Itabashi

Itabashi 板橋区
Special ward
Itabashi City
The east exit of Itabashi Station
Flag
Location of Itabashi in Tokyo Metropolis
Itabashi Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°46′N 139°41′E / 35.767°N 139.683°E / 35.767; 139.683Coordinates: 35°46′N 139°41′E / 35.767°N 139.683°E / 35.767; 139.683
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Tokyo Metropolis
Government
• Mayor	Takeshi Sakamoto (since April 2007)
Area
• Total	32.22 km2 (12.44 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2015)
• Total	547,270
• Density	16,990/km2 (44,000/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	Itabashi 2-66-1, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8501
Website	www.city.itabashi.tokyo.jp

Itabashi (板橋区, Itabashi-ku^?) is a special ward located in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. In English, it calls itself Itabashi City. Itabashi has sister-city relations with Burlington, Ontario in Canada; Shijingshan District in Beijing, People's Republic of China; and Bologna in Italy.

As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 547,270 and a population density of 16,990 persons per km². The total area is 32.22 km².

Itabashi lies on the Kantō plain. The Arakawa River, a major river, forms part of the boundary with Saitama Prefecture. Surrounding the ward are, in Saitama, the cities of Wako and Toda; and in Tokyo, the wards of Nerima, Toshima, and Kita.

The name of the ward means "plank bridge" and derives from the wooden span over the Shakujii River that dates from the Heian period. Such a bridge was remarkable at the time, and the name has lasted since. In the Edo period, the Nakasendō crossed the nearby Shimo Itabashi, and the name came to apply to that area as well. Itabashi was one of the Four Edo Post Towns, and travellers first lodged there after leaving the shogunal capital. The Kaga domain had a mansion there. The shogunate maintained the Itabashi execution grounds at Itabashi.