Setagaya (世田谷区) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is also the name of a neighborhood and administrative district within the ward. Its official bird is the azure-winged magpie, its flower is the fringed orchid, and its tree is the Zelkova serrata. Setagaya has the largest population and second-largest area (after Ōta) of Tokyo's special wards. As of July 1, 2023, the ward has an estimated population of 940,071, and a population density of 16,194 persons per km² with the total area of 58.06 km².

Life expectancy

As of 2023, the female life expectancy in Setagaya is 88.9 years.

Geography

Setagaya is located at the southwestern corner of the Tokyo's special wards and the Tama River separates the boundary between Tokyo Metropolis and Kanagawa Prefecture. Residential population is among the highest in Tokyo as there are many residential neighbourhoods within Setagaya. Setagaya is served by various rail services providing frequent two- to three-minute headway rush-hour services to the busiest train terminals of Shinjuku and Shibuya as well as through service trains which continue travelling on to the Tokyo Metro lines providing direct access to the central commercial and business districts. Most rail lines run parallel from east to west and there are no north to south rail services within Setagaya, except for Setagaya Line light rail. The ward is divided into five districts. These are Setagaya, Kitazawa, Tamagawa, Kinuta and Karasuyama. The main ward office and municipal assembly (city hall) is located in Setagaya District, but other districts also have their own branch ward offices as a part of the administrative structure. Each branch office provides almost identical services as the main office, but does not provide the services related to municipal assembly. Most of the land is in the Musashino Tableland. The parts along the Tama River to the south are comparatively low-lying.

History

The special ward of Setagaya was founded on March 15, 1947. During the Edo period, 42 villages occupied the area. With the abolition of the han system in 1871, the central and eastern portions became part of Tokyo Prefecture while the rest became part of Kanagawa Prefecture; in 1893, some areas were transferred to Tokyo Prefecture. With the establishment of Setagaya Ward (an ordinary ward) in the old Tokyo City in 1932, and further consolidation in 1936, Setagaya took its present boundaries. During the 1964 Summer Olympics, the district of Karasuyama-machi in Setagaya was part of the athletics marathon and 50 km walk event.

Landmarks

Nature

Parks

Cultural facilities

Religious facilities

Others

Districts and neighborhoods

Notes: a – 4-chōme (33-ban to 39-ban) b – 1, 2, 3-chōme, 4-chōme (1-ban to 32-ban) c – 1, 2-chōme d – 3, 4-chōme

Transportation

Rail

Road

Expressways

National highways

Prefecture roads

Politics

On April 25, 2011, amid national concern over the safety of nuclear power triggered by the March 11 earthquake and Fukushima I nuclear accidents, former Social Democratic Party House of Representatives legislator Nobuto Hosaka was elected mayor on an anti-nuclear platform. Prior to becoming mayor, Hosaka was also well known for his staunch opposition of the death penalty and his defense of Japan's Otaku culture.

Economy

Education

Higher education

Primary and secondary education

National schools

These are schools operated by agencies of the central Government of Japan.

Metropolitan senior high schools

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education operates following senior high schools in Setagaya.

Municipal junior high schools

The Setagaya City Board of Education operates 29 junior high schools in Setagaya. They are: Former schools:

Municipal elementary schools

The Setagaya City Board of Education operates 61 elementary schools in Setagaya. They are: Former schools:

Private secondary schools

Private elementary schools

Special education schools

International schools

Former international schools:

International relations

Sister cities

Diplomatic missions in Setagaya

Notable people from Setagaya