Arakawa, Tokyo


Arakawa is a special ward located in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. The ward takes its name from the river, the Arakawa, though the Arakawa River does not run through or touch the ward. Its neighbors are the wards of Adachi, Kita, Bunkyo, Taito and Sumida. In English, the ward calls itself Arakawa City.
Arakawa has sister-city relationships with Donaustadt in Vienna, Austria, and with Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Domestically, it has similar relationships with nine cities, towns and villages.
As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 208,763, and a population density of about 20,550 persons per km². The total area is 10.16 km².

Geography

Arakawa is in the northeastern part of Tokyo. The shape is long and narrow, stretching from west to east. The Sumida River forms the northern boundary.
The ward is surrounded by five other special wards. To the north lies Adachi; to the west, Kita; to the southwest, Bunkyo. South of Arakawa is Taito, and southeast is Sumida.

History

The area was mainly agricultural in the Edo period. In 1651, Kozukappara, the Tokugawa's largest execution ground, was built. Beginning in the Meiji era, the area became industrial as factories were built on the water front.
In 1932, it became one of the 35 wards of Tokyo City.
On 1 July 1944, during World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army established a Prisoner of War camp named #20-B, on the grounds nearby Hashiba Bridge, Minami-Senju, Arakawa, at the current day location with the address of 3-41 Minami-Senju, Arakawa. The camp was renamed to #10-B, in August 1945. The prisoners of the camp were rescued in September 1945. At the time, there were 256 prisoners of war held at the camp. Two prisoners of war died during their imprisonment.

Districts and neighborhoods

;Mikawashima Area
;Minamisenju Area
;Nippori Area
;Ogu Area
Notes:
a -
b -
c -
d -

Notable people

's Tokyo Branch Office is on the fifth floor in the Tachibana Building in Arakawa. Iseki, a tractor and engine equipment manufacturer has its Tokyo head office in the ward.

Landmarks

Education

Public elementary and middle schools are operated by the Arakawa City Board of Education.
Public high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.
The Tokyo First Korean Elementary and Junior High School, a North Korean school, is in the ward.
The metropolis operated the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Aeronautical Engineering in Arakawa until 2010.

Transportation

Rail

Additional facilities are under construction.

Major Roads