Yubara, Okayama

Yubara (湯原町, Yubara-chō) was a town located in Maniwa District, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

Yubara 湯原町
Former municipality
Former Yubara town hall
Yubara Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°11′41.9″N 133°43′52.9″E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūgoku
Prefecture	Okayama Prefecture
District	Maniwa
Merged	March 31, 2005 (now part of Maniwa)
Area
• Total	141.37 km2 (54.58 sq mi)
Population  (2003)
• Total	3,310
• Density	23.41/km2 (60.6/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Cryptomeria
• Flower	Prunus mume
• Bird	Japanese bush-warbler
Time zone	UTC+9 (JST)

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 3,310 and a density of 23.41 persons per km². The total area was 141.37 km².

On March 31, 2005, Yubara, along with the town of Hokubō (from Jōbō District), and towns of Katsuyama, Kuse and Ochiai, and the villages of Chūka, Kawakami, Mikamo and Yatsuka (all from Maniwa District) were merged to create the city of Maniwa.

The historic town is nestled in a ravine and follows the meandering path of the Asahi River. The village is surrounded, on all sides by trees clinging to the hillsides. (There are small logging operations in the region that the bus passes on the way into town.) The town sits at the base of Yubara Dam. There are a number onsen hotels. There is also an outdoor, mixed bathing bath, or rotenburo, by the river. This facility is free. The waters are said to have healing effects on those suffering from diabetes, chronic women's diseases, chronic skin disease, cuts and burns.[1]