Kitamoto, Saitama
# Kitamoto, Saitama

Kitamoto (北本市, Kitamoto-shi) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2021, the city had an estimated population of 66,022 and a population density of 3300 persons per $km^2.$ The total area of the city is 19.82 square kilometres (7.65 sq mi).

## Geography

In east-central Saitama Prefecture, Kitamoto is on the central reaches of the Arakawa River, and is within commuting distance of downtown Tokyo.

### Surrounding municipalities

Saitama Prefecture

* Okegawa
* Kōnosu
* Kawajima
* Yoshimi

### Climate

Kitamoto has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Kitamoto is 14.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1353 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.6 °C.

## Demographics

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

## History

Kōnosu-shuku was one of the post stations on the Nakasendō highway until 1602, when it was relocated north; the original location was renamed Motojuku, and later, Kitamotojuku, which is the origin of the name of the modern city. With the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, Kitamotojuku was merged with several neighboring hamlets to form the village of Ishito within Kitaadachi District, Saitama. On February 11, 1943, Ishito was merged with neighboring Nakamaru to form Kitamotojuku Village. On November 3, 1959, the village was elevated to town status, becoming Kitamoto Town. Kitamoto attained city status on November 3, 1971.

## Government

Kitamoto has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Kitamoto contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Saitama 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

## Economy

Due to this location, Kitamoto is primarily a bedroom community with a high percentage of its population commuting to either Saitama City or the Tokyo metropolis for work.

## Education

Kitamoto has eight public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education.

## Transportation

### Railway

JR East – Takasaki Line

* Kitamoto

### Highway

* National Route 17

## Noted people from Kitamoto

* Atsushi Oshima, politician
