Kasukabe (春日部市) is a special city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 233,278 in 108,328 households and a population density of 3500 PD/km2. The total area of the city is 66.00 sqkm. Kasukabe is famous for the production of kiri-tansu (桐箪笥), traditional tansu dressers made from paulownia wood. The cultural and economic value of the paulownia is reflected in its designation as the official town tree.

Geography

Kasukabe is located in far eastern Saitama Prefecture, divided between the Shimosa Plateau and the Omiya Plateau by the Nakagawa lowlands and the Edogawa River. The eastern portion of the city is still rural, with the largest area of paddy fields in Saitama.

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Kasukabe has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kasukabe is 14.5 C. The average annual rainfall is 1408 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.3 C, and lowest in January, at around 2.8 C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Kasukabe peaked around the year 2000 and has declined slightly since.

History

The area of Kasukabe was part of ancient Musashi Province and has been settled since at least the Jomon period as evidenced by many shell middens and ancient burial mounds. During the Edo period, Kasukabe prospered as a post station on the Nikkō Kaidō highway linking Edo with Nikkō. The town of Kasukabe was created within Minamisaitama District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. On April 1, 1944, Kasukabe annexed the neighboring village of Uchimaki. On July 1, 1954, Kasukabe was elevated to city status after annexing the villages of Toyoharu, Takesato, Komatsu and Toyono. On October 1, 2005, old Kasukabe city and the town of Shōwa (from Kitakatsushika District) were merged into the new and expanded city of Kasukabe. Kasukabe was elevated to special city status on April 1, 2008, giving it increased local autonomy.

Government

Kasukabe has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 32 members. Kasukabe contributes three members to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 16th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Kasukabe is a regional commercial center with a mixed economy.

Education

Transportation

Railway

Tōbu Railway - Tobu Skytree Line Tōbu Railway - Tobu Urban Park Line

Highway

Sister cities

Local attractions

Shopping

Kasukabe is home to what was formerly one of the two Robinsons department stores in Japan, which became a Seibu department store in March 2013. The large, seven-story American-style store is a landmark for residents. It is located on the east side of Kasukabe Station. However, Seibu is scheduled to close its doors due to a shortage of business, likely caused by competition with Aeon Mall. Close to the west entrance to the station is a shopping mall, known as Lala Garden, housing several chain retail stores, such as Uniqlo, Gap, ABC-Mart, as well as a supermarket, 100-yen shop, and more. There is also an Ito-Yokado on the west side of the station. In March 2013, an Aeon mall opened on National Route 16, which shoppers can either reach by car, or by taking a regularly scheduled bus from the east entrance of the station. This mall, as well as Lala Garden, has a movie theatre.

In popular culture

Kasukabe is the setting of the manga and anime series Lucky Star and Crayon Shin-chan. Shin-chan's creator Yoshito Usui also lived in Kasukabe.