Saitama

About Saitama

Saitama Prefecture is located in the middle of Kanto, bordering seven prefectures from Ibaraki to Yamanashi, with an area of 3,797.75 square kilometers, 39th but with the second-highest ratio of habitable land in Japan, and a population of about 7,291,000, fifth nationwide and largest of Japan’s eight landlocked prefectures. Its capital Saitama City, created in 2001 by merging Urawa, Omiya and Yono, is Japan’s only ordinance-designated city that is landlocked, with about 1.35 million residents; Omiya Station is a national Shinkansen junction for Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku lines and hosts the Railway Museum. Geographically, most of the prefecture is Kanto Plain lowlands and diluvial terraces including Omiya, Musashino and Iruma terraces, with the Edogawa, Arakawa and Tonegawa rivers and the highest river-area ratio at about 3.9 percent nationwide, including the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel flood system. Westward, the Hachioji tectonic line separates the plain from the Chichibu Basin and Kanto Mountains, with peaks like Mt. Sanpo at 2,483 meters, Mt. Kobushi and Mt. Kumotori marking the divide between Pacific and Sea-of-Japan watersheds and forming Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. Historically the region is northern Musashi Province; the name Saitama derives from Sakita-ma County noted in ancient tumuli such as Sakitama Kofun Park in Gyoda, where the Inariyama iron sword inscription was found. Early Meiji saw Omiya then Urawa prefectures merge into early Saitama, while western Musashi formed Iruma and later Kumagaya prefectures before consolidating into present Saitama in 1876. Climate is mainly Pacific-side humid subtropical, with Chichibu interior highland type: summers are scorching, Kumagaya recorded Japan’s record 41.1C in 2018, with many midsummer days over 35C; north and east plains experience radiant cooling with winter lows to -8C but often dry and sunny. Annual precipitation is around 1,200-1,400 mm, less in winter. Industry benefits from proximity to Tokyo, serving as Japan’s commuter belt: southern and eastern cities form bedroom suburbs with shopping malls and logistics, while manufacturing includes automotive components around Saitama, Kawagoe, Sayama and Kuki, optical equipment and transportation devices. Agriculture in the north produces leeks, spinach, satoimo, komatsuna and kabu ranked among top three nationwide, plus Sayama tea. Commerce thrives along radial rail lines. Cultural highlights include Kawagoe’s Little Edo warehouse district with Kurazukuri street and Toki no Kane bell tower, Nagatoro Gorge with its river rafting through Paleozoic strata, Saitama Shintoshin and Saitama Super Arena, the Railway Museum, Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park’s spring nemophila fields, and Chichibu Night Festival floats and Hitsujiyama Park shibazakura carpeting with Mt. Buko backdrop, all drawing day-trippers from Tokyo.