The City of Chitose has grown to become the largest industrial city in the inland area of Hokkaido, as a number of excellent companies have located their facilities to the city since the development of Hokkaido’s first municipal industrial complex began here in 1964.
　Our city is appraised as the “most ideal industrial area in Hokkaido” because it is a major transportation base of Hokkaido where air, land and sea transportation networks connect systematically with each other, and a number of large projects are being promoted centering around New Chitose Airport, which has begun Japan’s first 24-hour operation.
　There is also Photonics Valley, which was modeled after Silicon Valley in the United States, with the goal of establishing an international base for optical technology through industry-university-government collaboration. With the Chitose Institute of Science and Technology as the central facility and the Photonics World Consortium, which is an industry-university-government joint research organization, Photonics Valley is concentrating the wisdom of the citizens and many other people, and advancing steadily toward the future.
　Looking at natural features, Chitose boasts of the clear stream of the Chitose River, which originates in Lake Shikotsu within a National Park where salmon swim up to from the sea, and the spring water of the Naibetsu River, which has been chosen as one of Japan’s 100 Best Natural Waters. Our city is filled with deep green leaves in summer, and lined with brightly colored forests in autumn.
　Regarding the living environment, Chitose is highly regarded as a lively and pleasant city to live in, as we are striving to improve parks and cultural facilities to provide places of relaxation and comfort for our citizens.