Urawa-ku, Saitama

Urawa-ku, Saitama 浦和区
Ward
Urawa Ward
Saitama City Hall Saitama City Hall
Location of Urawa-ku in Saitama Location of Urawa-ku in Saitama
Urawa-ku, Saitama
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kanto
Prefecture	Saitama
City	Saitama
Area
• Total	11.51 km2 (4.44 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	155,022
• Density	13,470/km2 (34,900/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
-Flower	Catharanthus roseus
Phone number	048-835-3156
Address	6-4-1 Tokiwa, Urawa-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken 330-0586
Website	www.city.saitama.jp/urawa/index.html

File:Urawa-ku.JPG

A street in Urawa-ku

Urawa (浦和区, Urawa-ku) is one of ten wards of the city of Saitama, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is located in the northeastern part of the city. As of 1 February 2016, the ward had an estimated population of 155,022 and a population density of 13,470 persons per km². Its total area was 11.51 square kilometres (4.44 sq mi). Urawa-ku is the governmental center of Saitama City and houses most of the city's administrative offices including the city hall, as well as the offices of Saitama Prefectural government. Also, there are several newspaper branch offices and three broadcasting stations.

Geography

Urawa Ward is within the Ōmiya Terrace of the Kantō plain, in the south-central portion of Saitama City.

Neighboring Municipalities

Urawa-ku is surrounded by Midori-ku (to the east), Minami-ku (south), Chūō-ku (west), Ōmiya-ku (north), and Minuma-ku (northeast) of Saitama city.

History

In the Edo period, Urawa-ku flourished as Urawa-shuku, a post station on the Nakasendō highway, which connected Edo with Kyoto. Following the Meiji restoration, Urawa Prefecture was established, and in 1871 merged with Iwatsuki, Urawa, and Oshi Prefectures merged to form Saitama Prefecture, and Urawa as the capital. The modern town of Urawa was officially created within Kitaadachi District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake many intellectuals, especially painters, moved to Urawa from Tokyo, Yokohama, and other cities in southern Kantō region. In 1932, Uraga annexed the neighboring villages of Yada and Kisaki, and was elevated to city status on February 11, 1934. Uraga expanded further by annexing the villages of Omagi and Mimuro on April 17, 1940 and town of Mutsuji on April 1, 1942. During World War II, Urawa was bombed twice by Allied forces in April and May 1945.

Uraga continued to expand after the end of the war, absorbing the villages of Tsuchiai and Okubo on January 1, 1955 and part of the town of Toda on April 1, 1959 and part of the village of Misono on May 1, 1962.

On May 1, 2001 Urawa merged with Ōmiya and Yono to form Saitama City. In April 2003 Saitama became a city designated by government ordinance, and now the area of former Urawa City was divided between Sakura-ku, Urawa-ku, Minami-ku, and Midori-ku.

Education

• Urawa-ku has 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and six high schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Tohoku Main Line / Takasaki Line
  • Urawa
• JR East – Keihin Tohoku Line
  • Urawa - Kita-Urawa – Yono

Highway

• Japan National Route 17
• Japan National Route 463

Local attractions

• The Urawa Red Diamonds football (soccer) club in the J. League, arguably the biggest club in Japan and in Asia called the city home after strong support from its citizens. Although its official hometown recognised by the league is whole Saitama city and it is now the club is headquartered in Saitama Stadium in Midori-ku, the hometown support are strong in the area of former Urawa city. When the team has a match at Urawa Komaba Stadium in Urawa-ku or Saitama Stadium, the town becomes more and more crowded with the supporters.

External links

Official website (Japanese)