mihama Ward is largely a regional commercial center and bedroom community for central Chiba and Tokyo. The newly developed waterfront area of Kaihin Makuhari is in Mihama-ku.

ÆON has its headquarters in Mihama-ku.^[1]

ÆON, Seiko Instruments and several other companies are headquartered in the Makuhari^{[citation needed]} business district of Mihama-ku. Japan's second largest convention center Makuhari Messe and Chiba Marine Stadium, the home ground of the Chiba Lotte Marines baseball team are located in Kaihin Makuhari.^{[citation needed]}

• JR East – Keiyō Line
  • Makuharitoyosuna - Kaihimmakuhari - Kemigawahama - Inagekaigan

Universities and colleges

• Tokyo Dental College
• Kanda University of International Studies
• The Open University of Japan
• Chiba Prefectural University of Health Sciences

Municipal elementary and junior high schools, and one public high school in this ward (Inage Senior High School) are operated by the Chiba City Board of Education (千葉市教育委員会).

Municipal junior high schools:^[2]

Former junior high schools^[2]

Municipal elementary schools:^[3]

Former elementary schools:^[3]

Private schools:

• Makuhari Junior and Senior High School^[4]

• Michihiro Ogasawara, professional baseball player
• Mikiyo Ohno - singer