Kitamoto, Saitama

Kitamoto 北本市
City
Top left: Ishidokaba Cherry blossom in Toko Temple, Top right: A fountain in Kitamoto General Park, Center: Konosu Traditional Inn, Nakasen Road in Edo period, Bottom left: Kitamoto Station, Bottom right: Tenjinchigi Shrine
Flag Seal
Location of Kitamoto in Saitama Prefecture
Kitamoto Location of Kitamoto in Saitama Prefecture
Coordinates: 36°1′36.8″N 139°31′48.7″E / 36.026889°N 139.530194°E / 36.026889; 139.530194Coordinates: 36°1′36.8″N 139°31′48.7″E / 36.026889°N 139.530194°E / 36.026889; 139.530194
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Area
• Total	19.82 km2 (7.65 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	67,319
• Density	3,400/km2 (9,000/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
– Tree	Sakura
– Flower	Chrysanthemum
Phone number	048-591-1111
Address	1–111 Honmachi, Kitamoto-shi, Saitama-ken 364-8633
Website	Official website

Kitamoto City Hall

Kitamoto (北本市, Kitamoto-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 67,319 and a population density of 3400 persons per km². Its total area was 19.82 square kilometres (7.65 sq mi).

Geography

Located in east-central Saitama Prefecture, Kitamoto is on the central reaches of the Arakawa River, and is within commuting distance of downtown Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

• Saitama Prefecture
  • Okegawa
  • Kōnosu
  • Kawajima
  • Yoshimi

History

Kōnosu-shuku was one of the post stations on the Nakasendō highway until 1602, when it was relocated north; the original location was renamed Motojuku, and later, Kitamotojuku, which is the origin of the name of the modern city. With the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889, Kitamotojuku was merged with several neighboring hamlets to form the village of Ishito within Kitaadachi District, Saitama. On February 11, 1943, Ishito was merged with neighboring Nakamuru to form Kitamotojuku Village. On November 3, 1959, the village was elevated to town status, becoming Kitamoto Town. Kitamoto attained city status on November 3, 1971.

Economy

Due to this location, Kitamoto is primarily a bedroom community with a high percentage of its population commuting to either Saitama City or the Tokyo metropolis for work.

Education

Kitamoto has eight elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Takasaki Line
  • Kitamoto

Highway

• Japan National Route 17

Noted people from Kitamoto

• Atsushi Oshima, politician

External links

Media related to Kitamoto, Saitama at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)

Saitama Prefecture
Saitama (capital)
Wards of Saitama	Chūō Iwatsuki Kita Midori Minami Minuma Nishi Ōmiya Sakura Urawa
Core cities	Kawagoe Koshigaya
Special cities	Kasukabe Kawaguchi Kumagaya
Cities	Ageo Asaka Chichibu Fujimi Fujimino Fukaya Gyōda Hannō Hanyū Hasuda Hidaka Higashimatsuyama Honjō Iruma Kazo Kitamoto Kōnosu Kuki Misato Niiza Okegawa Sakado Satte Sayama Shiki Shiraoka Sōka Toda Tokorozawa Tsurugashima Wakō Warabi Yashio Yoshikawa
Chichibu District	Higashichichibu Minano Nagatoro Ogano Yokoze
Hiki District	Hatoyama Kawajima Namegawa Ogawa Ranzan Tokigawa Yoshimi
Iruma District	Miyoshi Moroyama Ogose
Kitaadachi District	Ina
Kitakatsushika District	Matsubushi Sugito
Kodama District	Kamikawa Kamisato Misato
Minamisaitama District	Miyashiro
Ōsato District	Yorii
List of mergers in Saitama Prefecture