Nakanojō (中之条町, Nakanojō-machi) is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2020[update], the town had an estimated population of 15,571 in 6737 households,[1] and a population density of 35 persons per km². The total area of the town is 439.28 square kilometres (169.61 sq mi).
Located in the northwestern portion of Gunma Prefecture, Nakanojō is surrounded by high peaks of over 1000 m in height, with the Agatsuma River passing through the center of town from west to east. The town has a mean elevation of 400 meters above sea level. The town's area is 83% mountains and forests (197 km2).
Nakanojō has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by hot summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nakanojō is 8.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1489 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.2 °C.[2]
Climate data for Nakanojō (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
With the creation of the modern 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.
Government
Nakanojō has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 15 members. Nakanojō, collectively with the other municipalities in Agatsuma District, contributes two members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Gunma 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Nakanojō is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism primarily in connection with its onsen hot spring resorts.
Education
Nakanojō has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government, and one public high schools operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education. The city also has one private middle school and one private high school. Gunma Prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped.
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.
Melody road
When an automobile drives at 40 km/h over a special melody road section of Japan National Route 353 passing through Nakanojō, the vibrations will sound the tune "Always With Me" (Japanese title: いつも何度でも, Itsumo nando demo) from the feature animation Spirited Away.[6]
^The effect can be observed here: 113icecream Japanese Fireworks (Jun 24, 2011). "Always With Me (with lyrics) while traveling on Route 353 through Nakanojō" 【歌詞付】いつも何度でも【メロディーロード】群馬県中之条町国道353号. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nakanojō, Gunma.
Official Website (in Japanese)
February 21, 2023
nakanojō, gunma, nakanojō, 中之条町, nakanojō, machi, town, located, gunma, prefecture, japan, august, 2020, update, town, estimated, population, 6737, households, population, density, persons, total, area, town, square, kilometres, nakanojō, 中之条町townnakanojō, tow. Nakanojō 中之条町 Nakanojō machi is a town located in Gunma Prefecture Japan As of 1 August 2020 update the town had an estimated population of 15 571 in 6737 households 1 and a population density of 35 persons per km The total area of the town is 439 28 square kilometres 169 61 sq mi Nakanojō 中之条町TownNakanojō town officeFlagSealLocation of Nakanojō in Gunma PrefectureNakanojō Coordinates 36 35 23 4 N 138 50 27 6 E 36 589833 N 138 841000 E 36 589833 138 841000 Coordinates 36 35 23 4 N 138 50 27 6 E 36 589833 N 138 841000 E 36 589833 138 841000CountryJapanRegionKantōPrefectureGunmaDistrictAgatsumaArea Total439 28 km2 169 61 sq mi Population August 2020 Total15 571 Density35 km2 92 sq mi Time zoneUTC 9 Japan Standard Time Phone number0279 75 2111Address1091 Nakanojō Nakanojō machi Agatsuma gun Gunma ken 377 0404ClimateCfaWebsiteOfficial websiteSymbolsBirdJapanese bush warblerFlowerMountain lilyTreeKeyakiShima Onsen Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Surrounding municipalities 1 2 Climate 2 Demographics 3 Neighborhoods within Nakanojō 4 History 5 Government 6 Economy 7 Education 8 Transportation 8 1 Railway 8 2 Highway 9 Local attractions 9 1 Festivals and events 9 2 Melody road 10 Notable people from Nakanojō 11 References 12 External linksGeography EditLocated in the northwestern portion of Gunma Prefecture Nakanojō is surrounded by high peaks of over 1000 m in height with the Agatsuma River passing through the center of town from west to east The town has a mean elevation of 400 meters above sea level The town s area is 83 mountains and forests 197 km2 Rivers Agatsuma River Shima River Lakes Shimagawa DamSurrounding municipalities Edit Gunma Prefecture Kusatsu Naganohara Higashiagatsuma Shibukawa MinakamiNagano Prefecture Sakae Yamanouchi TakayamaNiigata Prefecture YuzawaClimate Edit Nakanojō has a humid subtropical climate Koppen Cfa characterized by hot summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall The average annual temperature in Nakanojō is 8 5 C The average annual rainfall is 1489 mm with September as the wettest month The temperatures are highest on average in August at around 24 4 C and lowest in January at around 0 2 C 2 Climate data for Nakanojō 1991 2020 normals extremes 1977 present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 18 5 65 3 22 6 72 7 25 1 77 2 30 5 86 9 34 0 93 2 35 9 96 6 37 3 99 1 38 0 100 4 37 5 99 5 31 8 89 2 24 9 76 8 21 3 70 3 38 0 100 4 Average high C F 7 0 44 6 7 9 46 2 11 4 52 5 17 3 63 1 22 4 72 3 25 2 77 4 29 1 84 4 30 3 86 5 25 8 78 4 20 2 68 4 14 9 58 8 9 8 49 6 18 4 65 1 Daily mean C F 0 4 32 7 1 2 34 2 4 8 40 6 10 5 50 9 15 9 60 6 19 8 67 6 23 7 74 7 24 6 76 3 20 4 68 7 14 2 57 6 7 8 46 0 2 7 36 9 12 2 54 0 Average low C F 4 6 23 7 4 1 24 6 1 0 30 2 4 1 39 4 9 8 49 6 15 3 59 5 19 7 67 5 20 6 69 1 16 4 61 5 9 5 49 1 2 4 36 3 2 3 27 9 7 2 45 0 Record low C F 11 9 10 6 12 5 9 5 12 1 10 2 6 4 20 5 0 7 30 7 5 2 41 4 11 8 53 2 10 8 51 4 5 3 41 5 1 8 28 8 5 7 21 7 10 0 14 0 12 5 9 5 Average precipitation mm inches 33 5 1 32 31 9 1 26 64 9 2 56 79 8 3 14 106 8 4 20 157 0 6 18 185 8 7 31 196 2 7 72 213 6 8 41 134 4 5 29 51 1 2 01 29 0 1 14 1 283 8 50 54 Average precipitation days 1 0 mm 4 5 4 8 8 0 8 5 10 3 13 6 15 1 13 7 12 7 9 5 5 6 4 7 111Mean monthly sunshine hours 176 1 175 4 193 4 187 5 187 5 143 8 143 0 163 8 125 1 142 1 157 0 170 4 1 963 6Source Japan Meteorological Agency 3 4 Demographics EditPer Japanese census data 5 the population of Nakanojō has declined steadily over the past 70 years Historical populationYearPop 192019 941 193020 866 4 6 194022 038 5 6 195027 014 22 6 196026 838 0 7 197023 389 12 9 198022 618 3 3 199021 627 4 4 200020 389 5 7 201018 216 10 7 202015 386 15 5 Neighborhoods within Nakanojō EditAkasaka 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 Orida 折田 Ōtsuka 大塚 Upper Sawatari 上沢渡 Lower Sawatari 下沢渡 Shima 四万 Taira 平 Tochikubo 栃窪 West Nakanojo 西中之条 Yamada 山田 former Kuni village Akaiwa 赤岩 Hikage 日影 Iriyama 入山 Kosame 小雨 Ōshi 太子 History EditDuring the Edo period the area around Nakanojō was part of the hatamoto administered territory within Kōzuke Province With the creation of the modern 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 Government EditNakanojō has a mayor council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 15 members Nakanojō collectively with the other municipalities in Agatsuma District contributes two members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly In terms of national politics the town is part of Gunma 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan Economy EditThe economy of Nakanojō is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism primarily in connection with its onsen hot spring resorts Education EditNakanojō has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government and one public high schools operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education The city also has one private middle school and one private high school Gunma Prefecture also operates one special education school for the handicapped Transportation EditRailway Edit JR East Agatsuma Line Nakanojō IchishiroHighway Edit National Route 145 National Route 292 National Route 353 National Route 405Local attractions EditThe 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 Edit 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 Melody road Edit When an automobile drives at 40 km h over a special melody road section of Japan National Route 353 passing through Nakanojō the vibrations will sound the tune Always With Me Japanese title いつも何度でも Itsumo nando demo from the feature animation Spirited Away 6 Notable people from Nakanojō EditKeizo Obuchi former Prime Minister of Japan Yuko Obuchi politicianReferences Edit Nakanojō Town official statistics in Japanese Japan Nakanojō climate data 中之条 1991 2020年 Japan Meteorological Agency Retrieved August 20 2017 中之条 観測史上1 10位の値 Japan Meteorological Agency Retrieved August 20 2017 Nakanojō population statistics The effect can be observed here 113icecream Japanese Fireworks Jun 24 2011 Always With Me with lyrics while traveling on Route 353 through Nakanojō 歌詞付 いつも何度でも メロディーロード 群馬県中之条町国道353号 YouTube Archived from the original on 2021 12 22 Retrieved June 10 2020 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nakanojō Gunma Official Website in Japanese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nakanojō Gunma amp oldid 1112610870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
