Soka, Special city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Soka is a city in southeastern Saitama Prefecture divided into five neighborhoods: Shinmei, Sumiyoshi, Chuo, Soka, and Hikawachō. The residential areas sit close to the Arakawa River, which forms the natural border with Tokyo, while commercial and industrial zones spread further inland.
The area became an official post station on the Nikkō Kaidō in 1630, serving the important trade route between Edo and the northern provinces. After centuries as a farming village, the settlement gained city status in November 1958 and quickly developed into a Tokyo suburb.
The name comes from the historic Sōka-shuku, a rest station on the Nikkō Kaidō that served travelers between Edo and Nikkō. Today many streets and public buildings carry memories of this past, while residents use the pine-lined avenue as a walking path.
The Tobu Skytree Line brings visitors from central Tokyo into the city, with several train stations along the route. Those arriving by car can take the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway or National Route 4, both of which lead to Tokyo.
The local miso senbei rice crackers have been produced here for generations following traditional recipes, even though the city is now known mainly for its industry. A few small workshops in residential neighborhoods still roast and season the crackers by hand.
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