Tsurugashima, Saitama

Tsurugashima 鶴ヶ島市
City
Tsurugashima city hall
Flag Seal
Location of Tsurugashima in Saitama Prefecture
Tsurugashima
Coordinates: 35°56′4.2″N 139°23′35.1″E / 35.934500°N 139.393083°ECoordinates: 35°56′4.2″N 139°23′35.1″E / 35.934500°N 139.393083°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Area
• Total	17.65 km^2 (6.81 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	70,230
• Density	3,980/km^2 (10,300/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Pine
- Flower	Azalea
-Elevation	40.66m
Phone number	049-271-1111
Address	16-1 Mitsugi, Tsurugashima-shi, Saitama-ken 350-2292
Website	Official website

Tsurugashima (鶴ヶ島市 Tsurugashima-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, in the central Kantō region of Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 70,230 and a population density of 3980 persons per km². Its total area was 17.65 square kilometres (6.81 sq mi).

Geography

Tsurugashima is located in the geographic center of Saitama Prefecture. Tsurugashima Station is approximately 40 minutes from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo on the Tōbu Tōjō Line by direct express train.

Surrounding municipalities

• Saitama Prefecture
• Kawagoe
• Sakado
• Hidaka
• Moroyama

History

The area around modern Tsurugashima has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and a number of large burial mounds from the Kofun period are preserved within the city limits. During the Edo period, the area was largely under the control of Kawagoe Domain. The village of Tsurugashima was created within Koma District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Koma District was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Iruma District.Tsurugashima was elevated to town status on April 1, 1966. The modern city of Tsurugashima was founded when the former town of Tsurugashima was elevated to city status on September 1, 1991.

Economy

Formerly an agricultural community, Tsurugashima has increasingly become a bedroom community, with over a third of its population commuting to the Tokyo metropolis or the city of Kawagoe.

Education

Tsurugashima has eight elementary schools, five middle schools and one high school

Transportation

Railway

• Tobu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line
  • Tsurugashima
• Tobu Railway - Tōbu Ogose Line
  • Ippommatsu

Highway

• Kan-Etsu Expressway – Tsurugashima IC, Tsurugashima JCT
• Ken-Ō Expressway – Ken-Ō Tsurugashima IC, Tsurugashima JCT
• Japan National Route 407

Bus

Tsuru Wagon community minibus in front of Wakaba Station, October 2011

• Tsuru Bus community bus service
• Tsuru Wagon community minibus service

Local attractions

Wakaba Walk shopping centre in front of Wakaba Station, October 2011

• Zennōji Temple
• Wakaba Walk Shopping Centre

Noted people from Tsurugashima

• Aria Jasuru Hasegawa, footballer^[1]
• Jin Katagiri, comedian and member of the Rahmens duo^[1]
• Ryuji Kawai, footballer^[1]
• Atsuko Sakurai, actress^[1]
• Hideaki Takeda, footballer^[1]
• Jun Uruno, footballer^[1]

References

1. 鶴ケ島市 [Tsurugashima City] (in Japanese). Japan: ken-min.com. 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.

External links

Media related to Tsurugashima, Saitama at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)