Saijō, Hiroshima (Shōbara)

Saijō
西城町
Municipal division

Flag
Saijō

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 34°56′23.6322″N 133°7′4.0758″E / 34.939897833°N 133.117798833°E / 34.939897833; 133.117798833Coordinates: 34°56′23.6322″N 133°7′4.0758″E / 34.939897833°N 133.117798833°E / 34.939897833; 133.117798833
Country Japan
Region Chūgoku (San'yō)
Prefecture Hiroshima Prefecture
District Hiba
Area
 • Total 226.91 km2 (87.61 sq mi)
Population (March 2011)
 • Total 4,182
 • Density 18/km2 (48/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Japanese Yew
 • Flower Taniutsugi
 • Bird Lesser cuckoo
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 737-3 Ōsa, Saijō-chō, Shōbara-shi, Hiroshima-ken
729-5792
Website www.city.shobara.hiroshima.jp

Saijō (西城町 Saijō-chō) was a town located in Hiba District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The site of a feudal castle from the Sengoku period, it was first incorporated as a town in 1898. It then went through several mergers with other towns and villages in the area before being incorporated itself into the city of Shōbara in March 2005. It is now a municipal division within Shōbara.

There are three elementary schools, a junior high school, and a high school located in Saijō. The area is served by the JR West Geibi and Kisuki railway lines. Saijō is located on Japan National Route 183 and 314, and is crossed by three major Hiroshima Prefectural Highways and ten smaller prefectural highways.

Etymology

The name of Saijō (西城町 Saijō-chō), which literally means "West Castle Town", is derived from the castle which was built in the area by a feudal lord during the Sengoku period. A comparable castle was built in the nearby Tōjō (which means "East Castle Town"). Neither castle is still standing, though you can view parts of the ruins (mostly foundation and other walls).

History

During the 5th century A.D., a kofun grave chamber was constructed in the area. On February 10, 1898, the village of Saijō was incorporated into the town of Saijō. On October 1 of the same year, the districts of Ezo, Nuka, and Mikami, along with the town of Saijō and the villages of Mikoto and Yahoko, were combined to create Hiba District.

A new town of Saijō was created on February 11, 1942 when the original town of Saijō and the village of Mikoto merged. Due to geographic considerations, the Miino Yukiasa section of Yahoko Village was split off on December 1, 1953 and merged with Hachikawa Village in the Nita District of Shimane Prefecture.

The town of Saijō reincorporated on March 31, 1954 when it merged with the village of Yahoko. Fifty-one years later, the towns of Saijō, Hiwa, Kuchiwa, Takano, and Tōjō from Hiba District, Hiroshima, and the town of Sōryō (from Kōnu District) all merged with the city of Shōbara. After 106 years of independent history, the town of Saijō ceased to exist, and it became a municipal division within Shōbara.

Demographics

As of March 2011, the town had a population of 4,182 and a density of 18.43 persons per km². The total area was 226.91 km².

Education

There are currently four public schools in operation in Saijō.

Saijō Elementary School (庄原市立西城小学校 Shōbara Shiritsu Saijō Shogakkō) is located near the south end of the main part of town, just across the river from Route 183.[1] Mikoto Elementary School (庄原市立美古登小学校 Shōbara Shiritsu Mikoto Shogakkō) is located just off Route 183, southwest of Hibayama Station.[2]

Saijō Junior High School (庄原市立西城中学校 Shōbara Shiritsu Saijō Chūgakkō) stands atop a hill overlooking the main business district and the Shōbara Municipal Saijō Shimin Hospital.[3] The high school, Saijō Shisui High School (広島県立西城紫水高等学校 Hiroshima Kenritsu Saijō Shisui Kōtō Gakkō) is located on top of a hill to the southwest of the junior high school, and directly above and to the northwest of Saijō Elementary School.[4] It was previously named Hiroshima Prefectural Saijō Trades High School (広島県立西城商業高等学校 Hiroshima Kenritsu Saijō Shōgyō Kōtō Gakkō).

Transportation

Highways

Japan National Route 314 travels south from Shimane Prefecture, then turns east toward Okayama Prefecture after briefly joining Japan National Route 183 for about 1 km at Bingo-Ochiai Station. The Hibayama Onsen is located on Route 314 about halfway between Bingo-Ochiai Station and Yuki Station. Route 314 originates in Fukuyama, Hiroshima and terminates in Unnan, Shimane.

Japan National Route 183 originates in Naka-ku, Hiroshima and terminates in Yonago, Tottori. It travels through Saijō northeast from near Hirako Station, generally following the Geibi Line until the Geibi Line turns southeast at the Yahoko Post Office. Route 183 instead continues northeast past the turnoff for Dōgoyama Takahara Ski Resort before entering Tottori Prefecture.

The following prefectural highways serve Saijō:

Railways

JR West operates multiple stations along two rail lines in Saijō. Along the Geibi, service in Saijō begins with Hirako Station about 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) southwest of Bingo-Saijō Station, located in the heart of Saijō. Hibayama Station is next as you go north, located about 800 metres (2,600 ft) north of Mikoto Elementary School.

Bingo-Ochiai Station, located 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) north of Hibayama, connects with the Kisuki Line and is just a few hundred meters south of the Akagi Internal Medicine Clinic.[5] The next station is Dōgoyama Station, located 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) by rail (though only about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) via Japan National Route 314). Dōgoyama Station gives quick access to Takaohara Ski Resort, Snow Resort Nekoyama, and Dōgoyama Takahara Ski Resort (all within 7 kilometres (4.3 mi)), as well as Kurokan Park and the Suzuran no Yu onsen (both within 6 kilometres (3.7 mi)).

The Kisuki Line travels 6.6 kilometres (4.1 mi) from Bingo-Ochiai Station to Yuki Station before going to Miinohara Station in Shimane Prefecture.

References

  1. ↑ 広島県庄原市立西城小学校ホームページ [Hiroshima Prefecture Shōbara Municipal Saijō Elementary School Homepage] (in Japanese). Shōbara City Board of Education. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ 庄原市立美古登小学校 [Shōbara Municipal Mikoto Elementary School] (in Japanese). Shōbara City Board of Education. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ 庄原市立西城中学校 [Shōbara Municipal Saijō Junior High School] (in Japanese). Shōbara City Board of Education. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ 広島県立西城紫水高等学校 [Hiroshima Prefectural Saijō Shisui High School] (in Japanese). Saijō Shisui High School. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  5. ↑ 赤木内科医院 - 庄原市 [Akagi Internal Medicine Clinic - Shōbara City] (in Japanese). Byōin Navi - eHealthcare. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
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