Hatogaya, Former municipality in Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Hatogaya was a former municipality situated in eastern Saitama Prefecture, close to Tokyo's metropolitan area. The territory encompassed about 6.22 square kilometers of residential and urban land.
The municipality originated as a town in 1950 and gained city status in 1967. It remained independent until merging with Kawaguchi in October 2011, marking the end of its existence as a separate administrative body.
The former municipality chose the Oriental turtle dove as its symbol, paired with the carnation and osmanthus as botanical emblems. These selections reflected how residents connected their community to the natural world around them.
The area was densely developed with residential neighborhoods and good accessibility due to its proximity to Tokyo. Visitors should understand that this place no longer exists as a separate entity and is now administered as part of Kawaguchi.
During its existence as an independent municipality, it ranked as the second smallest city in Japan by land area. This unusual distinction set it apart in Japan's urban landscape.
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