Abiko, city in central Japan on Honshu Island, in northwestern Chiba Prefecture near the boundary of Ibaraki Prefecture and about 30 km (about 19 mi) northeast of downtown Tokyo. Abiko is located between the Tone River and the Lake Tega marshland. Horticulture, mainly flowers, is Abiko's primary industry. With increasing urbanization of the area, Abiko has become a suburb for commuters to Tokyo and Narita. Abiko is served by the Joban and Narita passenger-rail lines and is about 30 km (about 19 mi) west of the New Tokyo International Airport (opened in 1978) in Narita. The Lake Tega marshland is a popular place for bird watching and duck hunting. The 20th-century Japanese novelists Mushanokoji Saneatsu and Shiga Naoya once owned houses on the north side of Lake Tega, which is known for its scenic beauty. During the Edo period (1603-1867) Abiko was a post-station town (an officially regulated settlement catering to travelers) on the Mito Kaido, one of the historic roads that connected Edo (now Tokyo) with the surrounding provinces. Population 127,041 (1999).
