Itabashi

Itabashi
板橋区
Special ward
Itabashi City

The east exit of Itabashi Station

Flag

Location of Itabashi in Tokyo Metropolis
Itabashi

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 35°46′N 139°41′E / 35.767°N 139.683°E / 35.767; 139.683Coordinates: 35°46′N 139°41′E / 35.767°N 139.683°E / 35.767; 139.683
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Tokyo Metropolis
Government
 • Mayor Takeshi Sakamoto (since April 2007)
Area
 • Total 32.22 km2 (12.44 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2015)
 • Total 547,270
 • Density 16,990/km2 (44,000/sq mi)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address Itabashi 2-66-1, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo
173-8501
Website www.city.itabashi.tokyo.jp
Tall apartments in Takashimadaira

Itabashi (板橋区 Itabashi-ku) is a special ward located in Tokyo Metropolis, 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 May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 547,270 and a population density of 16,990 persons per km². The total area is 32.22 km².

Geography

Itabashi lies on the Kantō plain. 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.

History

The name of the ward means "plank bridge" and derives from the wooden span over the Shakujii River 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 shogunal 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 were merged and became part of Tokyo City as Itabashi Ward. It became a special ward May 3, 1947. On August 1 of that year, the localities of Nerima, Kami-Nerima, Naka-Arai, Shakujii and Ōizumi were split off from Itabashi to create Nerima Ward.

Education

Universities

Itabashi is home to four universities. Tokyo Kasei University 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 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.

Private schools

Points of interest

Transportation

Rail

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.

Highways

See also

Cities with the same kanji (板橋, read Itabashi during Japanese rule):

References

  1. ↑ "ウリハッキョ一覧" (Archive). Chongryon. Retrieved on October 14, 2015. "東京朝鮮第三初級学校 173-0033 東京都板橋区大山西町67-25-6 "
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Itabashi, Tokyo.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for North Tokyo.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/13/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.