Higashimatsuyama, Saitama Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Higashimatsuyama (東松山市, Higashimatsuyama-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2021, the city had an estimated population density of 1,400 persons per km². The total area of the city is 65.33 km² (25.22 sq mi).

Geography Higashimatsuyama is located in the geographic centre of Saitama Prefecture.

Surrounding municipalities Saitama Prefecture • Sakado • Kumagaya • Namegawa • Yoshimi • Hatoyama • Kawajima • Ranzan.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Higashimatsuyama has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History Higashimatsuyama developed as a castle town from the Kamakura period, and was ruled as an outlier of Kawagoe Domain (later Maebashi Domain) during the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. The town of Matsuyama was established within Hiki District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Matsuyama merged with the villages of Ooka, Karako, Takasaka and Nomoto on July 1, 1954, and was elevated to city status as Higashimatsuyama.

Government Higashimatsuyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 21 members. Higashimatsuyama, together with the towns of Kawashima and Yoshimi, contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Traditionally the economy of Higashimatsuyama was dominated by sericulture and silk weaving. Modern Higashimatsuyama has several industrial parks with a wide variety of light and medium manufacturing. Due to its geographic location, the city also serves as a bedroom community.

Education: University • Daito Bunka University – Higashimatsuyama campus

Education: Primary and Secondary • Higashimatsuyama has 11 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. In addition, there is one private middle school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Tobu Railway – Tobu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line • Takasaka - Higashi-Matsuyama.

Transport: Road • Kan-etsu Expressway – Higashimatsuyama IC, Takasaka SA • National Route 254 • National Route 407.

Local attractions • Maruki Gallery for the Hiroshima Panels • Peony Walk Higashimatsuyama • Shobo-ji temple.