Hanyū, Saitama Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Hanyū is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

History The village of Hanyū was created within Kitasaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 1, 1954 Hanyū merged with the neighboring villages of Shingō, Sukage, Iwase, Kawamata, Iizumi, and Tegobayashi and was elevated to city status. The village of Chiyoda was annexed on April 1, 1959.

Geography Hanyū is located in the most northern part of Saitama Prefecture, with the Tone River on its northern border. Before the river was redirected to its current course to control flooding, it used to flow through the city. This river was used as a major shipping route for locally produced textiles and goods from further up river. Hanyū flourished as a stopping point on the long ride toward Tokyo. Today only an irrigation channel remains in the approximate location of the original river path.

Surrounding municipalities Saitama Prefecture • Kazo • Gyōda; Gunma Prefecture • Itakura • Meiwa.

History The village of Hanyū was created within Kitasaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On September 1, 1954 Hanyū merged with the neighboring villages of Shingō, Sukage, Iwase, Kawamata, Iizumi, and Tegobayashi and was elevated to city status. The village of Chiyoda was annexed on April 1, 1959.

Government Hanyū has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Hanyū contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Traditional industries of Hanyū included textile dying and clothing production. The area was famous of its indigo production in the Edo period. Akebono Brake Industry is headquartered in Hanyū.

Education • Saitama Junshin Junior College • Hanyū has 11 public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education.The prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transport: Rail Tobu Railway - Tobu Isesaki Line • Minami-Hanyū - Hanyū; Chichibu Railway – Chichibu Main Line • Hanyū - Nishi-Hanyū - Shingō.

Transport: Road • Tōhoku Expressway – Hanyū Interchange – Hanyū Parking Area • National Route 122 • National Route 125.

Local attractions • Saitama Aquarium.