Saitama (city)
Saitama (さいたま市, Saitama-shi, Japanese: [saꜜitama]) is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance. Being in the Greater Tokyo Area and lying 15 to 30 kilometres north of central Tokyo, many of its residents commute into Tokyo. As of 1 February 2021, the city had an estimated population of 1,324,854, and a population density of 6,093 people per km² (15,781 people per mi²). Its total area is 217.43 square kilometres (83.95 sq mi).[1]
Saitama
さいたま市 | |
|---|---|
Designated city | |
| Saitama City | |
 From top left: Saitama Stadium 2002, Urawa Parco, Gyokuzouin, Hikawa Shrine, Saitama New City Center, Saitama Super Arena, Musashi urawa | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 | |
 Location of Saitama in Saitama Prefecture | |
  Saitama | |
| Coordinates: 35°51′41″N 139°38′44″E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kantō |
| Prefecture | Saitama |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Hayato Shimizu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 217.43 km2 (83.95 sq mi) |
| Population (March 1, 2021) | |
| • Total | 1,324,854 |
| • Density | 6,100/km2 (16,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
| Phone number | 048-829-1111 |
| Address | 6-4-4 Tokiwa, Urawa-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken 330-9588 |
| Climate | Cfa |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Flower | Primula sieboldii |
| Tree | Zelkova serrata |
Etymology
The name "Saitama" originally comes from the Sakitama District (埼玉郡) of what is now the city of Gyōda in the northern part of what is now known as Saitama Prefecture. "Sakitama" has an ancient history and is mentioned in the famous 8th century poetry anthology Man'yōshū. The pronunciation has changed from Sakitama to Saitama over the years.
With the merger of Urawa, Ōmiya, and Yono it was decided that a new name, one fitting for this newly created prefectural capital, was needed. The prefectural name "Saitama" (埼玉県) was changed from kanji into hiragana, thus Saitama City (さいたま市) was born. It is the only prefectural capital in Japan whose name is always written in hiragana, and belongs to the list of hiragana cities.
However, Saitama written in hiragana (さいたま市) actually finished in second place in public polling to Saitama written in kanji (埼玉市). Despite this, government officials decided to name the new city Saitama in hiragana, not kanji. In third place in the poll was Ōmiya (大宮市). In fourth was Saitama (彩玉市), written with an alternative kanji for "sai" (彩) which means "colorful". The "sai" (埼) used in the prefectural name is a rare form of a common character (崎) that means 'cape' or 'promontory'.
Geography
The city is located 20 to 30 km north of central Tokyo, roughly at the center of the Kantō Plain. Situated in the southeast of Saitama Prefecture, the city is topographically comprised by lowlands and plateaus, at mostly less than 20 m above sea level, with no mountain ranges or hills within the city boundaries. The western portion of the city lies on the lowland created by the Arakawa River along with those created by small rivers such as the Moto-Arakawa River, Shiba River, and Ayase River. The rest of the area mostly resides on the Ōmiya Plateau lying in the north-south direction. Dispersed in this region, major rivers flow southward, almost paralleling to one another.
Surrounding municipalities
- Saitama Prefecture
- Ageo
- Hasuda
- Shiraoka
- Asaka
- Kawaguchi
- Toda
- Warabi
- Koshigaya
- Kasukabe
- Kawagoe
- Shiki
- Fujimi
Climate
Saitama has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Saitama is 15.2 °C (59.4 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,371.3 mm (53.99 in) with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 27.0 °C (80.6 °F), and lowest in January, at around 3.9 °C (39.0 °F).[2]
| Climate data for Saitama (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.7 (65.7) |
25.5 (77.9) |
26.9 (80.4) |
31.2 (88.2) |
34.2 (93.6) |
38.0 (100.4) |
39.3 (102.7) |
38.7 (101.7) |
37.4 (99.3) |
33.1 (91.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.1 (77.2) |
39.3 (102.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
13.7 (56.7) |
19.2 (66.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
26.5 (79.7) |
30.5 (86.9) |
31.8 (89.2) |
27.7 (81.9) |
21.9 (71.4) |
16.5 (61.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
20.3 (68.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.9 (39.0) |
4.9 (40.8) |
8.4 (47.1) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.9 (78.6) |
27.0 (80.6) |
23.2 (73.8) |
17.5 (63.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1.1 (30.0) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
3.3 (37.9) |
8.4 (47.1) |
13.9 (57.0) |
18.3 (64.9) |
22.2 (72.0) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.5 (67.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.2 (34.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −9.8 (14.4) |
−8.8 (16.2) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
4.8 (40.6) |
11.5 (52.7) |
14.7 (58.5) |
16.3 (61.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
3.6 (38.5) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 42.4 (1.67) |
39.6 (1.56) |
88.0 (3.46) |
101.9 (4.01) |
121.4 (4.78) |
144.8 (5.70) |
148.0 (5.83) |
164.0 (6.46) |
202.8 (7.98) |
196.8 (7.75) |
70.9 (2.79) |
45.2 (1.78) |
1,371.3 (53.99) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.8 | 4.6 | 8.7 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.6 | 11.8 | 8.8 | 10.8 | 10.0 | 6.7 | 4.4 | 100.8 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | −5 (23) |
−4 (25) |
1 (34) |
8 (46) |
13 (55) |
18 (64) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
19 (66) |
12 (54) |
6 (43) |
−1 (30) |
9 (49) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 201.4 | 186.4 | 186.6 | 187.1 | 185.3 | 128.4 | 152.5 | 181.9 | 135.6 | 135.1 | 156.6 | 181.1 | 2,018 |
| Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency[2] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Time and Date (dewpoints, 1985-2015)[3] | |||||||||||||
See or edit raw graph data.
Historical population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 123,655 | — |
| 1925 | 140,357 | +13.5% |
| 1930 | 158,304 | +12.8% |
| 1935 | 178,012 | +12.4% |
| 1940 | 202,689 | +13.9% |
| 1945 | 257,368 | +27.0% |
| 1950 | 320,453 | +24.5% |
| 1955 | 364,088 | +13.6% |
| 1960 | 420,442 | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 530,675 | +26.2% |
| 1970 | 657,425 | +23.9% |
| 1975 | 817,712 | +24.4% |
| 1980 | 879,291 | +7.5% |
| 1985 | 922,757 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 1,007,569 | +9.2% |
| 1995 | 1,078,545 | +7.0% |
| 2000 | 1,133,300 | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 1,176,314 | +3.8% |
| 2010 | 1,222,910 | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 1,263,982 | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 1,326,278 | +4.9% |
Wards
Saitama has ten wards (ku), which were assigned official colors as of April 2005:
| Wards of Saitama | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place Name | Map of Saitama | ||||
| Rōmaji | Kanji | Color | Area (km2) | ||
| 1 | Chūō-ku | 中央区 | ■ (Rose red) | 8.39 |  A map of Saitama's Wards |
| 2 | Iwatsuki-ku | 岩槻区 | ■ (Ochre) | 49.17 | |
| 3 | Kita-ku | 北区 | ■ (Dark green) | 16.86 | |
| 4 | Midori-ku | 緑区 | ■ (Green) | 26.44 | |
| 5 | Minami-ku | 南区 | ■ (Lemon yellow) | 13.82 | |
| 6 | Minuma-ku | 見沼区 | ■ (Sky blue) | 30.69 | |
| 7 | Nishi-ku | 西区 | ■ (Blue) | 29.12 | |
| 8 | Ōmiya-ku | 大宮区 | ■ (Orange) | 12.80 | |
| 9 | Sakura-ku | 桜区 | ■ (Cherry blossom pink) | 18.64 | |
| 10 | Urawa-ku | 浦和区 | ■ (Red) - administrative center | 11.51 | |
History
Blue: former Ōmiya
Green: former Yono
Yellow: former Iwatsuki
The city was founded on May 1, 2001, and was designated on April 1, 2003 as a government ordinance. For the histories of Urawa, Ōmiya and Yono before the merger, see:
- Urawa-ku, Saitama
- Ōmiya-ku, Saitama and
- Yono, Saitama, respectively.
On April 1, 2005, Saitama absorbed the city of Iwatsuki to its east, which became a new ward, Iwatsuki-ku.
Government
Saitama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 64 members. Saitama contributes 14 members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Saitama 1st district, Saitama 5th district and Saitama 15th districts of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Elections
- 2005 Saitama mayoral election
The executive mayor, who is directly elected, is Sōichi Aikawa, an independent backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. On May 24, 2009, Aikawa lost his bid for reelection against Hayato Shimizu, who was backed by the opposition DPJ.[4]
Economy
Saitama's economy is principally constituted by commercial business. The city is one of many commercial centers of the Greater Tokyo area and serves Saitama Prefecture, North Kanto, and northeast Honshu.
Saitama is also home to various manufacturers, exporting automotive (Honda manufactures the Honda Legend at Sayama Plant), food, optical, precision and pharmaceutical products. Calsonic Kansei, a global automotive company is headquartered in the city.[5] Iwatsuki is famous for manufacturing of hinamatsuri dolls and ornate kabuto (samurai helmets).
Transportation
Representative station is Urawa Station. Saitama is a regional transportation hub for both passengers and freight train lines. Ōmiya Station, part of the Shinkansen high-speed train network, serves as the biggest railway hub in the prefecture.
The closest major airports are Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport, both about two hours away.[6] Honda Airport in Okegawa is for general aviation and offers no scheduled transport services. Commuter helicopter flights to Narita Airport are offered from Kawajima.[7]
Railway stations
.svg.png.webp)
JR East- ■ Tōhoku, Akita, Yamagata, Jōetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen
- Ōmiya
- ■ Utsunomiya Line
- Urawa - Saitama-Shintoshin - Ōmiya - Toro - Higashi-Ōmiya
- ■ Takasaki Line
- (<<Through to the Utsunomiya Line<<) - Ōmiya - Miyahara
- ■ Keihin-Tōhoku Line
- Minami-Urawa - Urawa - Kita-Urawa - Yono - Saitama-Shintoshin - Ōmiya
- ■ Saikyō Line
- Musashi-Urawa - Naka-Urawa - Minami-Yono - Yonohommachi - Kita-Yono - Ōmiya
- ■ Musashino Line
- Nishi-Urawa - Musashi-Urawa - Minami-Urawa - Higashi-Urawa
- ■ Kawagoe Line
- Ōmiya - Nisshin - Nishi-Ōmiya - Sashiōgi
Saitama Rapid Railway Line- Urawa Misono
Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Urban Park Line- Ōmiya - Kita-Ōmiya - Ōmiya-kōen - Ōwada - Nanasato - Iwatsuki - Higashi-Iwatsuki
Saitama New Urban Transit ("New Shuttle") - Ina Line- Ōmiya - Tetsudō-Hakubutsukan - Kamonomiya - Higashi-Miyahara - Konba - Yoshinohara
Highways
.png.webp)
Tōhoku Expressway.png.webp)
Tokyo Gaikan Expressway
Shuto Expressway Ōmiya Route
Shuto Expressway Saitama Shintoshin Route
National Route 16
National Route 17
National Route 122
National Route 293
National Route 463
Culture
Universities
- Mejiro University
- Nihon University Faculty of Law
- The Open University of Japan Omiya Study Center
- Saitama University
- Shibaura Institute of Technology
- University of Human Arts and Sciences
- Urawa University
- Nippon Institute of Technology
Junior Colleges
- Kokusai Gakuin Saitama Junior College
- Urawa University Junior College
Professional Graduate School
- Omiya Law School
Sports
Saitama was one of the host cities for the playoffs and the final of the official 2006 Basketball World Championship.
It is home to two J. League football teams: the Urawa Red Diamonds, formerly owned by Mitsubishi, and Omiya Ardija, formerly owned by NTT.
The city and Tokorozawa are home to the Japan Professional Basketball League team the Saitama Broncos.
- Urawa Red Diamonds - J. League football
- Omiya Ardija - J. League football
- Saitama Broncos - bj league basketball (The base is Saitama Prefecture, main is Saitama, Tokorozawa.)
- Saitama Seibu Lions - NPB (baseball)
- NJPW Dojo - NJPW (professional wrestling)
Since 2013, the city has hosted the Saitama Criterium cycling race sponsored by the Tour de France, held at the end of October.
Mass media
Most of Saitama Prefecture's mass media presence is concentrated in this city. See Mass media in Saitama Prefecture for details.
Sister cities
Saitama has six sister cities.[8]
Toluca, State of Mexico, Mexico (1979)
Zhengzhou, Henan, China (1981)
Hamilton, New Zealand (1984)
Richmond, Virginia, United States (1994).svg.png.webp)
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada (1996)- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (1998)
Leipzig, Saxony, Germany (2020)
Visitor attractions
- Akigase Park
- Besshonuma Park
- Hikawa Shrine
- Minuma Rice Paddies
- Minuma Tsūsen-bori
- Ōmiya Bonsai Village
- Railway Museum
- Saitama New Urban Center
- Saitama Stadium 2002
- Saitama Super Arena
- Saitama Museum of Modern Art
- Irumagawa stable
References
- "Saitama city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- "Climate & Weather Averages in Saitama Suijō Kōen". Time and Date. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
- "DPJ Triumphs in Saitama Election", The Japan Times, 25 May 2009.
- "Company Profile." Calsonic Kansei. Retrieved on January 29, 2015.
- Haneda bus and Narita bus
- Connecting TOKYO and Narita Int'l Airport – NARITA HELI EXPRESS
- 姉妹友好都市 [Sister Cities] (in Japanese). Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
External links
- Official Website (in Japanese)
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