The caipital is the ceety o Saitama. Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport are the closest major civil airports. Kawagoe Prefecture was consolidated with other territories into Iruma Prefecture (入間県, Iruma-ken; government seat unchanged from Kawagoe domain/prefecture: Kawagoe Town, Iruma District) which consisted of 13 districts of Musashi in the Western part of present-day Saitama. Commuter helicopter flights from Kawajima to Narita Airport are offered. [1] Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km² (1,466 sq mi). [17], In the National Diet, Saitama's directly elected delegation consists of 15 members of the House of Representatives and currently seven (four per class, but only raised from three in 2019, so it will only grow to eight after the 2022 election) in the House of Councillors. In the creation of modern cities, towns and villages in 1889, these districts were subdivided into originally 40 towns and 368 villages. Saitama, capital of Saitama ken (prefecture), east-central Honshu, Japan. In the fifth year of the Keiun era (708), deposits of copper were reported to have been found in the Chichibu District of what is now Saitama Prefecture. Corrections? Saitama Prefecture is bordered by Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Nagano, and Yamanashi Prefectures. Updates? After the Great Shōwa mergers of the 1950s, the number of municipalities in Saitama had shrunk to 95, including 23 cities by then. Sight in Saitama Saitama Prefectural Gokoku Jinja Shrine “Gokoku” is a type of Shinto shrine, designated as a place of worship for those who have died in war. The prefectural capital, Urawa in North Adachi, remained a town until 1934. Saitama Prefecture was formerly part of the old Musashi Province. the New Shuttle and Saitama Railway the southeastern Saitama City offers excellent art museums and cultural facilities. This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large number of residents commute each day. (2005). Train enthusiasts shouldn't miss this impressive, expensively produced railway-history museum located about thirty minutes north of Shinjuku in Saitama Prefecture. It is located central-west of the Kanto region, measuring 103 km from east to west and 52 km from north to south. Website +81 48-645-8171. National highway Routes 4, 16, and 17 are important routes in Kantō region. The capital is the city of Saitama.. In the last round in April 2019, the LDP maintained its outright majority with 48 of the 93 seats in the assembly. Saitama Prefecture Historic Sites: See reviews and photos of 10 historic sites in Saitama Prefecture, Japan on Tripadvisor. The caves are known to be ancient tomb graves from the Kofun Period (250-538 AD), and are just as exciting as visiting Egyptian pyramids! Seibu Railway the southwestern, It lies near the northern limit of the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area, about 20 miles (32 km) north of central Tokyo. Both had been post towns on the Nakasendō highway between Ōsaka and Edo (Tokyo) during the Tokugawa period (1603–1867), and both grew rapidly in the 20th century, especially after World War II. This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and many of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which many residents commute each day.. History. According to Sendai Kuji Hongi (Kujiki), Chichibu was one of 137 provinces during the reign of Emperor Sujin. Mount Fuji is visible across much of Saitama like a watchful guardian of the natural beauty that lies just beyond the grey commuter towns. Historically known as an Agricultural region which produced a lot of food for the Kanto region, the lack of available land in Tokyo following the post World War II expansion quickly led to the rapid development of Saitama. Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture to the north, Nagano Prefecture to the west, Yamanashi Prefecture to the southwest, Tokyo to the south, Chiba Prefecture to the southeast, and Ibaraki Prefecture to the northeast. In the modern reactivation of districts as administrative unit in 1878/79, Saitama was subdivided into originally 18 districts based on the ancient divisions of Musashi, but with only nine (joint) district government offices, and the number of districts was formally merged down to nine in 1896/97: North Adachi, Iruma, Hiki, Chichibu, Kodama, Ōsato, North Saitama, South Saitama, and North Katsushika. [13], Rivers and canals, including those developed in the Edo period (17th – 19th centuries) in the east of the prefecture, are largely disused following the introduction of motorised land transport. Ōmiya Station in Saitama City forms East Japan Railway Company's northern hub station in the Greater Tokyo Area, offering transfers to and from Shinkansen high-speed lines. Chichibu Province was in western Saitama. The Shintō Hikawa Shrine in Ōmiya ward is thought to have been established in the 5th century ad. Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitama-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region. That may or may not be synchronized with the gubernatorial term; currently, it is not, as it is still part of the unified local election cycle (Saitama gubernatorial elections already left the unified cycle in 1949). The Musashino serves as a freight bypass line as well as a passenger line. Pop. Its capital is Saitama. It lies near the northern limit of the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area, about 20 miles (32 km) north of central Tokyo. Best nearby. Notable Locations in Saitama Iruma (入間市, Iruma-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 148,460 and a population density of 3,320 persons per km². Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. According to Sendai Kuji Hongi (Kujiki), Chichibu was one of 137 provinces during the reign of Emperor Sujin. The shrine and nearby Saitama Prefectural Museum are set in parkland known for its springtime cherry blossoms. During the Edo period, many fudai daimyōs ruled small domains within the Saitama area. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Chichibu Railway the northwestern, The Tsukuba Express line crosses the southeastern corner of the prefecture. The latest prefecture-wide election was the House of Councillors by-election in October 2019 to fill the seat vacated by Motohiro Ōno; it was won by the previous governor Kiyoshi Ueda who has a centre-left background (DPJ member of the House of Representatives for Saitama's 4th district before his term as governor), but without full-scale party backing and without any other major party-backed candidate in the race. A wheelchair-using version of Kobaton also exists. 1947 Typhoon Kathleen damage at Kurihashi 01.jpg 510 × 390; 101 KB In addition to bustling cities like Omiya, Urawa and Saitama, it boasts beautiful nature spots and towns with traditional townscapes. The area to the west of the basin features high peaks such as Mount Sanpō (2,483 m; 三宝山, Sanpō-yama according to the GSI, but often read Sanpō-zan) on the Western border with Nagano, Saitama's highest mountain,[10] and Mount Kōbushi (2,475 m), in which the Arakawa River has its source. Between them was the much smaller Yono, which did not become urbanized until after the war and whose area was restricted by its two expanding neighbours. The area to east of the basin consists of relatively low mountains. Most of the popular tourist sites in Saitama are located in the northwestern part of the prefecture, which is known as the Chichibu Region. Saitama combines elements of a commercial and residential suburb of Tokyo with a growing industrial sector. The first city in Saitama was only established in 1922 when Kawagoe Town from Iruma District became Kawagoe City. [20], Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. The former occupy small areas neighboring the Kantō Mount Range, including the Hiki Hills and Sayama Hills. Traces of water transport are found on the Tone River, which forms the border between Saitama and Gunma Prefecture, and on the Arakawa River, which includes a tourist attraction in Nagatoro. In 1873, Iruma was merged with Gunma (capital: Takasaki Town, Gunma District) to become Kumagaya (capital: Kumagaya Town, Ōsato District). Yoshimi is a town located right in the center of Saitama Prefecture. [2] For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Saitama Prefecture . Chichibu Province was in Saitama's western part.. Saitama Prefecture was formerly part of the old Musashi Province.. It is located central-west of the Kanto region, measuring 103 km from east to west and 52 km from north to south. The Omiya Bonsai Village can be reached in a 15 minute walk northeast, while Hikawa Shrine is at a similar distance to the south. The area around Moroyama has been inhabited since at least the Jōmon period, and numerous archaeological sites are within the town limits.. Moro village was created within Iruma District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Media in category "History of Saitama prefecture" The following 28 files are in this category, out of 28 total. Saitama Prefecture is located just north of Tokyo. Circular routes were constructed as bypasses to avoid congestion in central Tokyo. The southwestern border is defined by the drainage divides of the Arakawa River, Tama River, and Fuefuki River. History. The Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore is a ten minute walk from Omiya Koen Station (5 minutes, 150 yen one way from Omiya Station by Tobu Noda Line). This page was last edited on 17 December 2020, at 11:46. Saitama Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. After World War II, as Tokyo expanded rapidly and modern transportation allowed longer commutes, the lack of available land in Tokyo led to the rapid development of Saitama Prefecture, where the population has nearly tripled since 1960. parts of the prefecture respectively. Asia ; Japan ; Kanto ; ... 4-219, Takahanacho, Omiya-Ku, Saitama Saitama Prefecture. The capital is the city of Saitama. https://www.britannica.com/place/Saitama-Japan. Saitama is the capital and largest city of Saitama Prefecture, with other major cities including Kawaguchi, Kawagoe, and Tokorozawa. While Tokyo’s metropolitan sprawl swallows most of eastern Saitama, the prefecture’s western borders remain safe havens of rural tradition, preserved history, and a rocky mountainous landscape. [2] Saitama Prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, the most populous metropolitan area in the world, and many of its cities are described as bedroom communities and suburbs of Tokyo with many residents commuting into the city each day. [3] Chichibu Province was in western Saitama. The city is now divided administratively into nine wards, two of which—Ōmiya and Urawa—occupy the central areas, respectively, of the former cities. The area has long been a regional transportation hub, serving as a major rail junction and including a large railroad maintenance facility and a vast switchyard. Saitama Stadium (2001) hosted games of the 2002 World Cup men’s football (soccer) finals. 5 Other Attractions within 0.3 miles. [11], Honda Airport for general aviation, and the JASDF's Iruma Air Base[12] and Kumagaya Air Base. Except for the transfer of a few municipalities to Tokyo in the 1890s/1900s (see below) and several smaller, 20th century changes through cross-prefectural municipal mergers or transfers of neighbourhoods, Saitama had reached its present extent. Hasuda (蓮田市, Hasuda-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 62,284, and a population density of 2280 persons per km². It became the prefecture's first (and so far only) designated major city in 2003.[5]. [14], Like all prefectural administrations, Saitama's is headed by a governor ([ken-]chiji) who is directly elected to four-year terms since 1947. History. [15], Also as in all prefectures, prefectural by-laws, the budget and the approval of important prefectural administrative appointments such as the vice-governors or members of the public safety commission, are the prerogative of the assembly which is elected directly to four-year terms on an independent electoral cycle. Saitama prefecture is a popular destination for day trips from Tokyo. Chichibu Province was in western Saitama.. Saitama Prefecture was formerly part of the old Musashi Province. The Edo atmosphere remains, however, in many of its historic towns such as Kawagoe. Origin of the name "Saitama" The name "Saitama" originally comes from the Sakitama (埼玉郡) district of what is now the city of Gyōda in the northern part of what is now known as Saitama Prefecture. Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitama-ken) is Tokyo 's neighbor to the north. Saitama, ken (prefecture), east-central Honshu, Japan. Manufactures include transportation equipment, machinery, metals, and processed foods. Ōmiya, formerly the prefectural capital and now the northern portion of Saitama city, and Urawa, the southern part of the new city, were roughly equal in size at the time of the merger. How to get to and around Saitama The pronunciation has changed from Sakitama to Saitama over the years. For the histories of Urawa, Ōmiya and Yono before the merger, see: In the Meiji Restoration, after being briefly united with other rural shogunate territories in Musashi under Musashi governors (Musashi chikenji), many former shogunate/hatamoto territories in Northwestern Musashi became Ōmiya Prefecture (大宮県, Ōmiya-ken), soon renamed to Urawa (浦和県, -ken) in 1868/69, with some territories held by other short-lived prefectures (Iwahana/later mainly Gunma (ja) and Nirayama/later mainly Shizuoka, Kanagawa and Tokyo (ja)). "Sakitama" has an ancient history and is mentioned in the famous 8th century poetry anthology Man'yōshū. [1] The capital is the city of Saitama. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [16] As in most prefectures, the Saitama assembly was established legally in 1878 and first convened 1879. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Saitama is in the Kantō region. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. According to Sendai Kuji Hongi (), Chichibu was one of 137 provinces during the reign of Emperor Sujin. Its southern part is adjacent to Tokyo, that is why it is more densely populated, but head northwards and you will find fields of crops and nature in abundance. The eastern section of the southern border line, however, does not overlap with any geological feature. Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitama-ken) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. The government of the prefecture was to be set up in Iwatsuki Town, Saitama District in November 1871 by the Dajōkan ordinance to set up the prefecture, but ultimately remained in Urawa's previous prefectural government seat in Urawa Town in Adachi District. This region mostly consists of a hilly and moderately mountainous area, and is situated in a rich natural environment. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. But Kumagaya was split up again in 1876: The area of Kōzuke province came back as a second Gunma prefecture, and the territories in Musashi province/former Iruma prefecture were merged into Saitama. In the southeastern portion of the prefecture, the Ōmiya Plateau stands in a southeastward direction, sandwiched by the Furutone River to the east and the Arakawa River to the west.[9]. Nearby Sights. Saitama Prefecture is bordered by Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Nagano, and Yamanashi Prefectures. Saitama Prefecture is a prefecture in the Kantō region of Japan on the island of Honshu. Geography. Ancient graves, ancient craft and local cuisine. The city site is on the level to gently rolling lowlands of the Kantō Plain, the southeast-flowing Ara River constituting the western boundary of the municipality. Nov 11, 2018 - Explore cinleehan's board "Saitama Prefecture" on Pinterest. swap_calls 194m. A museum dedicated to the history and folklore of Saitama Prefecture. See Article History. The region is very popular among residents of Saitama and neighboring prefectures for short trips, as it is easily accessible via the railroad network. (2010) 1,222,434. [18], Saitama Prefecture has a number of sister city relationships with states and a province as listed below (in chronological order).[19]. Omissions? Niikura (also known as Niiza, Shiki or Shiragi), one of the original 1878/79 modern districts, was first merged into North Adachi in 1896, but a substantial part of its former territory was subsequently transferred to the North Tama and North Toshima districts of Tokyo. Saitama city in the southeast—created by the merger of Urawa, Ōmiya, and Yono in 2001—is the prefectural capital. The latter are mainly surrounded by alluvial flood plains. It is the second region of Project D 's expedition. On this tour you will be visiting a unique National Historic Site; the Yoshimi Hundred Caves. Saitama, capital of Saitama ken (prefecture), east-central Honshu, Japan. Situated in the southeastern part of the prefecture, the city was created in 2001 through the merger of the former cities of Urawa, Yono, and Ōmiya. Origin of the name "Saitama" The name "Saitama" originally comes from the Sakitama (埼玉郡) district of what is now the city of Gyōda in the northern part of what is now known as Saitama Prefecture. History. "Sakitama" has an ancient history and is mentioned in the famous 8th … The city is the home of Saitama University (1949). Kobaton was made originally as the mascot of the fifty-ninth annual national athletic meeting held in the prefecture in 2004, and was inaugurated as mascot of the prefecture in 2005 with an inauguration ceremony and a letter of appointment from the governor. The Ōmiya area is renowned for its many bonsai (dwarf-tree) nurseries (first established there in the mid-1920s), and the Urawa vicinity includes a wild-primrose garden and a heron sanctuary. In the fifth year of the Keiun era (708), deposits of copper were reported to have been found in the Chichibu District of what is now Saitama Prefecture. The Saitama … The sports teams listed below are based in Saitama. Saitama forms a sort of buffer zone between the grey sprawl of Tokyo and the mountains of Gunma prefecture. The eastern lowlands and plateaus occupy 67.3% of the area. Most of the land is contained in Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. The eastern portion of the prefecture lies on the Kantō Plain, north of Tokyo metropolis. See more ideas about saitama prefecture, matcha japan, japan travel. The capital is the city of Saitama. Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県, Saitama-ken) is a prefecture in the Kantō region of Japan on the island of Honshu. 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