Itabashi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Itabashi 板橋区
Special ward
Itabashi City
The east exit of Itabashi Station
Flag Emblem
Location of Itabashi in Tokyo Metropolis
Itabashi Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
First official recorded	990 AD
As merged with Tokyo City	October 1, 1932
As speciali ward of Tokyo	July 1, 1943
Area
• Total	32.22 km2 (12.44 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2020)
• Total	584,483
• Density	18,140/km2 (47,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	Itabashi 2-66-1, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8501
Symbols Bird Motacilla alba Flower Anemone flaccida Tree Zelkova serrata

Itabashi (Itabashi (板橋区, Itabashi-ku)) is a special part of Tokyo in Japan. It's often called Itabashi City in English.

Itabashi is a friendly place that has special connections with cities in other countries. It is a "sister city" with Burlington, Ontario in Canada, Shijingshan District in China, and Bologna in Italy.

As of 2020, about 584,483 people live in Itabashi. It covers an area of 32.22 square kilometers.

Geography of Itabashi

Itabashi is located on the Kantō plain, which is a large flat area. The Arakawa River is an important river that forms part of Itabashi's border with Saitama Prefecture.

Itabashi is surrounded by other cities and parts of Tokyo. To the north, it borders Wakō and Toda in Saitama. Within Tokyo, it is next to the wards of Nerima, Toshima, and Kita.

History of Itabashi

The name "Itabashi" means "plank bridge" in Japanese. This name comes from a wooden bridge over the Shakujii River that was built a very long time ago, during the Heian period. A wooden bridge was quite special back then, and the name stuck! Today, the bridge in that spot is made of concrete.

In the old Edo period, Itabashi was an important stop for travelers. It was one of the first places travelers would stay after leaving the capital city.

Itabashi officially became a part of Tokyo City on October 1, 1932. Later, on May 3, 1947, it became a special ward of Tokyo. A few months later, on August 1, 1947, some areas like Nerima were separated from Itabashi to form their own ward, Nerima.

Education in Itabashi

Itabashi is a great place for learning, with several universities and many public schools.

Universities

There are four universities in Itabashi:

• Tokyo Kasei University
• Teikyo University (main campus)
• Daito Bunka University (one campus)
• Nihon University (medical college)

Public High Schools

The public high schools in Itabashi are managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education. Some of these schools include:

• Itabashi High School [ja]
• Itabashi Yutoku High School [ja]
• Kitatoshima Technical High School [ja]
• Kitazono High School [ja]
• Ohyama High School [ja]
• Takashima High School [ja]

Public Junior High and Elementary Schools

The Itabashi City Board of Education runs many public junior high and elementary schools throughout the ward.

Fun Places to Visit

Itabashi has some interesting spots to explore:

• Akatsuka Botanical Garden: A beautiful garden with many different plants.
• Itabashi Botanical Garden: Another lovely botanical garden.
• Jorenji temple and the Daibutsu of Tokyo: A temple with a large Buddha statue.
• Jōhoku-Chūō Park: A nice park where you can relax and play.

Getting Around Itabashi

It's easy to travel in and around Itabashi thanks to its good transportation system.

Train Lines

Several train lines run through Itabashi, connecting it to other parts of Tokyo and beyond:

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Saikyō Line
• Toei Mita Line
• Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line
• Tōbu Tōjō Line

Some train stations that serve Itabashi might actually have their main entrance or address in a neighboring ward, even if they are very close to Itabashi.

Highways

Major highways also pass through Itabashi, making it easy to travel by car:

• Shuto Expressway (No.5 Ikebukuro Route and C2 Central Loop)

Sister Cities

Itabashi has special friendships with cities around the world:

• Shijingshan District, Beijing, China
• Bologna, Italy
• Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Famous People from Itabashi

Many talented people come from Itabashi, including:

• Tsubasa Akimoto, an actress
• Noriyuki Asakura, a composer and singer
• Tomoko Ikuta, an actress
• Shō Ishikawa, a Japanese baseball player
• Seizō Katō, an actor and voice actor
• Kayo Noro, a Japanese idol and singer
• Kento Yamazaki, a Japanese actor and model

Images for kids

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  Tall apartments in Takashimadaira

See also

In Spanish: Itabashi (Tokio) para niños