Japanese皂莢町（さいかちちょう）
Saikachi-cho
Other spellings and names皀莢町 / Saikachicho / Saikachi
In short
皂莢町, read Saikachi-chō (さいかちちょう), is a town in Kamigyō Ward. The name is said to come from a large saikachi tree that once stood there. The saikachi (Japanese honey locust) is a tree of the pea family with a thorny trunk and long, twisted pods, which were used for washing clothes. It has become rare in Kyoto Prefecture and is listed by the prefecture as near threatened.Key points in 30 seconds
皂莢 (also written 皀莢) is the saikachi, a tree of the pea family
The name is said to come from a large saikachi tree
Kyoto City has only one Saikachi-chō, in Kamigyō Ward, within the Nishijin Chūō Elementary School district
The saikachi is listed as near threatened in Kyoto Prefecture
皂莢 and 皀莢
皂莢町 in Kamigyō Ward is read Saikachi-chō (さいかちちょう). It is sometimes written 皀莢町, and different documents use slightly different forms of the first character.
Neither character turns up in everyday writing. Once you know that the two characters spell the plant name saikachi, you learn the reading and the origin of the town name at the same time. When searching for an address, try both forms of the character.
A Town Named for a Large Saikachi Tree
Saikachi-chō is a town in Kamigyō Ward named for a large saikachi tree that once stood there.
The saikachi was valued as a useful plant, and large old specimens survive in many places. It is easy to picture a tree big enough to serve as a local landmark becoming the name of the town. However, it has not been confirmed until when the tree stood or where in the town it was.
What Kind of Tree Is the Saikachi?
The saikachi (also called kawarafujinoki) is a deciduous tree of the pea family that grows by riverbanks and along water in open fields. Its trunk bears branched thorns, which are modified branches. In May and June it has yellow-green flowers, and it bears twisted pods 20–30 centimeters long that turn a deep purplish brown when ripe.
The pods contain saponin and were used as a detergent for washing clothes. The tree grows in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu as well as on the Korean Peninsula and in mainland China, but it is very rare in Kyoto Prefecture and is listed by the prefecture as near threatened. Records in the prefecture are said to come from the Chūtan and Nantan areas and the Kyoto City area, and river development, logging, and road construction are cited as threats to its survival.
Profile of the saikachi
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Other name | Kawarafujinoki |
| Classification | Deciduous tree of the pea family |
| Habitat | Riverbanks and waterside areas in open fields |
| How to recognize it | Branched thorns on the trunk; twisted pods 20–30 cm long |
| Flowers | May–June, yellow-green |
| Uses | Saponin in the pods was used for washing |
| Status in Kyoto Prefecture | Near threatened in Kyoto Prefecture (2015) |
Where Can You See It Today?
Within Kyoto City there is only one town called Saikachi-chō, in Kamigyō Ward, and it lies within the school districts of Nishijin Chūō Elementary School and Kamigyō Junior High School. You are most likely to see the name in addresses and on town-name signs on utility poles and buildings.
The saikachi tree that gave the town its name has become scarce in Kyoto Prefecture. The town name can be seen as a reminder of a tree that was once close at hand and of a time when people put its pods to use in daily life.
Kyoto Place Names Linked to Trees
Like Saikachi-chō, several other Kyoto place names are said to come from trees and plants. Nagitsuji (椥辻, なぎつじ) in Yamashina Ward is said to be named for a large nagi tree (Nageia nagi) that stood there. Hiragino (柊野, ひらぎの) in Kita Ward is said to be named for the holly-like hiiragi (柊) that once grew thickly all over the area.
The naming is a little different: in Saikachi-chō and Nagitsuji a single large tree served as a landmark, while in Hiragino it was a plant growing across the whole area. What they share is that the readings are difficult, and knowing the plant names helps you work them out.
If You Visit or Want to Learn More
Saikachi-chō is a town in Kamigyō Ward within the Nishijin Chūō Elementary School district. When you walk through the streets of Nishijin, look for the characters 皂莢 or 皀莢 on town-name signs. The extent of the Nishijin area is explained in this dictionary's entry on Nishijin.
As for the saikachi as a plant, remembering its thorny trunk and twisted pods will help you recognize it if you come across one in a botanical garden or on a riverbank.
Mini quiz for this entry
Check what you've read with 2 multiple-choice questions.
How is 皂莢町, a town name in Kamigyō Ward, read?
What is said to be the origin of the name Saikachi-chō (皂莢町)?
Sources and verification
Content checked: October 11, 2026
Updated: October 11, 2026
References are in Japanese.