Saka, Hiroshima

Saka (坂町) is a town located in Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 12,853 in 5879 households and a population density of 820 pd/sqkm. The total area of the town is 15.69 sqkm.

Geography
Saka is located on the coast of Hiroshima Bay in south-central Hiroshima. A sits name implies, the area is very hilly and despite dense urbanization, forests cover over 50% of the town area.

Adjoining municipalities
Hiroshima Prefecture
 * Aki-ku, Hiroshima
 * Minami-ku, Hiroshima
 * Kure
 * Kaita

Climate
Saka has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. The average annual temperature in Saka is 15.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1543 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in July, at around 26.3 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.0 °C.

Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Saka has been steady for the past 60 years.

History
The area of Saka was the part of ancient Aki Province. In the Edo Period, it was part of the holdings of Hiroshima Domain. Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Saka was established within Aki District, Hiroshima with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Saka was raised to town status on August 1, 1950.

Government
Saka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Saka, collectively with the other municipalities of Aki District contributes three members to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hiroshima 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy
Saka is a regional commercial center and a commuter town for neighboring Hiroshima.

Education
Saka has three public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education. The Hiroshima Prefectural Police Academy is located in Saka.

Railway
JR West (JR West) - Kure Line
 * Koyaura - Mizushiri - Saka

Highways

 * JP Expressway E31.svg Hiroshima-Kure Road