was a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

located in Nishikamo District, north-central

Aichi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,461,111 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

Geography

Fujioka was situated in the hilly region of central Aichi Prefecture, surrounded by forests and rivers, contributing to its semi-rural character. The town shared borders with other municipalities such as

Obara Obara may refer to: People With the surname * Daisuke Obara (born 1981), Japanese ice hockey player * Hitomi Obara (born 1981), Japanese sport wrestler * Joji Obara, Korean-Japanese serial rapist * Keita Obara, (born 1986), Japanese professiona ...

, Asuke, and Shimoyama, which were also later merged into Toyota City.

History

During the early

Meiji period The was an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonizatio ...

cadastral reforms on October 1, 1889, the villages of Tomioka (富岡村) and Fujikawa (藤川村) were established as part of Japan's modern municipality system. These two villages merged to form the village of Fujioka on April 1, 1906. Fujioka was elevated to town status on April 1, 1978, reflecting population growth and urban development. On April 1, 2005, Fujioka, along with the village of

from Nishikamo District, the towns of Asuke,

Asahi Asahi (Japanese 朝日, 旭, or あさひ 'morning sun') may refer to: Places in Japan Cities * Asahi, Chiba (旭市; ''Asahi-shi'') Wards * Asahi-ku, Osaka (旭区; ''Asahi-ku'') * Asahi-ku, Yokohama (旭; ''Asahi-ku'') Towns * Asahi, Aichi ...

, and

Inabu was a town located in Higashikamo District, in the mountainous section of north-central Aichi Prefecture, Japan, bordering Gifu Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture. As of the 2005 census the town had a population of 2,928. Its total area was 98.36 ...

, and the village of Shimoyama from Higashikamo District, was merged into the expanded city of

Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...

. As a result, Fujioka ceased to exist as an independent

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

Demographics

As of December 1, 2004, the town had an estimated population of 19,239 with a population density of 293.4 persons per km². The total area was 65.58 km².

Economy

Fujioka's economy was a mix of agriculture, light manufacturing, and local commerce. The surrounding forested areas supported forestry and related industries, while its proximity to Toyota City enabled residents to commute for work, especially in the automotive sector.

Transportation

Fujioka was accessible via local roadways connecting it to central Toyota and adjacent towns. Though it lacked major railway stations, its road links facilitated regional connectivity and commuting for residents.

Cultural and Historic Sites

Fujioka had several temples and shrines of historical significance, and its natural scenery made it popular for seasonal events such as cherry blossom viewing and hiking. Community festivals were held to celebrate local traditions, especially before the town’s integration into Toyota City.

Legacy

After the merger, Fujioka's administrative functions were absorbed by Toyota City, but its historical identity is still preserved in place names, local culture, and community associations. Former town facilities continue to serve local residents under Toyota's municipal administration. Nishikamo Fujioka Vil km zero

References

{{Authority control Dissolved municipalities of Aichi Prefecture Toyota, Aichi