Niikura, Saitama Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Asaka (朝霞市, Asaka-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. The total area of the city is 18.34 square km (7.08 sq mi).

Geography Located in far southern Saitama Prefecture, Asaka in the centre of the Musashino Terrace on the central reaches of the Arakawa River, which runs along the city border with Saitama in the north-eastern part of the city,

Surrounding municipalities • Saitama Prefecture: ◦ Saitama ◦ Shiki ◦ Toda ◦ Wako ◦ Niiza. • Tokyo Metropolis: ◦ Nerima-ku.

History The area of modern Asaka developed as a series of four post stations on the Kawagoe Kaidō highway from the Muromachi period onwards. During the Edo Period, the area was noted as a centre for copper crafts. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Hizaori was created within Niikura District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Niikura District was abolished in 1894 and became part of Kitaadachi District. It was raised to town status on May 1, 1921, and renamed Asaka after Prince Yasuhiko Asaka who was an honorary chairman of the Tokyo Golf Club, which relocated to the area at that time. On April 1, 1955, Asaka annexed the neighboring village of Uchimagi. At the 1964 Summer Olympics in neighboring Tokyo, the town hosted the riding part of the modern pentathlon event at Asaka Nezu Park. Asaka was elevated to city status on March 15, 1967. In 2005, a proposal to merge Asaka with Shiki, Wako, and Niiza to form a new city with a combined population sufficient to qualify for core city status was defeated in a referendum, largely due to opposition from Wako.

Government Asaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Asaka contributes two members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Due to its location, Asaka is primarily a bedroom community with over 37% of its population commuting to the Tokyo metropolis for work. The area is also a distribution hub for northern Tokyo.

Education Toyo University also has a campus in Asaka.

Railway JR East – Musashino Line • Kita-Asaka Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line • Asaka - Asakadai.

Highway • National Route 254.

Military • JGSDF Camp Asaka.