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'Tokorozawa' (Japanese: 所沢市; -shi) is a city in Saitama, Japan. It is located in the central part of the Musashino plain, about 30 km west of downtown Tokyo. Tokorozawa can be considered part of the greater Tokyo area; its proximity to the latter and lower housing costs make it a popular bedroom community.
Tokorozawa borders the Tokyo communities of Kiyose City, Higashi-Murayama City, Higashi-Yamato City, Musashi-Murayama City, and Mizuhomachi, Tokyo; and the Saitama communities of Iruma City, Sayama City, Kawagoe City, Miyoshimachi City, and Niiza City.
Most of Lake Sayama falls within city boundaries; Lake Tama also touches the south-western part of the city. Today the city is an agricultural market for locally grown Sayama green tea. Other agricultural products include spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, burdock, pears and grapes.
The area around Tokorozawa Station's west exit is built up as a shopping district with several department stores. Prope Street is a popular shopping arcade.

Contents

History

Professional sports teams

Points of interest

Events

Transportation

Railways

Bus

Notable people

from Tokorozawa

who live in Tokorozawa

Tokorozawa in popular culture

Sister cities

External links

History

Tokorozawa was established as a city on November 3, 1950.
During the Edo period (1603-1867) the area's major industry was silk textile production.
Tokorozawa is known as "the birthplace of Japanese aviation." It was the site of the first airfield in Japan, opened in 1911.

Professional sports teams

'''Club'''
'''Sport'''
'''League'''
'''Venue'''
'''Established'''
'''Championships'''


Seibu Lions
baseball
Pacific League
Goodwill Seibu Dome
1950
12 (Japan Series)
Saitama Broncos
basketball
BJ
Tokorozawa Municipal Stadium
1999
0

Points of interest

★ Goodwill Seibu Dome, home of the Seibu Lions

★ Seibu-en, an amusement park

★ Tokorozawa Aviation Museum, the location of Japan's first airfield.

★ Sayama Ski Slope, an indoor ski and snowboard resort

★ UNESCO Village, an educational park with dinosaur exhibits

★ Muse, Tokorozawa Civic Cultural Centre [2]

★ Hachikokuyama, nature park famous for being the inspiration of Totoro

★ Tokorozawa Shinmei Shrine

★ Hatogamine Hachiman Shrine

Events

The Tokorozawa Matsuri is a festival held each year in October and features parade floats (mikoshi), taiko drums, and samba dancers.

Transportation

Railways

★ Main station: Tokorozawa Station

★ Seibu Ikebukuro Line:

★
★ Tokorozawa Station, Nishi-Tokorozawa Station, Kotesashi Station, Sayamagaoka Station

★ Seibu Shinjuku Line:

★
★ Tokorozawa Station, Koku-koen (Aviation Park) Station, Shin-Tokorozawa Station

★ Seibu Sayama Line:

★
★ Nishi-Tokorozawa Station, Shimo-Yamaguchi Station, Seibu-Kyujomae (Seibu Dome) Station

★ Seibu Yamaguchi Line:

★
★ Seibu-Kyujomae (Seibu Dome) Station, Yuenchi-Nishi (Amusement Park, West) Station

★ JR East Musashino Line:

★
★ Higashi-Tokorozawa Station

Bus

The city is served by Seibu Bus.
Buses run frequently between Tokorozawa and both Haneda domestic airport and Narita international airport. Buses leave from Tokorozawa Station (east exit) and Higashi-Tokorozawa Station.

Notable people

from Tokorozawa

★ Bokuzen Hidari (1894-1971), actor born in Kotesashi Village (which was absorbed into Tokorozawa)

★ Tokoro Joji (Takayuki Haga), comedian

who live in Tokorozawa

★ Hayao Miyazaki, animated film director

★ Hideshi Hino, horror manga artist

Tokorozawa in popular culture

★ Tokorozawa inspired the setting for the animated film ''My Neighbour Totoro'' ''(Tonari no Totoro)''.^[1]

★ Scenes in the Japanese film ''Shall We Dance?'' were set in Tokorozawa. The Seibu Ikebukuro line's Sayamagaoka Station features in the film.

★ Scenes in the Japanese horror film ''Juon'' were filmed in Tokorozawa. The area around Tokorozawa station is easily identifiable.

Sister cities

★ Decatur, Illinois 1966

★ Changzhou 1992

★ Anyang, Gyeonggi 1998

External links

★ Tokorozawa official website in Japanese