Sakado, Saitama Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Sakado (坂戸市, Sakado-shi) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2021, the city had an estimated population density of 2,500 persons per km². The total area of the city is 41.02 square km (15.84 sq mi).

Geography Sakado is located in the geographic centre of Saitama Prefecture, about 40 km from downtown Tokyo. The terrain is generally flat. The Koma River flows from the south-west to the north-east of the city.

Surrounding municipalities Saitama Prefecture • Kawagoe • Tsurugashima • Higashimatsuyama • Hidaka • Moroyama • Kawajima • Hatoyama.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Sakado has increased rapidly towards the end of the 20th century due to new town developments. It has since leveled off.

History Sakado-juku was a post station on the Nikkō Wakiōkan highway connecting Hachiōji with Nikkō from the Muromachi period onwards. During the late Edo period and early Meiji period, the area was noted for sericulture. The village of Sakado was created within Iruma District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889 and was elevated to city status on December 10, 1896. On July 1, 1954, Sakado annexed the neighboring villages of Miyoshino, Issai, Oya and Suguro. On September 1, 1976, Sakado was elevated to city status.

Government Sakado has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Sakado contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Sakado is a regional commercial centre with some light and precision manufacturing and food processing, and is increasing a commuter town for Tokyo Metropolis.

Education: University • Josai University • Kagawa Nutrition University • Meikai University School of Dentistry

Education: High • Sakado High School • Sakado Nishi High School • Senior High School at Sakado, University of Tsukuba • Yamamura International High School.

Education: Elementary and junior Sakado has 11 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government, and two public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one national high school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line • Wakaba - Sakado – Kita-Sakado; Tōbu Railway - Tobu Ogose Line • Nishi-Ōya.

Transport: Road • Ken-Ō Expressway – Sakado Interchange • Kan-etsu Expressway – Sakado-Nishi Smart Interchange • National Route 1.

Local attractions • Yosakoi festival held annually in Sakado in August since 2001. • Xien Ten Gong, the largest Taoist temple in Japan, is located in Sakado.