Niiza, Saitama

Niiza 新座市
City
Flag of Niiza Flag
Location of Niiza in Saitama Prefecture Location of Niiza in Saitama Prefecture
Niiza Location in Japan
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Saitama Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Kenji Suda (since July 1992)
Area
• Total	22.80 km2 (8.80 sq mi)
Population (2010)
• Total	159,741
• Density	6.602/km2 (17.10/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Acer palmatum
• Flower	magnolia kobus
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address	1-1-1 Nohitome 352-8623
Website	www.city.niiza.lg.jp

Niiza (新座市, Niiza-shi) 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.The city was founded on November 1, 1970.

As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 159,741 and a population density of 7,010 persons per km². The total area is 22.80 km².

Geography

File:Manjijoushin-dera Niiza.png

Manjijōshin-dera, a small temple in the Nodera area of Niiza

Niiza is home to Heirin-ji, a large Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple. The temple is located in Nobidome, close to Niiza City Hall. There is a very large stone gate (野火止大門 "Nobidome Daimon") along National Road 254, which runs through the middle of the city.

On April 7, 2003, Niiza gave the anime character Astro Boy an honorary citizenship to mark the date given as his birthdate in the original manga.

Transportation

The Seibu Ikebukuro Line crosses the southern part of Niiza and shares the Hibarigaoka Station with Nishitōkyō, the JR Musashino Line goes into the main area of Niiza at Niiza Station including a separate station for freight service and the Tōbu Tōjō Line provides service to the northern area of Niiza via Shiki Station, which despite the name is located in Niiza and not neighbouring Shiki.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan

Twin towns — Sister cities

Niiza is twinned with:

• Jyväskylä, Finland (1997)
• Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan (2000)
• Tōkamachi, Niigata, Japan (2002)
• Jiyuan, China (2002)
• Neuruppin, Germany (2003)

External links

• Niiza City official website (Japanese)