Okegawa

Okegawa is a city in east-central Saitama Prefecture, Japan, most of it on the Omiya plateau, with its highest point 25 metres above sea level in the northwest. The Arakawa River flows through the city and the Motoara River flows on its east side, on the border with Kuki. During the Edo period Okegawa-shuku was the sixth of the sixty-nine stations of the Nakasendō, and the surrounding area was noted for its production of safflower. The town of Okegawa was established in Iruma District in 1889, annexed the villages of Kano and Kawataya in 1955, and was elevated to city status on 3 November 1970. Okegawa was traditionally known as a centre for safflower production; the city now has a mixed economy, with a significant portion of its population commuting to Tokyo or Saitama city for work. The climate is humid subtropical, with warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The estimated population was 75,218 and the area is 25.35 square kilometres.