Tokorozawa, Saitama
Encyclopedia
is a city
in Saitama
, Japan
. It is located in the central part of the Musashino plain, about 30 km west of downtown Tokyo
. Tokorozawa can be considered part of the greater Tokyo area; its proximity to the latter and lower housing costs make it a popular bedroom community.
, Higashimurayama
, Higashiyamato, Musashimurayama, and Mizuho
; and the Saitama communities of Iruma
, Sayama
, Kawagoe
, Miyoshimachi
, and Niiza
.
Most of Lake Sayama falls within city boundaries; Lake Tama also touches the south-western part of the city. Today the city is an agricultural market for locally grown Sayama green tea
. Other agricultural products include spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, burdock, pears and grapes.
The area around Tokorozawa Station
's west exit is built up as a shopping district with several department stores. Prope Street is a popular shopping arcade.
, the area was host to a series of battles fought in May 1333 that were part of the Genko War
that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate
. These include the Battle of Kotesashi (1333)
and the Battle of Kumegawa
. Kotesashi was again the site of another battle nineteen years later.
During the Edo period
(1603–1867) the area's major industry was silk
textile production. It was also an important trading center, being located at the intersection of roads connecting Edo
with the towns of Hachioji, Chichibu
, Kawagoe
and Fuchu
.
Tokorozawa became the site of Japan's first air base and air service academy in 1911. The base was used through the end of World War II
and fell under the control of the United States Armed Forces
after the war. The US returned most of its property in Tokorozawa to Japan in 1971, but retains a communications facility in the city which is operated by the 374th Airlift Wing
of the Fifth Air Force
, based at Yokota Air Base
to the southwest. The facility houses antennas for communications with USAF aircraft in the region. Much of the land returned to Japan has been converted into a public Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park.
Tokorozawa was established as a city on November 3, 1950 and was designated as a special city
in 2002. It currently meets the conditions to be designated as a core city
but has yet to receive this designation.
, which controls airspace in the Kantō
, Jōetsu
, Tōhoku
, Chūbu
, and Hokuriku region
s and a portion of the Kansai
region.
. Several Seibu group companies, including its railway and bus divisions, are headquartered in the vicinity of Tokorozawa Station
. Seibu owns an amusement park, baseball stadium (Seibu Dome
) and velodrome (Seibu-en Velodrome
) in the "Seibu-en" district near Lake Tama in the southwestern corner of the city.
Citizen Holdings operates a watch factory in Tokorozawa.
Club
Sport
League
Venue
Established
Championships
Saitama Seibu Lions
baseball
Pacific League
Seibu Dome
1950
12 (Japan Series
)
Saitama Broncos
basketball
BJ
Tokorozawa Municipal Stadium
1999
0
), taiko
drums, and samba
dancers.
A two-day festival featuring music, cultural and sports exhibitions, community group activities and food booths takes place in late October in Kokukoen Park on the grounds of the former airfield. A similar 1-day festival, the Shimin Bunka Fair, takes place in early April in the park.
The business community around Tokorozawa station sponsors the Tokorozawa Shun no Ichi, a 2-day festival in the facilities of the mothballed Seibu train repair facilities near Tokorozawa station. The festival features music performances in an old hangar, cultural exhibitions, a swap meet, and food stands.
The city and local business community decorates the west side of Tokorozawa station with holiday lights from early December through mid March, and separate lighting ceremonies featuring local musicians, politicians, and sports figures are conducted for various portions of the lighted areas.
Tokorozawa houses the headquarters of Seibu Railway
and its parent company Seibu Holdings, and Tokorozawa Station
forms a hub in the Seibu Railway network which serves western Tokyo and southern Saitama. Tokorozawa is at the intersection of Seibu's two main lines, which respectively run to Ikebukuro Station
and Seibu Shinjuku Station
in central Tokyo.
Buses run frequently between Tokorozawa and both Haneda domestic airport and Narita
international airport. Buses leave from Tokorozawa Station (east exit) and Higashi-Tokorozawa Station.
in eastern Tokorozawa.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
in Saitama
Saitama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is located in the central part of the Musashino plain, about 30 km west of downtown Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Tokorozawa can be considered part of the greater Tokyo area; its proximity to the latter and lower housing costs make it a popular bedroom community.
Location
Tokorozawa borders the Tokyo communities of KiyoseKiyose, Tokyo
is a city in Tokyo, Japan.-Demography:As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 73,974 , the density of 7,222.87 persons per km² and there are 32,741 households in the city.-Geography:...
, Higashimurayama
Higashimurayama, Tokyo
is a city located in the western end of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 151,279 and a population density of 8,810 persons per km²...
, Higashiyamato, Musashimurayama, and Mizuho
Mizuho, Tokyo
is a town in Nishitama District, Tokyo, Japan. It was established on November 10, 1940, resulting from the merger of four villages and acquired additional land in 1958....
; and the Saitama communities of Iruma
Iruma, Saitama
is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 149,269 and a population density of 3,340 persons per km². The total area is 44.74 km². The city consists of 6 areas, Toyooka, Kaneko, Higashikaneko, Fujisawa, Miyadera-Nihongi, and...
, Sayama
Sayama, Saitama
, formerly known as Irumagawa, is a city located in Saitama, Japan. Sayama translates as "sitting on a mountain”. The city was founded on July 1, 1954....
, Kawagoe
Kawagoe, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is about a 30-minute train ride from Ikebukuro in Tokyo.As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 343,926...
, Miyoshimachi
Miyoshi, Saitama
is a town located in Iruma District, Saitama, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 36,587 and a density of 2,391.31 persons per km². The total area is 15.30 km².-External links:*...
, and Niiza
Niiza, Saitama
is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is essentially a suburb of the Tokyo conurbation. Niiza is located at the southernmost part of Saitama. As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 159,741 and a population density of 7,010 persons per km²...
.
Most of Lake Sayama falls within city boundaries; Lake Tama also touches the south-western part of the city. Today the city is an agricultural market for locally grown Sayama green tea
Green tea
Green tea is made solely from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has recently become more widespread in the West, where black tea is traditionally...
. Other agricultural products include spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, burdock, pears and grapes.
The area around Tokorozawa Station
Tokorozawa Station
is a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan operated by Seibu Railway.-Lines:Tokorozawa Station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Hannō, and by the Seibu Shinjuku Line from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe in Saitama....
's west exit is built up as a shopping district with several department stores. Prope Street is a popular shopping arcade.
History
During the Kamakura periodKamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura Shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo....
, the area was host to a series of battles fought in May 1333 that were part of the Genko War
Genko War
The —also known as the —was a civil war in Japan which marked the fall of the Kamakura shogunate and end of the power of the Hōjō clan. The war thus preceded the Nanboku-chō period and the rise of the Ashikaga shogunate...
that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate
Kamakura shogunate
The Kamakura shogunate was a military dictatorship in Japan headed by the shoguns from 1185 to 1333. It was based in Kamakura. The Kamakura period draws its name from the capital of the shogunate...
. These include the Battle of Kotesashi (1333)
Battle of Kotesashi (1333)
The was part of the decisive Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign during the Genkō War in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate. Fought in present day Tokorozawa on May 11, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada against the forces of the Hōjō Shogun. The next...
and the Battle of Kumegawa
Battle of Kumegawa
The was part of the decisive Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign during the Genkō War in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate. Fought in present day Higashimurayama at the foot of the Hachikokuyama ridge on May 12, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada...
. Kotesashi was again the site of another battle nineteen years later.
During the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
(1603–1867) the area's major industry was silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
textile production. It was also an important trading center, being located at the intersection of roads connecting Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
with the towns of Hachioji, Chichibu
Chichibu
can refer to:*Chichibu, Saitama - a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan*Prince Chichibu - a member of the Japanese imperial family...
, Kawagoe
Kawagoe
Kawagoe may refer to two different locations in Japan:*Kawagoe, Mie, a town in Mie Prefecture*Kawagoe, Saitama, a city in Saitama Prefecture...
and Fuchu
Fuchu
is the name of several places in Japan:*Fuchū, Tokyo, a city in Tokyo Metropolis*Fuchū, Hiroshima, a city in Hiroshima Prefecture*Fuchū, Hiroshima , a town in Hiroshima Prefecture*Fuchū-shuku, a former post station on the Tōkaidō...
.
Tokorozawa became the site of Japan's first air base and air service academy in 1911. The base was used through the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and fell under the control of the United States Armed Forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
after the war. The US returned most of its property in Tokorozawa to Japan in 1971, but retains a communications facility in the city which is operated by the 374th Airlift Wing
374th Airlift Wing
The 374th Airlift Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Fifth Air Force. It is stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is part of Pacific Air Forces ....
of the Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, based at Yokota Air Base
Yokota Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.The base houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of and has a runway...
to the southwest. The facility houses antennas for communications with USAF aircraft in the region. Much of the land returned to Japan has been converted into a public Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park.
Tokorozawa was established as a city on November 3, 1950 and was designated as a special city
Special cities of Japan
of Japan are cities with populations of at least 200,000, and are delegated a subset of the functions delegated to core cities.This category was established by the Local Autonomy Law, article 252 clause 26...
in 2002. It currently meets the conditions to be designated as a core city
Core city
A is a class of Japanese city created by the first clause of Article 252, Section 22 of the Local Autonomy Law of Japan. Core cities are delegated many functions normally carried out by prefectural governments, but not as many as designated cities...
but has yet to receive this designation.
Economy
Public sector
Tokorozawa houses the Tokyo Area Control CenterTokyo Area Control Center
is an air traffic control center located in the Namiki area of Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, north of Tokyo.As of 2001 the center controlled airspace in the Kantō, Jōetsu, Tōhoku, Chūbu, and Hokuriku regions and a portion of the Kansai region....
, which controls airspace in the Kantō
Kanto region
The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain....
, Jōetsu
Joetsu
Jōetsu may refer to:*A city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan;*A geographical region within Niigata Prefecture, Japan that consists of the cities of Jōetsu, Itoigawa and Myōkō; or...
, Tōhoku
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
, Chūbu
Chubu region
The is the central region of Honshū, Japan's main island. Chūbu has a population estimate of 21,886,324 as of 2008.Chūbu, which means "central region", encompasses nine prefectures : Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, Yamanashi, and often Mie.It is located directly...
, and Hokuriku region
Hokuriku region
The is located in the northwestern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. It lies along the Sea of Japan within the Chūbu region. It is almost equivalent to Koshi Province and Hokurikudō area in pre-modern Japan....
s and a portion of the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
region.
Private sector
Tokorozawa is the headquarters of Seibu Holdings, the parent company of Seibu RailwaySeibu Railway
is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbreviation of "west Musashi," referring to the historic name for this area...
. Several Seibu group companies, including its railway and bus divisions, are headquartered in the vicinity of Tokorozawa Station
Tokorozawa Station
is a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan operated by Seibu Railway.-Lines:Tokorozawa Station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Hannō, and by the Seibu Shinjuku Line from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe in Saitama....
. Seibu owns an amusement park, baseball stadium (Seibu Dome
Seibu Dome
is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it...
) and velodrome (Seibu-en Velodrome
Seibu-en Velodrome
thumb|250px|right|Seibu-en Velodrome is a velodrome located in Tokorozawa, Saitama that conducts pari-mutuel Keirin racing - one of Japan's four authorized where gambling is permitted. Its Keirin identification number for betting purposes is 26# ....
) in the "Seibu-en" district near Lake Tama in the southwestern corner of the city.
Citizen Holdings operates a watch factory in Tokorozawa.
Professional sports teams
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
Seibu Dome
is the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it...
Japan Series
, or is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a seven-game series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League....
)
Saitama Broncos
The is a men's professional basketball club based in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It calls the whole prefecture home and its main home arenas are Tokorozawa Civic Gymnasium and Saitama Super Arena in Chūō-ku, Saitama City...
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
Bj league
The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...
General points of interest
- Seibu DomeSeibu Domeis the home field of the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.The stadium has a roof over the field and the stands, like other indoor ballparks. However, it lacks a wall behind the stands so that natural air comes into the field. This makes it...
, home of the Seibu Lions - Seibu-en amusement park
- Tokorozawa Aviation MuseumTokorozawa Aviation MuseumThe is a museum located in the city of Tokorozawa, Saitama dedicated to the history of aviation in Japan. It contains aircraft and other displays and an IMAX theatre...
, the location of Japan's first airfield. - Sayama Ski Slope, indoor skiIndoor ski slopeIndoor ski slopes are found in several countries, proving a climate controlled environment can be maintained in which snow can be manufactured using a snow cannon, enabling skiing and snowboarding to take place year-round.-Notable mentions:...
and snowboard resort - Tokorozawa Civic Cultural Centre MuseTokorozawa Civic Cultural Centre Museis a concert hall complex consisting of the main "Ark Hall", with a pipe organ, and other facilities, located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, west of Tokyo, Japan. It opened in 1993, and is operated by the Tokorozawa Cultural Foundation...
- HachikokuyamaHachikokuyamaHachikokuyama is a ridge and park in Higashimurayama, Tokyo and Tokorozawa, Saitama. Its name translates literally into English as "Eight Country Mountain" since in times past, one could view eight surrounding "countries" or regions from its top....
nature park famous for being the inspiration of TotoroMy Neighbor Totoro, is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan...
Historical points of interest
- Battle of KotesashiBattle of Kotesashi (1333)The was part of the decisive Kōzuke-Musashi Campaign during the Genkō War in Japan that ultimately ended the Kamakura Shogunate. Fought in present day Tokorozawa on May 11, 1333, it pitted the anti-shogunate imperial forces led by Nitta Yoshisada against the forces of the Hōjō Shogun. The next...
: site of an important battle during the Genko WarGenko WarThe —also known as the —was a civil war in Japan which marked the fall of the Kamakura shogunate and end of the power of the Hōjō clan. The war thus preceded the Nanboku-chō period and the rise of the Ashikaga shogunate... - Waterfall Castle: a Sengoku PeriodSengoku periodThe or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
castle ruin - Tokorozawa Shinmei ShrineTokorozawa Shinmei Shrineis a major Shintō shrine in Tokorozawa city, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.- History :Tradition holds that Tokorozawa Shimei Shrine was founded in the year 110 A. D. by Yamatotakeru no mikoto during his conquest of eastern Japan...
: believed to have been founded in the second century A.D. - Hatogamine Hachiman ShrineHatogamine Hachiman Shrineis an ancient Japanese Shinto shrine in Tokorozawa, Saitama.- History :Hatogamine Hachiman Shrine is believed to date to 921 A. D. when a ground purification ceremony was held there...
: an ancient ShintoShintoor Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
shrine including a 13th century main shrine building
Events
The Tokorozawa Matsuri is a festival held each year in October and features traditional Japanese parade floats (mikoshiMikoshi
A is a divine palanquin . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine...
), taiko
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
drums, and samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
dancers.
A two-day festival featuring music, cultural and sports exhibitions, community group activities and food booths takes place in late October in Kokukoen Park on the grounds of the former airfield. A similar 1-day festival, the Shimin Bunka Fair, takes place in early April in the park.
The business community around Tokorozawa station sponsors the Tokorozawa Shun no Ichi, a 2-day festival in the facilities of the mothballed Seibu train repair facilities near Tokorozawa station. The festival features music performances in an old hangar, cultural exhibitions, a swap meet, and food stands.
The city and local business community decorates the west side of Tokorozawa station with holiday lights from early December through mid March, and separate lighting ceremonies featuring local musicians, politicians, and sports figures are conducted for various portions of the lighted areas.
Railways
Seibu Railway
is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbreviation of "west Musashi," referring to the historic name for this area...
and its parent company Seibu Holdings, and Tokorozawa Station
Tokorozawa Station
is a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan operated by Seibu Railway.-Lines:Tokorozawa Station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Hannō, and by the Seibu Shinjuku Line from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe in Saitama....
forms a hub in the Seibu Railway network which serves western Tokyo and southern Saitama. Tokorozawa is at the intersection of Seibu's two main lines, which respectively run to Ikebukuro Station
Ikebukuro Station
is a railway station located in the Ikebukuro district of Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.71 million passengers on an average daily in 2007, it is the second-busiest train station in the world , and the busiest station in the Tobu, Seibu and Tokyo Metro networks. It primarily serves commuters from...
and Seibu Shinjuku Station
Seibu Shinjuku Station
thumb|Platforms is a train station of the Seibu Railway Company located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.-Lines:The station is served by the following line:*Seibu Railway Company**Shinjuku Line -Surrounding area:...
in central Tokyo.
- Seibu Ikebukuro LineSeibu Ikebukuro LineThe is a commuter railway line of the Japanese private railway operator Seibu Railway. It originates at Ikebukuro Station, a large railway junction in north-western Tokyo, extending to northwest suburbs as far as Tokorozawa, Saitama, and nominally terminates at Agano Station.The Seibu Chichibu...
:- Tokorozawa StationTokorozawa Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan operated by Seibu Railway.-Lines:Tokorozawa Station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Hannō, and by the Seibu Shinjuku Line from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe in Saitama....
, Nishi-Tokorozawa StationNishi-Tokorozawa Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. This station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and its branch, the Sayama Line. Nishi-Tokorozawa is the 18th station leaving from Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line....
, Kotesashi StationKotesashi Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. This station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. Kotesashi is the 19th station leaving from Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.Trains that stop here:Local...
, Sayamagaoka StationSayamagaoka Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. This station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. Sayamagaoka is the 20th station leaving from Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.Trains that stop here:Local...
- Tokorozawa Station
- Seibu Shinjuku Line:
- Tokorozawa StationTokorozawa Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan operated by Seibu Railway.-Lines:Tokorozawa Station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro in Tokyo to Hannō, and by the Seibu Shinjuku Line from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon-Kawagoe in Saitama....
, Kōkū-kōen StationKōkū-kōen Stationis a train station operated by Seibu Railway located in Tokorozawa, Japan.-Lines:The station is served by the Seibu Shinjuku Line. All trains except Limited express and Rapid Express services stop at Kōkū-kōen station.-Station building:...
, Shin-Tokorozawa StationShin-Tokorozawa Stationis a train station operated by Seibu Railway located in Tokorozawa, Japan.-Lines:The station is served by the Shinjuku Line. All trains except Limited express services stop at Shin-Tokorozawa station.-Station building:...
- Tokorozawa Station
- Seibu Sayama LineSeibu Sayama Lineis a commuter railway line of the Seibu Railway, a major private railroad in Japan. This line connects the Nishi-Tokorozawa Station and Seibu-Kyūjō-mae Station in Tokorozawa, Saitama.-Stations:* Nishi-Tokorozawa* Shimo-Yamaguchi* Seibu-Kyūjō-mae...
:- Nishi-Tokorozawa StationNishi-Tokorozawa Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. This station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and its branch, the Sayama Line. Nishi-Tokorozawa is the 18th station leaving from Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line....
, Shimo-Yamaguchi StationShimo-Yamaguchi Stationis a railway station on the Seibu Sayama Line in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
, Seibu-Kyujomae Station
- Nishi-Tokorozawa Station
- Seibu Yamaguchi LineSeibu Yamaguchi LineThe of Seibu Railway is a manually operated people mover that runs between in Higashimurayama, Tokyo and Seibu-Kyūjōmae Station in Tokorozawa, Saitama in Japan. The line has an official nickname Leo Liner, after 'Leo', the hero of Kimba the White Lion, who is also the mascot of Seibu Lions...
:- Seibu-Kyujomae Station, Yuenchi-Nishi StationYuenchi-Nishi Stationis a railway station on the Seibu Yamaguchi Line in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
- Seibu-Kyujomae Station, Yuenchi-Nishi Station
- JR East Musashino LineMusashino LineThe is a railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company . It links Tsurumi Station in Yokohama with Nishi-Funabashi Station in Chiba Prefecture, forming a 100.6 km unclosed loop around central Tokyo...
:- Higashi-Tokorozawa StationHigashi-Tokorozawa Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .-Lines:Higashi-Tokorozawa Station is served by the orbital Musashino Line from to and .-Station layout:...
- Higashi-Tokorozawa Station
Bus
The city is served by Seibu Bus.Buses run frequently between Tokorozawa and both Haneda domestic airport and Narita
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
international airport. Buses leave from Tokorozawa Station (east exit) and Higashi-Tokorozawa Station.
Roads
The main highway in Tokorozawa is Japan National Route 463, which passes through the city center. Route 463 interchanges with the Kan-Etsu ExpresswayKan-Etsu Expressway
The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming: is the kanji acronym of and the old comprising modern-day Niigata Prefecture....
in eastern Tokorozawa.
Born in Tokorozawa
- Bokuzen HidariBokuzen Hidariwas a Japanese actor and comedian born in Kotesashi Village , Iruma District, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He appeared in such films as Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, The Lower Depths and Ikiru...
(1894–1971), actor born in Kotesashi Village (which was absorbed into Tokorozawa) - George TokoroGeorge Tokorois the stage name of Japanese tarento, singer-songwriter, comedian, Master of Ceremonies, and essayist . Born in Tokorozawa, Saitama, he attended Takushoku University's Commercial Science class.-Works:*ALF - ALF...
(Takayuki Haga), comedian
Living in Tokorozawa
- Hayao MiyazakiHayao Miyazakiis a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
, animated film director - Hideshi HinoHideshi HinoHideshi Hino is a Japanese manga artist who specializes in horror stories. His comics include Hell Baby, Hino Horrors, and Panorama of Hell...
, horror mangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
artist - Tom Dillon, humorist, newspaper columnist for The Japan TimesThe Japan TimesThe Japan Times is an English language newspaper published in Japan. Unlike its competitors, the Daily Yomiuri and the International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun, it is not affiliated with a Japanese language media organization...
, and author of Japanese Made Funny (ISBN 4-915645-21-5)
Tokorozawa in popular culture
- Tokorozawa inspired the setting for the animated film My Neighbor TotoroMy Neighbor Totoro, is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan...
(Tonari no Totoro).
- Scenes in the Japanese film Shall We Dance? were set in Tokorozawa. The Seibu Ikebukuro LineSeibu Ikebukuro LineThe is a commuter railway line of the Japanese private railway operator Seibu Railway. It originates at Ikebukuro Station, a large railway junction in north-western Tokyo, extending to northwest suburbs as far as Tokorozawa, Saitama, and nominally terminates at Agano Station.The Seibu Chichibu...
's Sayamagaoka StationSayamagaoka Stationis a railway station in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. This station is served by the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. Sayamagaoka is the 20th station leaving from Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.Trains that stop here:Local...
features in the film.
- Scenes in the Japanese horror film Ju-onJu-onis the title of a series of horror films by Japanese director Takashi Shimizu. Shimizu attended the Film School of Tokyo, where he studied under Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Kurosawa helped Shimizu shepherd the Ju-on projects to fruition.-History:...
were filmed in Tokorozawa. The area around Tokorozawa Station is identifiable.
External links
- Tokorozawa official website in Japanese