Itabashi, Tokyo
Encyclopedia
is one of the 23 special wards
of Tokyo
, Japan
. In English, it calls itself Itabashi City. Itabashi has sister-city relations with Burlington, Ontario
in Canada
; Shijingshan District
in Beijing
, People's Republic of China
; and Bologna
in Italy
.
As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population
of 531,793 and a population density
of 16,270 persons per km². The total area is 32.17 km².
. The Arakawa River
, a major river, forms part of the boundary with Saitama Prefecture
. Surrounding the ward are, in Saitama, the cities of Wako
and Toda
; and in Tokyo, the wards of Nerima
, Toshima
, and Kita
.
that dates from the Heian period
. Such a bridge was remarkable at the time, and the name has lasted since. In the Edo period
, the Nakasendō
crossed the nearby Shimo Itabashi, and the name came to apply to that area as well. Itabashi was one of the Four Edo Post Towns, and travellers first lodged there after leaving the shogun
al capital. The Kaga domain
had a mansion there. The shogunate maintained the Itabashi execution grounds
at Itabashi.
On October 1, 1932, nine towns and villages of Kita-Toshima District merged and became part of Tokyo City
as Itabashi Ward. It became a special ward May 3, 1947. On August 1 of that year, Nerima
was split off from Itabashi.
has a campus in the Kaga neighborhood. Also in Kaga is the main campus of Teikyo University
. Daito Bunka University
has one campus in Takashima-daira, and another in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama
. The fourth is the medical college of Nihon University
.
Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.
Some of these stations straddle the boundaries with other wards, or are within walking distance of Itabashi. The addresses of some stations are in neighboring wards. Shimo-Itabashi Station is in Toshima; Kotake Mukaihara Station and Akatsuka Subway Station are in Nerima; Ukima-Funado Station is actually in Kita.
(板橋, read Itabashi during Japanese rule):
Special wards of Tokyo
The are 23 municipalities that together make up the core and the most populous part of Tokyo, Japan. Together, they occupy the land that was the city of Tokyo before it was abolished in 1943. The special wards' structure was established under the Japanese Local Autonomy Law and is unique to...
of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In English, it calls itself Itabashi City. Itabashi has sister-city relations with Burlington, Ontario
Burlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
; Shijingshan District
Shijingshan District
Shijingshan District is an urban district of the municipality of Beijing. It lies to the west of the urban core of Beijing, and is part of the Western Hills area...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
; and Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 531,793 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 16,270 persons per km². The total area is 32.17 km².
Geography
Itabashi lies on the Kantō plainKanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
. The Arakawa River
Arakawa River
The is one of the principal rivers flowing through Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. The point of origin is on Mount Kobushi in Saitama Prefecture, and the Arakawa River empties into Tokyo Bay, spanning 173 kilometers. The drainage basin covers 2,940 square kilometers...
, a major river, forms part of the boundary with Saitama Prefecture
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
. Surrounding the ward are, in Saitama, the cities of Wako
Wako, Saitama
is a city located in the southern part of Saitama, Japan, bordering on Tokyo.As of 1 May 2008, the city has an estimated population of 76,221. The total area is 11.04 km²....
and Toda
Toda, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama, Japan. The city is located beside the Arakawa river which separates it from Tokyo. The Sasame river also flows through the city before joining the Arakawa.-History:...
; and in Tokyo, the wards of Nerima
Nerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
, Toshima
Toshima, Tokyo (ward)
is one of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Toshima is one of the eight central wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan area, including Chiyoda, Minato, Shibuya, Chuo, Shinjuku, Taito, and Bunkyo surrounding the Imperial Palace...
, and Kita
Kita, Tokyo
is one of the special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself the City of Kita .As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 332,140 and a population density of 16,140 persons per km². The total area is 20.59 km².-Geography:...
.
History
The name of the ward means "plank bridge" and derives from the wooden span over the Shakujii RiverShakujii River
The is a river which flows throughthe northwest quadrant of central Tokyo, Japan.Its source is in the district of Hana-koganei-minami-chō, Kodaira City, nearthe Musashino Danchi...
that dates from the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
. Such a bridge was remarkable at the time, and the name has lasted since. In the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, the Nakasendō
Nakasendo
The , also called the , was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo to Kyoto in Japan. There were 69 stations between Edo and Kyoto, crossing through Musashi, Kōzuke, Shinano, Mino and Ōmi provinces...
crossed the nearby Shimo Itabashi, and the name came to apply to that area as well. Itabashi was one of the Four Edo Post Towns, and travellers first lodged there after leaving the shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
al capital. The Kaga domain
Kaga Domain
The was a powerful feudal domain in Kaga, Noto and Etchū Provinces of Japan during the Edo period. The domain was founded by Maeda Toshiie and headed by the Maeda clan. Its income rating, over 1,000,000 koku, was the highest in the nation after the Tokugawa shogunate itself...
had a mansion there. The shogunate maintained the Itabashi execution grounds
Itabashi execution grounds
The were one of the three sites in the vicinity of Edo where the Tokugawa shogunate executed criminals in the Edo period...
at Itabashi.
On October 1, 1932, nine towns and villages of Kita-Toshima District merged and became part of Tokyo City
Tokyo City
was a municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo-Fu which existed from May 1, 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on July 1, 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by independent special wards...
as Itabashi Ward. It became a special ward May 3, 1947. On August 1 of that year, Nerima
Nerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
was split off from Itabashi.
Universities
Itabashi is home to four universities. Tokyo Kasei UniversityTokyo Kasei University
is a private university in Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan, established in 1949. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1881.-External links:* *...
has a campus in the Kaga neighborhood. Also in Kaga is the main campus of Teikyo University
Teikyo University
is a private university headquartered in the Itabashi ward of Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1931 as Teikyo Commercial High School by Lee. It became Teikyo University in 1966...
. Daito Bunka University
Daito Bunka University
is a medium-sized four-year university with two campuses: one at Itabashi in Tokyo, and the other at Higashi Matsuyama in Saitama, Japan. The sports program is strong in rugby and marathon running, with the Ekiden team coming 4th in the prestigious January 2009 New Year Hakone Ekiden.Daito Bunka...
has one campus in Takashima-daira, and another in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama
Higashimatsuyama, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 89,647 and a population density of 1,372.22 persons per km²...
. The fourth is the medical college of Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
.
Public schools
Public elementary and middle schools are operated by the Itabashi Board of Education.Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.
- Itabashi High School
- Itabashi Yutoku
- Kitatoshima Technical High School
- Kitazono High School
- Ohyama High School
- Takashima High School
Points of interest
- Akatsuka Botanical GardenAkatsuka Botanical GardenThe is a botanical garden located at 5-17-14 Akatsuka, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan. It is open daily.The garden is located in Akatsuka's hills and contains over 600 varieties of trees and plants. The Manyo Yakuyo Garden is a Manyo Botanical Garden containing medicinal herbs mentioned in the Man'yōshū...
- Itabashi Botanical GardenItabashi Botanical GardenThe is an indoor botanical garden located at 8-29-2 Takashimadaira, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan. It is open daily except Mondays; an admission fee is charged....
- Jorenji temple and the Daibutsu of Tokyo
Rail
- East Japan Railway CompanyEast Japan Railway Companyis the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) Saikyō LineSaikyo LineThe is a railway line between Ōsaki Station in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Ōmiya Station in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is a part of the East Japan Railway Company network...
: Itabashi StationItabashi Stationis a train station in Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.- Adjacent stations :...
, Ukima-Funado StationUkima-Funado Stationis a train station in Kita, Tokyo, Japan.In JR Group's fare calculation system, this station is the northern boundary station of "Tokyo 23 Districts" Area... - Toei Mita LineToei Mita LineThe is a subway line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation network in Tokyo, Japan. The line runs between Nishi-Takashimadaira in Itabashi and Meguro in Shinagawa. Trains continue with direct service into the Meguro Line of Tokyu Corporation for...
: Shin-Itabashi, Itabashi Kuyakusho-mae, Itabashi-Honchō, Moto-Hasunuma, Shimura Sakaue, Shimura-Sanchōme, Hasune, Nishidai, Takashimadaira, Shin-Takashimadaira, Nishi-Takashimadaira Stations - Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō LineTokyo Metro Yurakucho LineThe is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line connects Wakōshi Station in Wakō, Saitama and Shin-Kiba Station in Kōtō, Tokyo. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color "gold" , and its stations are given numbers using the letter Y.The proper name as...
: Chikatetsu Narimasu Station - Tōbu Tōjō Line: Ōyama, Naka-Itabashi, Tokiwadai, Kami-Itabashi, Tobu-Nerima, Shimo-Akatsuka, Narimasu Stations
Some of these stations straddle the boundaries with other wards, or are within walking distance of Itabashi. The addresses of some stations are in neighboring wards. Shimo-Itabashi Station is in Toshima; Kotake Mukaihara Station and Akatsuka Subway Station are in Nerima; Ukima-Funado Station is actually in Kita.
Highway
- Shuto ExpresswayShuto Expresswayis a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
- No.5 Ikebukuro Route (Takebashi JCT - Bijogi JCT)
- C2 Central Loop (Itabashi JCT - Kasai JCT)
See also
Cities with the same KanjiKanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
(板橋, read Itabashi during Japanese rule):
- Banciao, TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
- PangyoPangyoPangyo refers to a planned city surrounding Pangyo-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, Unjung-dong, and Sampyeong-dong of Bundang-gu and Siheung-dong and Sasong-dong of Sujeong-gu ....
, South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
External links
- Itabashi City Home Page in English
- Itabashi City Home Page in Japanese