is a city in the western side of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 238,087, and a population density of 11,000 per km<sup>2</sup>. the total area of the city is .
Chà Âfu is approximately in the south-center of Tokyo Metropolis, approximately 20 kilometers west from downtown Tokyo, on the Musashino Terrace bordered by the floodplains of the Tama River and the .
Tokyo Metropolis
Chà Âfu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Chà Âfu is 14.5 ðC. The average annual rainfall is 1647 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.0 ðC, and lowest in January, at around 3.1 ðC.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Chà Âfu has grown steadily over the past century, and increased especially rapidly in the 1950s and 1960s.
The area of present-day Chà Âfu has been inhabited since Japanese Paleolithic times, and numerous remains from the Jà Âmon, Yayoi and Kofun periods have been discovered. During the Nara period, it became part of ancient Musashi Province. During the Sengoku period, the area was frequently contested between the Later Hà Âjà  clan and Uesugi clan. During the Edo period, the area prospered as a post station on the Kà Âshà « Kaidà  and as a center for sericulture. The origin of the city name "Chà Âfu" comes from the fact that it was allowed to pay taxes in cloth instead of in rice. There were two other places named Chà Âfu along the Tama River: west of the current city was Chà Âfu Village, now part of Ome; and to the east was Higashi Chà Âfu Village, now part of Ota Ward.
In the post-Meiji Restoration cadastral reform of April 1, 1889, Chà Âfu Town and neighboring Jindai Village were established within Kanagawa Prefecture. The entire district was transferred to the control of Tokyo Metropolis on April 1, 1893. Jindai was elevated to town status on November 3, 1952, and merged with Chà Âfu Town on April 1, 1955, to form the present city of Chà Âfu.
Chà Âfu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members. Chà Âfu, together with the city of Komae, contributes three members to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tokyo 22nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Chà Âfu is primarily a regional commercial center, and a bedroom community ("bed town" ãÂÂãÂÂãÂÂã¿ã¦ã³, beddotaun) for central Tokyo. The headquarters of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are also located in the city.
Keio Corporation - Keià  Line
Keio Corporation - Keià  Sagamihara Line
Colleges and universities:
Primary and secondary education
Metropolitan high schools:
Municipal junior high schools:
Municipal elementary schools:
Private schools:
The Chà Âfu City Fireworks Festival, attended by as many as 300,000 people along the banks of the Tamagawa River.
Chà Âfu has a large cultural centre that supports many groups encouraging the integration of foreigners into Japanese society, providing free Japanese, Shodo, Ikebana, Karate (and many other) lessons.
There is a park and memorial hall commemorating the life of novelist Mushanokà Âji Saneatsu, a former resident of Chà Âfu.
For the 1964 Summer Olympics, the city served as part of the route for the athletic 50-kilometer walk and marathon events.