Nakanojō, Gunma

Nakanojō
中之条町
Town
Nakanojō town office

Flag
Seal

Location of Nakanojō in Gunma Prefecture
Nakanojō
 
Coordinates: 36°35′23.4″N 138°50′27.6″E / 36.589833°N 138.841000°E / 36.589833; 138.841000Coordinates: 36°35′23.4″N 138°50′27.6″E / 36.589833°N 138.841000°E / 36.589833; 138.841000
Country Japan
Region Kantō
Prefecture Gunma Prefecture
District Agatsuma
Area
 • Total 439.28 km2 (169.61 sq mi)
Population (February 2015)
 • Total 17,030
 • Density 38.8/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols  
• Tree Keyaki
• Flower Mountain lily
• Bird Japanese bush warbler
Phone number 0279-75-2111
Address 1091, Ōaza Nakanojō, Nakanojō-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma-ken 377-0404
Website http://www.town.nakanojo.gunma.jp/

Nakanojō (中之条町, Nakanojō-machi) is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2015, the town had an estimated population of 17,030, and a population density of 38.8 persons per km2, with 6862 households. Its total area is 439.28 km2.

Geography

Located in the northwestern portion of Gunma Prefecture, Nakanojō is surrounded by high peaks of over 1000 m in height, with the Azuma River passing through the center of town from west to east. The town has a mean elevation of 400 m above sea level. The town's area is 83% mountains and forests (197 km2).

Surrounding municipalities

Neighborhoods within Nakanojō

History

During the Edo period, the area around Nakanojō was part of the hatamoto-administered territory within Kōzuke Province.

With the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration on April 1, 1889, the town of Nakanojō was created within Agatsuma District of Gunma Prefecture. The villages of Isama, Sawada and Nakuta merged into Nakanojō on April 15, 1955.

On March 28, 2010, the village of Kuni, also from Agatsuma District, merged into Nakanojō.

Economy

The economy of Nakanojō is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism primarily in connection with its onsen hot spring resorts.

Education

Nakanojō has four kindergartens, five elementary schools (Nakanojō, Sawada, Isama, Nakuta, and Kuni), three junior high schools (Nakanojō, West Nakanojō, and Kuni), one high school, and one agricultural high school.

Transportation

Train

Highway

Local attractions

The main draw of tourists to Nakanojō are the onsen (natural hot spring) resorts. There are two major hot spring resort areas within the town. The larger and more famous one is Shima Onsen, located in the mountains to the north of town. The name means "forty thousand", and represents the 40,000 ailments the water is supposed to cure. The other resort is called Sawatari Hot Springs.

Festivals and events

Nakanojō has three main festivals during the year. In winter, there is the Tori-oi Matsuri. This involves pounding on large drum all around town to scare birds (for good crops) or demons (for good luck) away for the new year. In summer, there is the Nakanojō Matsuri in August and the Ise-machi Matsuri in September. The Ise-machi Matsuri features the Yagibushi Folk Dance.

Noted people from Nakanojō

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