Fukaya (深谷市) is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 229,517 in 142,803 households in 60804 households and a population density of 1023 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 138.37 sqkm. It is famous for a variety of welsh onions or Fukaya-negi (深谷ネギ).

Geography

Fukaya is located on the northern border of Saitama Prefecture, in the flatlands of the Kantō plain, in-between the Tone River and the Arakawa River.

Surrounding municipalities

Gunma Prefecture Saitama Prefecture

Climate

Fukaya has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Fukaya is 14.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1270 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.7 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.4 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Fukaya has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

History

Fukaya was the site of a castle built by the Uesugi clan in 1456, and later the site of Okabe Domain a feudal domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. In the Edo era, Fukaya-shuku was a major post town on the Nakasendō (中山道) highway, boasting over 80 inns. The town of Fukaya was established within Hanzawa District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Hanzawa District was abolished in 1896, becoming part of Ōsato District. Fukaya merged with the villages of Aketo, Hatara, Oyori and Fujisawa on January 1, 1955, and was elevated to city status. It annexed the village of Toyosato on April 1, 1973. On January 1, 2006, the towns of Hanazono, Kawamoto and Okabe (all from Ōsato District) were merged into Fukaya.

Government

Fukaya has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Fukaya, together with the towns of Misato and Yorii, contributes three members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Fukaya is dominated by agriculture, with welsh onions and tulips as famous local crops. Industrial parks are located in the eastern portion of the city, and the manufacture of bricks is a major local industry.

Education

Universities

High schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Takasaki Line Chichibu Railway – Chichibu Main Line

Highway

Sister cities

Local attractions

Mascot

Fukka-chan (ふっかちゃん) is the city’s local character (Yuru-chara), as well as a mascot. It was created on June 28, 2010. It is said to be a fictitious life form like a rabbit and a deer. Fukka-chan is widely described as a city’s popular mascot character.

Notable people from Fukaya