is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 148,285 in 73,167 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city was . Geography Tama is located in the foothills of the Okutama Mountains of southwestern Tokyo, known as Tama Hills, which spans Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire region is historically referred to as Tama; therefore there are many place names scattered throughout the area with references to the name "Tama" which are not within the city limits. The Tama River marks the city's northern boundary, and Kanagawa Prefecture is to the south. Its southern half forms part of the Tama New Town project, Japan's largest residential development, constructed in the 1970s. Surrounding municipalities Tokyo Metropolis Inagi Fuchū Hachiōji Machida Hino Kanagawa Prefecture Kawasaki Climate Tama has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Tama is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1647 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Tama increased very rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s. History The area of present-day Tama was part of ancient Musashi Province. In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of July 22, 1878, the area became part of Minamitama District in Kanagawa Prefecture. Tama Village was founded on April 1, 1889 from the merger of 11 pre-Meiji period hamlets with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Minamitama District was transferred to the administrative control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. Tama was elevated to town status on April 1, 1964. Construction of Tama New Town began in 1966, and the first occupants started moving in 1971. On November 1, 1971, Tama Town was reclassified as Tama City, dissolving Minamitama District. Tama was the last town in the former Minamitama District. Government Tama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 26 members. Tama, together with the city of Inagi, contributes two members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between Tokyo 21st district and Tokyo 23rd district of the lower house of the