Saitama

Overview

Saitama is a first-level administrative division of Japan in the Kanto region. Its area is about 3,798 km2 and its population about 0.1 million (2024), with its capital at Saitama.

History

Kawagoe domain and many small fiefs and shogunal lands dotted the area in the Edo period; Saitama Prefecture was created in 1871 with present borders from 1876.

Geography and industry

With a population ranked fifth nationally, it developed as a commuter belt of the capital region. Kawagoe's kurazukuri warehouse streets, the Railway Museum, Chichibu's Mitsumine Shrine and Nagatoro's rock terraces are famous.

Transport

Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen converge at Omiya, a key junction of Japan's rail network.