Yorii (寄居町, Yorii-machi) is a town located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It is situated in the northwestern part of the prefecture, on the central reaches of the Arakawa River, just downstream of Nagatoro, and approximately 70 kilometers from downtown Tokyo.
Geography and Climate: The town covers a total area of 64.25 square kilometers (24.81 sq mi). It has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature is 13.4 °C, and the average annual rainfall is 1,746 mm.
Population: As of March 1, 2021, Yorii had an estimated population of 32,851 in 14,689 households, with a population density of 510 persons per km². The population peaked around the year 2000 at 37,724 and has since declined.
History: Yorii developed as a post station on the pilgrimage route to the temples of the Chichibu area from the Kamakura period, and was a castle town to Hachigata Castle during the Sengoku period. The town of Yorii was created within Hanzawa District, Saitama, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. In February 1955, the town expanded by annexing the neighboring villages of Orihara, Hachigata, Obusuma, and Yodo.
Government: Yorii has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. In national politics, the town is part of Saitama 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy: Honda operates an automobile assembly plant in Yorii (the Yorii Automobile Plant, which began operation in 2013), which is a major local employer.
Transportation: The town is served by three railway lines: the Chichibu Railway's Chichibu Main Line, the Tobu Railway's Tōbu Tōjō Line, and the JR East Hachikō Line. National Routes 140 and 254 pass through the town.
Education: Yorii has six public elementary schools, three public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Saitama Prefectural Board of Education.
Local Attractions: Notable sites include Hachigata Castle, the Saitama Museum of Rivers, Tamayodo Dam, and Tsuburada Dam.
Sister City: Marysville, Ohio, United States (since 2013).
Notable People: Chizuru Arai (Olympic gold medal judoka) and Kazuichi Hanawa (mangaka).
