Useful information about Kanagawa Kawasaki
Information about Kawasaki City
Kawasaki is an ordinance-designated city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a population of around 1.54 million people. It is the second most populous city in Kanagawa after Yokohama. The city is divided into seven wards: Asao-ku, Tama-ku, Miyamae-ku, Takatsu-ku, Nakahara-ku, Saiwai-ku, and the administrative center Kawasaki-ku. With an area of around 143 km², Kawasaki is the smallest of Japan's 20 ordinance-designated cities.
The major railway stations in Kawasaki are Kawasaki Station and Keikyu Kawasaki Station, located in the main commercial district of the city. The area is also home to Lazona Kawasaki Plaza, the shopping mall with the second highest sales volume in Japan. Another major station in Kawasaki is Musashi-Kosugi Station, located in an area along the Tama River that has recently undergone urban development. The western part of the city features a more rural atmosphere rich in pastoral scenery.Kawasaki is situated adjacent to central Tokyo, and acts as a commuter town for the capital. Its population has been increasing in recent years, and many new residential areas are being developed in the city. Kawasaki also has a flourishing sports and cultural scene, with the city being the home of the Kawasaki Frontale football club. It has also been featured in several movies.
Foreign Residents in Kawasaki City
As of March 2021, there were 45,168 foreign residents living in Kawasaki City, with 22,380 males and 22,788 females. In terms of nationality, Chinese nationals are by far the most in number, with a population of 15,807. Next come Koreans with 7,809 residents, followed by Filipinos, Vietnamese, Nepalese, Indians, Taiwanese, Americans, Brazilians, and so on. Most of the foreign residents are concentrated in the central ward of Kawasaki-ku.
Data source: Kawasaki International Center, Foreign Residents in Kawasaki City (data as of 31 March 2021)
Popular Residential Areas in Kawasaki City
The most popular residential area in Kawasaki City for foreigners is Kawasaki-ku, the central ward and largest urban district of Kawasaki. With many large shopping centers, electronic retail stores, convenience stores, and drugstores, there are plenty of shopping and entertainment options in the ward. Transportation i
Another popular residential area is Takatsu-ku. This area offers convenient access by rail to prominent places such Shibuya, Omotesando, Musashi-Kosugi, and Futako Tamagawa. Located in this area is Mizunokuchi Station, which features some commercial facilities convenient for shopping.
Transportation in Kawasaki City
Kawasaki has an extensive railway network centered on Kawasaki Station, the largest station in the city. Kawasaki Station is served by the Tokaido Main Line, the Nambu Line, and the Keihin Tohoku Line operated by JR East. Other railway lines passing through Kawasaki City include the Tsurumi Line and the Yokosuka Line, as well as several lines by private operators like Keio, Odakyu, Keikyu, and Tokyu.
Kawasaki also has an extensive network of buses that support the transportation needs of its residents. The main bus operators are Kawasaki City Bus, Keikyu Bus, Tokyu Bus, and Odakyu Bus. Operated by the Kawasaki Transportation Bureau, Kawasaki City Bus has routes covering the entire city.
Expressways also play an important part in the transportation of Kawasaki. Some of the most important expressways in the city include the Tomei Expressway which connects Tokyo with Nagoya, and the Dai-san Keihin Road which connects various areas in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Recommended Spots in Kawasaki City
Kawasaki City has many entertainment facilities, but it also has areas of rich nature that attract many tourists.
One of the most popular spots is Lazona Kawasaki Plaza, located beside Kawasaki Station. One of the biggest shopping malls in Kanagawa Prefecture, it features plenty of shops and food establishments. It gets crowded with visitors, especially families, on weekends.
Another popular spot is the Fujiko-F-Fujio Museum in Tama-ku. This museum features the works of Fujiko F. Fujio, who is the creator of Doraemon, a children's manga and anime famous all over the world.
The Yumemigasaki Zoological Park in Saiwai-ku is a small, quiet zoo famous for its penguins and red pandas. It is a must-visit for animal lovers.
If you are interested in trains and buses, you should visit the Train and Bus Museum in Miyamae-ku. It features various exhibitions and activities on Japanese trains and buses of the past and present.