Seto, Aichi

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**Seto**
**瀬戸市**
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Aichi
Physical characteristics
Area	111.62 km² (43.1 sq mi)
Population (as of November 1, 2005)
Total	132,473
Density	1,186.82/km² (3,073.8/sq mi)
Location	35°13′N, 137°5′E
Symbols
Flower	Camellia
Seto Government Office
Mayor	Kin'ya Masuoka
Address	〒489-8701 64-1 Oiwake-chō, Seto-shi, Aichi-ken
Phone number	0561-82-7111
Official website: City of Seto

Image:Seto City Hall.jpg

City hall.

Seto (瀬戸市, Seto-shi^?) is a city located in Aichi, Japan. It is located about 35 minutes from Nagoya by way of the Meitetsu Seto Line.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 132,171 and the density of 1,184.12 persons per km². The total area is 111.62 km².

Seto city was founded on October 1, 1929. It's one of the three areas that border what's known as Mikuniyama (Mikuni Mountain). Many years ago, the three areas were known as Owari, Mino, and Shinano, though now they are known as Aichi, Gifu, and Nagano, respectively. Seto City borders Mikuniyama.

In English, the Chinese characters for Seto translate to "the place where the river runs quickly." However, while there is a river in Seto, it is not significantly large, nor quick-moving. Seto City is famous for its pottery and ceramics. The main street along the river is lined with dozens of pottery shops. Every 3rd Saturday and Sunday in September, there is a very large pottery festival called Setomono Matsuri [1](瀬戸物祭り).　This festival attracts about 20,000 visitors from around Japan and abroad every year. The prices are very reasonable. There is a new station building next to Owari Seto station at the end of the Meitetsu Seto Line named Parti Seto. It offers visitors small restaurants, a computer teaching center, an English language school, a hair salon, and an entertainment venue. It houses the new Seto international center and even a community gym.

Other places of interest in Seto include Seto Gura, where there is a Seto City History museum, the local Apita (a store for all your everyday needs) and the city park (Seto Koen), which is even home to a family of monkeys. You may see racoons in this area, as they are also happy inhabitants of the Seto area.

Seto City has six local high schools: Seto H.S., Seto Nishi H.S., Seto Kita H.S., Seto Yogyo H.S., Seire H.S, and Saint Kapitanio. Every Christmas, the chorus from Seire Girls H.S. sings a holiday concert in Nagoya.

Seto also boasts Nagoya Gakuin University, which hosts a large number of international exchange students in addition to awarding degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and Doctor of Philosophy levels.

On March 25, 2005, Expo 2005 opened with its main site being in Nagakute and additional activity in Seto. Buses ran to/from the EXPO from both Parti Seto and Seto Gura. The expo continued until September 25, 2005.