Shibukawa, Gunma

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**Shibukawa City**
**渋川市**
Shibukawa City's location in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kanto
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	240.42 km²
Population (as of 2006)
Total	87,503
Density	364/km²
Location	36°29′N 139°00′E
Symbols
Shibukawa City City Hall
Address	〒377-8501 80 Ishihara, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma-ken
Phone number	0279-22-2111
Official website: http://www.city.shibukawa.gunma.jp/index.html

Coordinates: 36°29′N 139°00′E

Shibukawa (渋川市; -shi) is a city located in the extreme northwest of the Kanto Plain, in the center of landlocked Gunma, Japan. Encompassing the juncture of the Tone River and Agatsuma River, it is about 120km from Tokyo. Due to its location at the geographical center of the nation, Shibukawa is known as the Bellybutton of Japan (日本のおへそ, nihon no oheso).

Shibukawa originally grew to prosperity as an inn town, but even today is in a central location between Numata and Maebashi. Also, anyone going to a number of famous hot spring resorts, such as Kusatsu, Shima, or Ikaho must pass through Shibukawa.

As of May 2006, the city had a population of 87,503 and a density of 364 persons per km². The total land area is 240.42 km².

The city was founded on April 1, 1954.

1 Geography
- 1.1 Adjacent Cities, Towns, and Villages
2 History
3 Sister cities
4 Festivals
5 Transportation
- 5.1 Rail
- 5.2 Roads
6 Schools
7 Attractions
8 Trivia
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Geography

Shibukawa is located at a central point (36°29′ N, 139°00′ E) of the Japanese Archipelago and is thus known as the Bellybutton of Japan (日本のおへそ, nihon no oheso). The city encompasses an area of 240.42 km².

To the west is Mt. Haruna, and to the east is Mt. Akagi. To the north are Mt. Onoko and Mt. Komochi. The Tone River flows from the north (between Mt. Akagi and Mt. Komochi) southward through the city, while the Agatsuma River flows from the west (between Mt. Onoko and Mt. Haruna), merging with the Tone River near the center of the city.

Shibukawa's highest altitude is 1565m above sea level; its lowest point is 139m above sea level.

[edit] Adjacent Cities, Towns, and Villages

To the north: Numata City, Showa Village, Takayama Village

To the east: Fujimi Village

To the south: Maebashi City, Shinto Village, Yoshioka Town

To the west: Takasaki City, Higashi Agatsuma Town, Nakanojo Town

[edit] History

Shibukawa developed as an inn town on the old Mikuni Road.
In 1889, Shibukawa Village became Shibukawa Town.
On April 1, 1954, Furumaki Village, Kanashima Village, Shibukawa Town, and Toyoaki Village merged to form Shibukawa City.
On February 20, 2006, Ikaho Town, Akagi Village, Kitatachibana Village, Komochi Village, and Onogami Village merged together with Shibukawa City to form the new city of Shibukawa.

[edit] Sister cities

Foligno in Umbria, Italy is Shibukawa's sister city. Logan City, Queensland, Australia is designated as a Friendship City with Shibukawa.

[edit] Festivals

Shibukawa calls itself "The Bellybutton of Japan" (日本のおへそ) and every year hosts the Bellybutton Festival (へそ祭). One of the most famous events in this festival is the parade of people with their bellies painted like faces.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Rail

East Japan Railway Company
- Joetsu Line (Yagihara Station, Shibukawa Station, Shikishima Station, and Tsukuda Station)
- Agatsuma Line (Shibukawa Station, Kanashima Station, Ubashima Station, Onogami Station, and Onogami Onsen Station)

[edit] Roads

Expressway
- Kan-Etsu Expressway (Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange, Akagi Interchange)
National Highways
- National Route 17
- National Route 353

[edit] Schools

Shibukawa has four high schools: Shibukawa High School, Shibukawa Girls' High School, Shibukawa Kougyou High School, and Shibukawa Seisui High School. There are ten junior high schools: Akagi North Junior High School, Akagi South Junior High School, Furumaki Junior High School, Hokkitsu Junior High School, Ikaho Junior High School, Kanashima Junior High School, Komochi Junior High School, Shibukawa Junior High School, Shibukawa North Junior High School, and Onogami Junior High School. Finally, there are seventeen elementary schools: Ikaho Elementary School, Furumaki Elementary School, Kamishiroi Elementary School, Kanashima Elementary School, Miharada Elementary School, Nagaou Elementary School, Nagumo Elementary School, Nakagou Elementary School, Onogami Elementary School, Shibukawa North Elementary School, Shibukawa South Elementary School, Shibukawa West Elementary School, Tachibana North Elementary School, Tachibana South Elementary School, Tousen Elementary School, Toyoaki Elementary School, and Tsukuda Elementary School.

[edit] Attractions

Shibukawa Skyland Park - an amusement park
Ikaho Green Bokujou - a farm designed to show it's customers various things about farming
Ikaho Sistina Museum- an op art museum which also has a Sistine Chapel replica
Japan Chanson Museum- a museum dedicated to the chanson style of music
Shibukawa Sougou Park- a large park encompassing hiking trails, campsites, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a running track, and various other recreational facilities
Onoike Ajisai Park- a hydrangea park with a pond and hiking trails
Shibukawa Sky Terume - a hot spring in a building which looks something like a spaceship

[edit] Trivia

Shibukawa is the home town of the main character in Initial D. Many scenes of the live action movie were taped on location in Shibukawa.

[edit] References

"市内小・中学校リンク集". Shibukawa City Official Site (2006-07). Retrieved on 2006-08-29. (Japanese)
"合併の変遷". Shibukawa City Official Site (2006-06). Retrieved on 2006-06-16. (Japanese)
"渋川市の統計". Shibukawa City Official Site (2006-06). Retrieved on 2006-06-16. (Japanese)
"渋川市の地勢と気候". Shibukawa City Official Site (2006-06). Retrieved on 2006-06-17. (Japanese)
"MapionBB". MapionBB (2006-08). Retrieved on 2006-08-29. (Japanese)