Ageo

Ageo 上尾市
City
Ageo City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ageo in Saitama Prefecture
Ageo
Coordinates: 35°58′38.6″N 139°35′35.5″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Area
• Total	45.51 km2 (17.57 sq mi)
Population  (February 2016)
• Total	224,841
• Density	4,940/km2 (12,800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Osmanthus
- Flower	Azalea
Phone number	048-775-5111
Address	3-1-1 Honchō, Ageo-shi, Saitama-ken 362-8501
Website	http://www.city.ageo.lg.jp/

Ageo (上尾市, Ageo-shi) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2016, the city had an estimated population of 224,841, and a population density of 4940 persons per km². Its total area is 45.51 square kilometres (17.57 sq mi).

Geography

Located in central Saitama Prefecture, Ageo is just north of the prefectural capital of Saitama City.

Surrounding municipalities

• Saitama Prefecture
  • Saitama
  • Kawagoe
  • Okegawa
  • Ina
  • Kawajima

History

Ageo-shuku, a post town on the Nakasendō highway flourished during the Edo period. Ageo's rail station opened in 1883. In 1889, Ageo-juku merged with the hamlets of Ageoshimo, Kashiwaza, Kasugayatsu and Yatsu to form the town of Ageo with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two towns of Hirakata and Haraichi and the three villages of Kamihira, Ōishi and Ōya merged with the town of Ageo on January 1, 1955, which was elevated city status on July 15, 1958. A proposal to merge with the neighboring city of Saitama was rejected by referendum in 2001.

Economy

Ageo was a noted agricultural area well into the 20th century. In the second half of the 20th century, numerous metallurgical and automobile factories were constructed, and UD Trucks and Bridgestone Cycle remain major employers. Due to its geographic location, Ageo is increasingly becoming a bedroom community for Saitama City and Tokyo.

Education

• Seigakuin University
• Ageo has 22 elementary schools, 11 middle schools and five high schools, as well as two special education schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East - Takasaki Line
  • Ageo - Kita-Ageo
• Saitama New Urban Transit - New Shuttle
  • Haraichi - Shōnan

Highway

• Japan National Route 16
• Japan National Route 17

Sports

• Ageo Medics, a V.Premier League women's volleyball team
• Bridgestone–Anchor, cycling team

Sister city relations

• Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, friendship city since March 26, 2004
• Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia
• Motomiya, Fukushima, Japan, friendship city since July 31, 2013

Noted people from Ageo

• Rica Imai, fashion model and actress
• Mayuko Arisue, fashion model and actress
• Mai Ichii, professional wrestler, kick-boxer
• Takehiko Orimo, basketball player

External links

Media related to Ageo, Saitama at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)
• Ageo Tourist Website