Shibukawa, Gunma

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**Shibukawa**
**渋川市**
Shibukawa's location in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	240.42 km² (92.83 sq mi)
Population (as of 2008)
Total	86,395
Density	359 /km² (930 /sq mi)
Location	36°29′N, 139°0′E
Symbols
Shibukawa Government Office
Address	〒377-8501 80 Ishihara, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma-ken
Phone number	0279-22-2111
Official website: http://www.city.shibukawa.gunma.jp/index.html

Shibukawa (渋川市, Shibukawa-shi^?) is a city located in the extreme northwest of the Kantō 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 April 2008, the city had a population of 86,395 and a density of 359 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 Demagraphics
4 Sister cities
5 Festivals
6 Transportation
- 6.1 Rail
- 6.2 Roads
7 Schools
8 Attractions
9 Trivia
10 References
11 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 1,565m above sea level; its lowest point is 139m above sea level. The majority of the city lies between 200 and 800 meters above sea level.

Farmland covers 49.88km² (20.8% of the city), housing covers 20.31km² (8.4%), and mountains and forests cover 77.39km² (32.2%). The remaining 92.84km² (38.6%) has other land uses.

[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] Demagraphics

Shibukawa's population, as of April 2008, was 86,395. There were 42,313 males and 44,082 females. The number of households was 30,870. The population density was 359 persons per km².

[edit] Sister cities

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

In the spring of 2008, high school students from Shibukawa visited their counterparts in Chico, California.

[edit] Festivals

Shibukawa calls itself "The Bellybutton of Japan" (日本のおへそ) and hosts the Bellybutton Festival (へそ祭り) every year in late July. 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
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
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
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 2008-05-28. (Japanese)
"MapionBB". MapionBB (2006-08). Retrieved on 2006-08-29. (Japanese)
"渋川市住民基本台帳人口/渋川市". Shibukawa City Official Site (2008-04). Retrieved on 2008-05-28. (Japanese)

Gullick, Chris. "Japanese students say goodbye to Chico students" nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CERB&p_theme=cerb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=allfields(Shibukawa)%20(%20Japan)%20AND%20date(2008)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2008&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=("Shibukawa")%20("%20Japan")&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no.html. Chico Enterprise Record, April 4, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2008.