Sakura-ku, Saitama

Sakura-ku (桜区) is a ward of Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, occupying the southwestern part of the city. It is surrounded by Nishi-ku, Ōmiya-ku (north), Chūō-ku (east), Minami-ku (south) of Saitama city and cities of Asaka, Shiki and Fujimi (west; across Arakawa River).

Saitama University is headquartered in Sakura-ku.

The name of Sakura-ku means "Cherry-ward" literally, though it refers to Sakura-sō (Japanese primrose), as this area has been well known for wild primrose flowers.

History

Until May 1, 2001 it was the western part of Urawa city. On that day Urawa merged with neighboring cities of Ōmiya and Yono to form the city of Saitama. On 1 April 2003, the day Saitama city became a city designated by government ordinance, Sakura-ku was sectored as well as other eight wards.