Minamiuonuma, Niigata

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**Minamiuonuma**
**南魚沼市**
Minamiuonuma's location in Niigata, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Niigata
Physical characteristics
Area	584.82 km² (225.80 sq mi)
Population (as of August 31, 2006)
Total	62,733
Density	107.27 /km² (278 /sq mi)
Location	37°4′N, 138°53′E
Symbols
Tree	Kobushi magnolia
Flower	Katakuri lily
Minamiuonuma Government Office
Address	〒949-6696 180-1 Muika-machi, Minamiuonuma-shi, Niigata-ken
Official website: City of Minamiuonuma

Minamiuonuma (南魚沼市, Minamiuonuma-shi^?) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 584.82 km² and a population of 62,733 (as of August 31, 2006).

1 History
2 Geography
3 Transportation
- 3.1 Shinkansen
4 Educational Institutions
5 External links

[edit] History

The city was established on November 1, 2004 in a merger of Muika and Yamato. On October 1, 2005, the town of Shiozawa was also merged into Minamiuonuma city.

[edit] Geography

Paddy fields in Minamiuonuma city

Minamiuonuma city is situated in a valley in a mountainous region of Niigata Prefecture known as “Snow Country” because of the heavy snowfall in winter. The city is bounded by Uonuma city and the Echigo-Sanzan mountains in the north, and Yuzawa, a popular ski resort town, in the south. The Uono river flows through most of the city. The city and its surrounding areas are dotted with many onsen (Japanese hot springs) and 8 ski resorts, making it a popular destination in winter. There are also a large number of paddy fields, as this is a major rice-growing region in Japan.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Shinkansen

The Joetsu Shinkansen has a stop at Urasa station in Minamiuonuma. From here, the shinkansen takes 40 minutes to reach Niigata city, the prefectural capital (100km away), and 90 minutes to reach Tokyo, 230km away.