Nakanojō, Gunma

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Nakanojō Town (中之条町)

Nakanojo Town Symbol
District:	Agatsuma
Prefecture:	Gunma
Region:	Kantō
Island:	Honshū
Country:	Japan
Area  - Total  - %forest	236.47 km² ~80%
Population(2004)  - Total  - Density  - Households	17,942 75.87/km² 6,072
Communities:	Nakuta, Shima, Ise-machi, Gotanda, Sawatari, West Nakanojo, Yamada
Symbols
Town Flower:	Mountain Lily
Town Tree:	Zelkova (欅)
Town Bird:	Bush Warbler

Nakanojō (中之条町, Nakanojō-machi^?) is a town located in Agatsuma District, Gunma, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 17,872 and a density of 75.58 persons per km². There are a total of 6,059 households in town. The total area is 236.47 km² and an elevation of 400 m above sea level. The town's area is 83% mountains and forests (197 km&sup2). The town mayor is Michitaka Iriuchijima (入内島道隆, Iriuchijima Michitaka^?) (2004).

Contents 1 Education 2 Tourism 3 Transportation 3.1 Train stations 3.2 Highways 4 Festivals 5 Famous residents 6 Communities 7 External links

[edit] Education

Nakanojō has 4 kindergartens; 4 elementary schools: Nakanojō, Sawada, Isama, and Nakuta; 2 junior high schools: Nakanojō and West Nakanojō; and one agricultural high school.

[edit] Tourism

The main draw of tourists to Nakanojō are the natural hot spring resorts. There are two major hot spring resort areas within the town.

The larger and more famous on is Shima (四万) Hot Springs. Shima is tucked into the mountains on the north end of town. The name means 40,000, and represents the 40,000 ailments the water is supposed to cure. It is an extremely picturesque area. To get there, you can drive to the end of highway 353 from Shibukawa, or take a bus from Nakanojō Station, on the Agatsuma Line.

The other, less famous resort is called Sawatari Hot Springs. This one is known as a good finishing spa after one has visited Kusatsu. This can be reached by taking route 55 off of highway 353.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Train stations

There are two train stations in Nakanojō.

Agatsuma Line (East Japan Railway Company)

• Nakanojō Station
• Ichishiro Station

[edit] Highways

One section of National Highway 353 ends in Shima, Nakanojō.

[edit] Festivals

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.

[edit] Famous residents

• Keizo Obuchi
• Yuko Obuchi

[edit] Communities

• Akasaka (赤坂)
• Aoyama (青山)
• Arigawa (蟻川)
• Daidou (大道)
• Gotanda (五反田)
• Ichishiro (市城)
• Ise-machi (伊勢町)
• Iwamoto (岩本)
• Nakuta (名久田)
• Orira (折田)
• Ōtsuka (大塚)
• Upper Sawatari (上沢渡)
• Lower Sawatari (下沢渡)
• Shima (四万)
• Taira (平)
• Tochikubo
• West Nakanojo (西中之条)
• Yamada (山田)

[edit] External links

• Nakanojo Official Town Page (In Japanese)
• About Nakanojō (In English, but lots of outdated info)
• American Friendship Dolls at Nakanojō Daisan Elementary School

Coordinates: 36°35′N, 138°50′E