Sano, Tochigi

For other uses, see Sano (disambiguation).

Sano 佐野市
City
Sano City Hall Sano City Hall
Flag of Sano Flag Official seal of Sano Seal
Location of Sano in Tochigi Prefecture Location of Sano in Tochigi Prefecture
Sano
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tochigi Prefecture
Area
• Total	356.04 km2 (137.47 sq mi)
Population (May 2015)
• Total	117,970
• Density	331/km2 (860/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
- Tree	Pine
- Flower	Katakuri
- Bird	Mandarin Duck
Phone number	0283-24-5111
Address	1, Takasagochō, Sano-shi, Tochigi-ken 327-0022
Website	Official website

Sano (佐野市, Sano-shi ) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of May 2015, the city had an estimated population of 117,970 and a population density of 331 persons per km². Its total area was 356.04  km². The city is known for its Outlet Mall, Sano Yakuyoke Daishi Temple, and its local variety of ramen. Sano also has become the headquarters of the Japanese Cricket Association and has hosted a number of cricket games between international teams.

Geography

Sano is located in southwestern Tochigi Prefecture, bordered by Gunma Prefecture to the west.

Surrounding municipalities

• Tochigi Prefecture
  • Ashikaga
  • Kanuma
  • Tochigi
• Gunma Prefecture
  • Tatebayashi
  • Midori
  • Kiryū
  • Itakura

History

During the Edo period, Sano was a castle town and the seat of the daimyo of Sano Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the town of Sano was created within Aso District, Tochigi with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889.

Sano was elevated to city status on April 1, 1943 when it merged with the neighboring towns of Inubushi and Horigome and the villages of Sakai and Hatagawa. The city annexed the village of Inazuma (from Ashikaga District) on January 1, 1955 followed by the town of Akami(from Aso District) on April 1, 1955.

On February 28, 2005 Sano absorbed the towns of Kuzu and Tanuma (both from Aso District).

Economy

Agriculture and light manufacturing are mainstays of the local economy, with production of Kanpyō, turmeric and spinach being prominent local crops. The city is increasingly a bedroom community for neighboring Utsunomiya.

Education

• Sano College
• Sano also has 28 primary schools, 11 middle schools and eight high schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Ryōmō Line
  • Sano
• Tobu Railway – Tobu Sano Line
  • Tajima - Sanoshi - Sano - Horigome - Yoshimizu - Tanuma - Tada - Kuzū

Highway

• Tōhoku Expressway – Sano-Fujioka IC, Sano PZ
• Kita-Kantō Expressway – Izuruhara PA, Sano-Tanuma IC
• Japan National Route 50
• Japan National Route 293

Local attractions

• house of Shōzō Tanaka
• site of Sano Castle

International relations

• Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
• Quzhou, China, friendship city since 1997

Noted people from Sano

• Shōzō Tanaka – politician, social activist
• Takuro Ishii – professional baseball player
• Tatsuya Ozeki – professional baseball player
• Shunsuke Ishikawa – professional baseball player
• Kyogo Kawaguchi – singer-songwriter

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website (Japanese)