Nakano
中野
Special ward
Nakano City
Skyline around Nakano station
Skyline around Nakano station
Flag of Nakano
Flag
Official seal of Nakano
Seal
Location of Nakano in Tokyo Metropolis
Location of Nakano in Tokyo Metropolis
Nakano is located in Japan
Nakano
Nakano
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°42′26.63″N 139°39′49.81″E / 35.7073972°N 139.6638361°E / 35.7073972; 139.6638361
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTokyo Metropolis
First official recordedearly 15th century
As Tokyo CityOctober 1, 1932
As Special ward of TokyoJuly 1, 1943
Government
 • MayorNaoto Sakai
Area
 • Total15.59 km2 (6.02 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2020[1])
 • Total344,880
 • Density22,121/km2 (57,290/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address4-8-1 Nakano, Nakano, Tokyo
164-8501
Websitewww.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp
Symbols
FlowerAzalea
TreeCastanopsis
Sunset over Nakano, with Nakano Broadway in the distance
One of the oldest temples in Nakano: Jougan-ji

Nakano (Japanese: 中野, Nakano) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The English translation of its Japanese self-designation is Nakano City (中野区, Nakano-ku).[2]

As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 322,731, and a population density of 20,701 persons per km2. The total area is 15.59 km2.[2] Nakano is the most densely populated city in Japan.

History

The ward was founded on October 1, 1932, when the towns of Nogata and Nakano were absorbed into the former Tokyo City as Nakano Ward. The present administration dates from March 15, 1947, when the Allied occupation reformed the administration of Tokyo-to.

Districts and neighborhoods

Geography

Five special wards surround Nakano: Shinjuku, Suginami, Nerima, Shibuya, and Toshima. It lies just west of the bustling Shinjuku area.

Rivers include the Kanda, Myosho-ji and Zenpuku-ji Rivers, and the Aratama Waterway.

Places

Education

Public schools

Metropolitan senior high and combined junior-senior high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.

Municipal kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools are operated by the Nakano City Board of Education.

Municipal junior high schools:[3]

Municipal elementary schools:[3]

Kindergartens:[3]

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Transportation

Rail

Nakano Ward is served by the JR East Chūō and Sobu lines, the Seibu Shinjuku Line, the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, and the Toei Oedo Line.

Bus

A complicated bus network is constructed throughout Nakano Ward because most train lines only run east and west.

Roads

Shuto Expressway:

Prefectural road:

Business and entertainment

Benza series

Promotional art for Benza English, a television show that takes place in Higashi Nakano

The Benza is a 2019 Amazon Prime Video series about two foreigners (Christopher McCombs and Kyle Card) who are trying to fix their broken toilet seat (便座, benza) and are suddenly tasked with saving the world. The series takes place entirely in Higashi Nakano. Benza English is a 2020 spin-off series that also takes place in Higashi Nakano. The Benza RPG is a 2020 video game adaption available on iOS, Android, and Steam.[5]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Population by District". Tokyo Statistical Yearbook. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "About Nakano City." Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "区立小・中学校、幼稚園一覧". Nakano. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "SOD Company Data" (in Japanese). SOD. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
  5. ^ "The Benza Transformed Into A Free-to-Play Retro RPG". Tokyo Weekender. February 18, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nakano, Tokyo.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tokyo/Nakano.
Nakano, Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolis
Metropolitan cities of Japan
Cities in Japan with a population of 200,000+
Authority control databases
Categories