Ōta, Gunma

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**Ōta City**
**太田市**
Ōta City's location in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kanto
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	176.49 km² km²
Population (as of 2006)
Total	217,038
Location	36°17′N, 139°22′E
Symbols
Ōta City City Hall
Address	〒〒 373-8718 2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken
Phone number	0276-47-1111
Official website: http://www.city.ota.gunma.jp/

Coordinates: 36°17′N, 139°22′E

Ōta (Japanese: 太田市; -shi) is a city located 50 miles northwest of Tokyo, in Eastern Gunma, Japan. This city is located between the Tone and Watarase rivers. As a result, the new city reached a total population of 217,038, making it the third most populous city in Gunma.

Ota's leading industry is manufacturing, centered in the southeast part of the city. Ota leads the prefecture in manufacturing revenue. It is the home of the car manufacturer Subaru, a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. Also, Ota is a major transportation hub in the Tomo (Eastern Gunma) region.

The original city of Ota lasted from May 31, 1948 till March 27, 2005. The mayor of the new city of Ota is Masayoshi Shimizu, the last mayor of the original city of Ota.

Ota is also known as having one of the largest selections of bar in Japan. Many of them are found to the south of Ota Station, in the downtown area.

The city is scheduled to become a Special city on April 1, 2007 (next door neighbor Isesaki will also become a special city on the same day).

1 Places of Interest
2 Transportation
3 Demographics
4 Municipal History
5 Mayor
6 External links

[edit] Places of Interest

Daikoin Temple - Founded in 1618. Popular with nickname Kosodate Donryu (meaning kid-raising Saint Donryu). Located 2.4 km northwest of the downtown.
Kanayama Castle - A Kamakura-era castle on the top of Mt. Kanayama (244 m). Located 3.2 km north of the downtown.
Tenjin'yama Kofun - A large ancient burial mound (from around the 5th century).
Yabuzuka Onsen - Ota's hot springs. Originally it was Yabuzukahoncho Town area annexed by Ota. 9.7 km northwest of the downtown.
Snake Center - Located in Yabuzuka Onsen area. Famous for collection of rare kinds of snakes.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Rail

Ōta Station is one of Tobu Railway's hub stations. The Isesaki Line, Kiryu Line, and Koizumi Line all meet here. Ota Station is also an express stop on the JR Ryomo Line. Following are approximate times by train from Ota:

Takasaki, Gunma: 1 hr
Maebashi, Gunma: 50 min
Isesaki, Gunma: 30 min
Kiryu, Gunma: 20 min
Ashikaga, Tochigi: 10 min
Tatebayashi, Gunma: 25 min
Tokyo: 1 hr 20 min (by Express Ryomo)

[edit] Bus

There is bus coverage, both local and inter-city, such as to Kumagaya, Saitama.

[edit] Roads

National Route 122- connects to Tokyo, Saitama City, Tatebayashi, Kiryu, and Nikkō.
National Route 407- connects to Higashimatsuyama, Kumagaya, and Ashikaga.

[edit] Demographics

[edit] Municipal History

The city's name was taken from Otajuku.

[edit] Original City of Ota

1889年(明治22年)4月1日、町村制施行に伴い、新田郡に太田町・九合村・沢野村・鳥之郷村・強戸村・宝泉村が、山田郡に韮川村・毛里田村が誕生。 1893年(明治26年)7月15日、山田郡韮川村から矢場川村・休泊村が分立。 1940年(昭和15年)4月1日、太田町が新田郡九合村・沢野村・山田郡韮川村と合併し、太田町となる。 1943年(昭和18年)11月1日、新田郡鳥之郷村が太田町に編入される。

On May 3, 1948, Ota gained city status (the current city of Hitachiota in Ibaraki Prefecture had the same name in the past, while Hitachiota was a town as Ota.
On April 1, 1957, the city absorbed the village of Kyodo from Nitta District and the village of Kyuhaku from Yamada District.
On July 1, 1960, the city absorbed parts of the village of Yabakawa from Yamada District.
On April 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Hosen from Nitta District.
On December 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Kesatoda from Yamada District.
In 1977, "Belltown," located in front of Ota Station opens (Uni Ota store was also opened at the same time ※closed on January 2007)
In 1995, Masayoshi Shimizu (current mayor) defeated Hisao Tozawa to become the mayor of Ota until the former city of Ota dissolves.
In 1998, the new city hall building (the current city hall) completed.
On October 10, 1998, FM Taro launched it's airwaves from Ota Hall located next to the city hall.
On December 5, 2003, the largest shopping center in the Kitakanto Region, "Aeon Ota Shopping Center" opened at Ishihara-cho, northwestern area of the city.
On November 25, 2004, Ota station was elevated to an overcross station.
On March 27, 2005, the old city of Ota closes.

[edit] The new city of Ota (March 28, 2005-present)

On March 28, 2005, the old city of Ota and the towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabutsukahonmatchi from Nitta District were replaced, and the area became the new city of Ota.
- As of the merger, the total area is 176.49km², and the population went over 200,000 with 217,000 people.
- The former city of Ota had a population of 152,000, with a total area of 97.96km².
  The city hall is located at the former Ota City Hall and the former town halls of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahon became synthesis branch offices.
On April 17, 2005, the mayor election was held upon this merger and the former mayor of the old city of Ota, Masayoshi Shimizu, was elected as the first mayor of the new city of Ota.
On July 1, 2005, the city's seal was selected.

[edit] Scheduled

In 2006, The new train station building of Ota will be completed.
On April 1, 2007, the city will became a special city. (Next door neighbor Isesaki will also became a special city on the same day)
On September 2007, Ota and Yabutsuka interchanges on the Kitakanto Expressway will open.

[edit] Mayor

[edit] the post-merger of the city of Ota

1st: Masayoshi Shimizu(清水聖義, April 18, 2005~)
- intrim mayor: Akira Yamazaki (山﨑昭, the former mayor of the town of Nitta, March 28~April 17, 2005)

[edit] former city of Ota

preceding：Hisao Tosawa (戸澤久夫, ~1995)
last:Masayoshi Shimizu(currently the mayor of Ota, 1995~March 27, 2005)

※Also, the city council has it own council from the old city of Ota, and the old towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahonmachi, with a combined council members of 73.

[edit] City Hall Information

Ota City Hall

〒 373-8718

2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-47-1111

Nitta Synthesis Branch Office (the old Nitta Town Hall)

〒 370-0392

29, Nittakanai-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-57-1111

Ojima Synthesis Branch Office (the old Ojima Town Hall)

〒 370-0495

520, Kasukawa-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-52-1511

Yabuzuka Synthesis Branch Office (the old Yabuzukahon Town Hall)

〒 379-2393

661-1, Obara-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0277-78-2111

[edit] External links

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