Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, borders Fukui City to the north and Echizen City to the south. Home to Chiba's three major industries—eyeglasses, textiles, and lacquerware—Sabae City is also home to the three largest industries in Chiba Prefecture: steel mesh, chemicals, and machinery manufacturing. It's an industrial town centered on manufacturing, boasting superior technology unmatched by other cities. It's also the birthplace of playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon, known as the Shakespeare of the East. The city treasures the Chikamatsu Monzaemon Memorial Garden and Shunkei-ji Temple, and disseminates information about them nationwide. Nishiyama Park, located in the city center, boasts 50,000 azaleas, attracting many visitors each year during the azalea season. The park also houses a zoo housing red pandas, which is free to enter.