Misato, Saitama (city)

Misato

三郷市
Misato 三郷市
City
	Misato City Hall
	Flag Seal
	Location of Misato in Saitama Prefecture
	Misato
	Coordinates: 35°49′48.5″N 139°52′20.4″E / 35.830139°N 139.872333°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Area
• Total	30.13 km2 (11.63 sq mi)
Population (February 2016)
• Total	136,933
• Density	4,540/km2 (11,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Castanopsis
- Flower	Rhododendron
- Bird	Tachybaptus ruficollis
Phone number	048-953-1111
Address	648-1 Hanawada, Misato-shi, Saitama-ken 341-8501
Website	http://www.city.misato.lg.jp/

Misato (三郷市, Misato-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2016^[update], the city had an estimated population of 136,933, and a population density of 4540 persons per km². Its total area is 30.13 square kilometres (11.63 sq mi).

Geography

Misato is located in the extreme southeastern corner Saitama Prefecture in the middle of the Kantō Plain, with the Edogawa River and the Naka River forming two of its borders. It is approximately 20 kilometers from downtown Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities

History

The area of modern Misato was originally part of Shimōsa Province, and was transferred to Musashi Province in 1683. The villages of Hikonari, Waseda, Togasaki and Yagisato were created within Kitakatsushika District, Saitama with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Togasaki and Yagisato merged on July 1 1933 to form the village of Towa. On September 30, 1956, Hikonari, Waseda and Towa merged to form the village of Misato, which was raised to town status on October 1, 1964. The area experienced rapid population growth in the 1960s and 1970s with the large-scale construction of public housing.

Misato was elevated to city status on May 3, 1972.

Economy

Due to this location, Misato is primarily a bedroom community with a significant percentage of its population commuting to the Tokyo metropolis for work.

Education

Misato has 19 elementary schools, eight middle schools and three high schools (Misato North High School, Misato Technical High School, Misato High School) as well as a special education school.