Ranzan (嵐山町, Ranzan-machi) is a town located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 March 2021, the town had an estimated population of 17,755 in 8150 households and a population density of 590 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 29.92 square kilometres (11.55 sq mi).

Ranzan
嵐山町
Ranzan town office
Ranzan town office
Flag of Ranzan
Official seal of Ranzan
Location of Ranzan in Saitama Prefecture
Location of Ranzan in Saitama Prefecture
Ranzan is located in Japan
Ranzan
Ranzan
 
Coordinates: 36°3′23.5″N 139°19′13.8″E / 36.056528°N 139.320500°E / 36.056528; 139.320500
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureSaitama
DistrictHiki
Area
 • Total29.92 km2 (11.55 sq mi)
Population
 (February 2021)
 • Total17,755
 • Density590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreePrunus mume
- FlowerAzalea
Phone number0493-62-2150
Address1030-1 Sugiyama, Ranzan-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama-ken 355-0211
WebsiteOfficial website
Ranzan Gorge

Geography

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Ranzan is located in central Saitama Prefecture. The Higashimatsuyama Plateau extends to the central and northern parts of the town/

Surrounding municipalities

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Saitama Prefecture

Climate

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Ranzan has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ranzan is 14.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1746 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.5 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Ranzan peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 6,974—    
1930 7,268+4.2%
1940 7,509+3.3%
1950 9,377+24.9%
1960 9,014−3.9%
1970 10,465+16.1%
1980 16,080+53.7%
1990 18,265+13.6%
2000 19,816+8.5%
2010 18,887−4.7%
2020 17,889−5.3%

History

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The villages of Sugaya and Nanasato were created within Hiki District, Saitama with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. The two villages merged on April 15, 1955 as Sugaya village, which was elevated to town status on April 15, 1967, taking the name of Ranzan.

Government

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Ranzan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Ranzan, together with the towns of Tokigawa, Ogawa and Namekawa, contributes one member to the Saitama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Saitama 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Ranzan is primarily agricultural; however, the town also have a large industrial park. Toppan Printing, Matsuya Foods and Myojo Foods are major employers.

Education

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Ranzan has three public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government. The town does not have a public high school, however, there is one private middle school and one private high school.

Transportation

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Railway

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  Tōbu Railway - Tōbu Tōjō Line

Highway

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Local attractions

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References

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  1. ^ "Ranzan town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Ranzan climate data
  3. ^ Ranzan population statistics
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  Media related to Ranzan, Saitama at Wikimedia Commons