Sayama

Sayama is a city in Saitama Prefecture about 40 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, spreading along the Iruma River across gentle hilly landscapes. Residential neighborhoods alternate with industrial areas, while smaller fields and green zones in the west ease the urban pattern and create a calmer atmosphere.

The settlement emerged during the Kamakura period as a rest station along an important trade route and maintained this function for several centuries. In 1954, Irumagawa town merged with five surrounding villages into the present form.

The name comes from the tea cultivation that has shaped the hillsides around the area for centuries and still plays a role in the region today. Visitors see small tea plantations in hilly landscapes that recall earlier times and are still farmed with traditional methods.

The Seibu Railway lines connect the city with Tokyo and other places in the region, allowing commuters to travel daily to the capital. Several highways run through the area and provide access to surrounding cities and mountains in the west.

A large automobile plant stands on the outskirts and assembles different vehicle models that roll out on transport trains daily. Visitors notice the steady flow of trucks and trains that highlights the economic role of the city for the surrounding area.

Location: Saitama Prefecture

Inception: July 1, 1954

Shares border with: Iruma, Kawagoe, Tokorozawa, Hannō, Hidaka

Website: https://city.sayama.saitama.jp

GPS coordinates: 35.85297,139.41219

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:45