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Introduction to Kawaguchi City |
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City Nickname: "City of Cupolas"
 The origin of this nickname comes from the furnaces used to melt metals in Kawaguchi's cast-iron molding factories. These furnaces extend out of the roofs of the factories like chimneys, but in a circular-shaped fashion resembling a cupola, which is a dome-like structure on top of a roof. Since these chimneys look so much like cupolas, they have come to be called so, and since there are so many cast-iron factories in Kawaguchi, a view of the city from the rooftop of a building reveals a skyline full of cupolas, and hence the nickname "City of Cupolas." |
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Kawaguchi is located on the southern edge of Saitama Prefecture, separated from Tokyo only by the Arakawa River, thus making it a convenient location for those who commute to Tokyo for work or school. With a population of approximately
500,000 people, Kawaguchi is a bustling city, ranking with Saitama City as one of the major economic and cultural centers of Saitama Prefecture. Notably, with about 18,000 foreign residents, Kawaguchi is a town with a very cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Historically, Kawaguchi's development has been spurred by its long history in the "imono" cast-iron molding industry. Today, Kawaguchi is a city of industry and culture, producing cast-iron products and machinery as well as goods and services in a wide variety of other fields. In addition, the Angyo district of the city (the northeast section of Kawaguchi) is famous for its production of potted plants and flowers, known throughout Japan as "Angyo ueki." |
City Flower: White Trumpet Lily
