'Sakura-ku' (桜区) is a
ward of
Saitama City,
Saitama Prefecture,
Japan, occupying the southwestern part of the city. It is surrounded by
Nishi-ku,
Ōmiya-ku (north),
Chūō-ku (east) ,
Minami-ku (south) of Saitama city and cities of
Asaka,
Shiki and
Fujimi (west; across
Arakawa River).
Saitama University is headquartered in Sakura-ku.
The name of Sakura-ku means "Cherry-ward" literally, though it refers to ''Sakura-sō'' (Japanese
primrose), as this area has been well-known for wild primrose flowers.
History
Until
May 1,
2001 it was the western part of Urawa city. On that day Urawa merged with neighboring cities of Ōmiya and Yono to form the city of Saitama. On
1 April 2003, the day Saitama city became a
city designated by government ordinance, Sakura-ku was sectored as well as other eight wards.