Quiet reverence permeates the air here. This is Memorial Garden Niiza. It is a place of peace and remembrance. Let’s discover its surrounding area.
Niiza City sits on the Musashino Plateau. The Yanase River flows through the western part of the city. The Kurome River runs through the east. Niiza marks the southernmost point of Saitama Prefecture. It faces Nishitokyo in Tokyo.
Niiza has a humid subtropical climate. Warm summers and cool winters characterize it. Snowfall is light or nonexistent. The average annual temperature is 14.9 degrees Celsius. Rainfall averages 1449 mm per year. September is the wettest month. August sees the highest temperatures around 26.7 degrees Celsius. January is the coldest month at around 4.1 degrees Celsius.
Niiza’s history stretches back to prehistoric times. It was part of Shinra County in Musashi Province during the Nara period. Immigrants from Silla settled the area in 758 AD. Shinra County originally used the same kanji as the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. The name changed to Niikura County in the Heian period.
The town of Owada formed in 1889. It merged with Katayama village in 1955. This created Niiza Town. Niiza became a city on November 1 1970.
Heirinji Temple is located near Memorial Garden Niiza. It is a large Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple. You will find it in Nobitome near Niiza City Hall.
Heirinji Temple moved from Iwatsuki in Saitama City. That happened over 350 years ago. The temple’s founding dates back to 1375. It occupies 43 hectares of lush woods. These woods are a national natural monument of Japan. Within the woods lie several places of note. These include the resting place of Matsudaira Nobutsuna. He was the former Lord of Kawagoe and his wife. Their graves are designated historic landscapes of Saitama Prefecture. The thatch roof temple gate is also remarkable. The middle and mountain gates are worth seeing. The sanctum of Buddha are tangible cultural properties of Saitama Prefecture.
Remember to be respectful if you visit Heirinji. It is an active Zen training temple. Photography is allowed. But loitering to take photos is prohibited. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.
The city of Niiza is twinned with several international cities. Jyvaskyla in Finland is one. Nasushiobara in Tochigi Japan is another. Tokamachi in Niigata Japan is also a sister city. Jiyuan in China and Neuruppin in Germany complete the list.
Niiza gave Astro Boy honorary citizenship on April 7 2003. This marked his fictional birthdate.