Asaka, Saitama

Asaka 朝霞市
City
Asaka City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Asaka in Saitama Prefecture
Asaka Location of Asaka in Saitama Prefecture
Coordinates: 35°47′49.9″N 139°35′38″E / 35.797194°N 139.59389°ECoordinates: 35°47′49.9″N 139°35′38″E / 35.797194°N 139.59389°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Area
• Total	18.34 km^2 (7.08 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	136,459
• Density	7,440/km^2 (19,300/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Zelkova serrata
- Flower	Azalea
Phone number	048-463-1111
Address	1-1-1 Honmachi, Asaka-shi, Saitama-ken 351-8501
Website	Official website

Asaka (朝霞市 Asaka-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, in the central Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 135,495 and a population density of 7440 persons per km². Its total area was 18.34 square kilometres (7.08 sq mi).

Geography

Located in far southern Saitama Prefecture, Asaka is on the central reaches of the Arakawa River in the center of the Musashino Terrace.

Surrounding municipalities

• Saitama Prefecture
  • Saitama
  • Shiki
  • Toda
  • Wako
  • Niiza
• Tokyo Metropolis
  • Nerima-ku

History

The area of modern Asaka developed as a series of four post stations on the Koshigoe Kaidō highway from the Muromachi period onwards.

The village of Hizaori was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Niikura District was abolished in 1894 and became part of Kitaadachi District. It was raised to town status on May 1, 1921, and renamed Asaka after Prince Asaka who was an honorary chairman of the Tokyo Golf Club, which relocated to the area at that time.

On April 1, 1955, Asaka annexed the neighboring village of Uchimasa. At the 1964 Summer Olympics in neighboring Tokyo, the town hosted the riding part of the modern pentathlon event at Asaka Nezu Park.

Asaka was elevated to city status on March 15, 1967.

Economy

Due to its location, Asaka is primarily a bedroom community with over 37% of its population commuting to the Tokyo metropolis for work. The area is also a distribution hub for northern Tokyo.

Education

Asaka has ten elementary schools, five middle schools and two high schools. Toyo University also has a campus in Asaka.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Musashino Line
  • Kita-Asaka
• Tobu Railway - Tobu Tojo Line
  • Asaka - Asakadai

Highway

• Japan National Route 254

Noted people from Asaka

• Yuhi, professional wrestler
• Akira Nakamura, professional baseball player
• Shohei Takashima, professional baseball player

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• 1964 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. Part 1. p. 115.
• 1964 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 2. Part 2. p. 561.