Fujioka, Gunma

Fujioka (藤岡市, Fujioka-shi^?) is a city in Gunma, Japan. The city's name means, "Wisteria Hill" in English, and is composed of the two kanji characters for "wisteria" (fuji) and "Hill" (oka).

As of May 1, 2008, the city had an estimated population of 70,676 and a density of 392.44 persons per km². The total area is 180.09 km².

The city was founded on April 1, 1954. On January 1, 2006, Onishi, a town just south of the city, from Tano District, was merged into Fujioka.

Surrounding municipalities

• Gunma Prefecture
  • Takasaki
  • Tamamura
  • Kanna
  • Shimonita
  • Kanra
• Saitama Prefecture
  • Chichibu
  • Kamikawa
  • Kamisato

History

• 1889 - Fujioka town, Kanna village, Ono village, Midori village, Mikuri village, Hirai village, Onishi town, Hino village,and Sanbagawa village are created in Midorino District. Mihara village is created in Minamikanra District.
• 1896 - Midorino District, Minamikanra District, and Tago District are united and renamed Tano District.
• 1954 - Kanna village, Ono village, Midori village, and Mikuri village are merged into Fujioka town, and is renamed Fujioka City.
• 1955 - Hirai village and Sanbagawa village are merged into Fujioka City.
• 2006 - Onishi village is merged into Fujioka City.

Geography

Mountains: Nishi-Mikaboyama (西御荷鉾山), Higashi-Mikaboyama (東御荷鉾山), Amefuriyama (雨降山), Sakurayama (桜山), Takayama (高山), Koshinyama (庚申山).

Rivers: Karasugawa (烏川), Kaburagawa (鏑川), Ayugawa (鮎川), Nukuigawa (温井川), Kannagawa (神流川), Sannagawa (三名川), Sasagawa (笹川).

Lakes and marshes: Kannako (神流湖), Sannako (三名湖), Ayugawako (鮎川湖), Takenuma (竹沼)

Schools

There are three high schools, five junior high schools, and eleven elementary schools in Fujioka.

• High Schools
  • Fujioka Kita (群馬県立藤岡北高等学校)
  • Fujioka Kogyo (群馬県立藤岡工業高等学校)
  • Fujioka Chuo (群馬県立藤岡中央高等学校)

• Junior High Schools
  • Fujioka Kita (藤岡市立北中学校)
  • Fujioka Higashi (藤岡市立東中学校)
  • Fujioka Nishi (藤岡市立西中学校)
  • Fujioka Ono (藤岡市立小野中学校)
  • Fujioka Onishi (藤岡市立鬼石中学校)

• Elementary Schools
  • Fujioka Dai-ichi (藤岡第一小学校)
  • Fujioka Dai-ni (藤岡第二小学校)
  • Kanna (神流小学校)
  • Ono (小野小学校)
  • Midori (美土里小学校)
  • Mikuri Higashi (美九里東小学校)
  • Mikuri Nishi (美九里西小学校)
  • Hirai (平井小学校)
  • Hino (日野小学校)
  • Onishi Kita (鬼石北小学校)
  • Onishi (鬼石小学校)

As of June 2008 there are two high school, five junior high school, and two elementary school assistant language teachers (ALTs) working in Fujioka schools.

Transportation

Trains
The Hachiko Line has two stops in Fujioka.

• Gunmafujioka Station
• Kita-Fujioka Station

Expressways
Two Expressways come together at the Fujioka Junction (JCT).

• Kanetsu Expressway (関越自動車道)
• Joshinetsu Expressway (上信越自動車道)
  • Fujioka Interchange (IC)
  • Fujioka Parking Area (PA)

National Highways

• Route 17 (国道17号)
• Route 254 (国道254号)
• Route 462 (国道462号)
• Route 354 (国道354号)

Prefectural Roads

• Route 13, Maebashi - Nagatoro (群馬県道13号前橋長瀞線)
• Route 23, Fujioka - Honjo (群馬県道23号藤岡本庄線)
• Route 30, Terao - Fujioka (群馬県道30号寺尾藤岡線)
• Route 40, Fujioka - Daigo (群馬県道40号藤岡大胡線)
• Route 71, Takasaki - Kannachichibu (群馬県道71号高崎神流秩父線)

Rest Stops

• Fujioka (道の駅ふじおか)
• Joshin Onishi (道の駅上州おにし)

Annual events

• Fujioka Matsuri
• The Fujioka Matsuri is a two-day Summer festival which is typically held on a weekend in late July. The celebration, which takes place in central Fujioka, features food and entertainment stalls, a flea market, parade, and street dancing. There are many traditional events as well, such as taiko performances, omikoshi carrying, and the parading of Dashi floats through the streets.

• Fuji Matsuri
• The Fuji Matsuri (Wisteria Festival) is a Spring festival which takes place at Koshinyama Park every year in late April/early May, to celebrate the blooming of the wisteria flowers. Numerous vendor stalls sell various local products, food, and flowers. The wisteria flowers are illuminated after sunset.

Sister cities

Fujioka has sister cities in Hakui (Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan), Regina (Canada), Jiang Yin (China) and Bend (Oregon United States). An annual student exchange program between Fujioka and Regina takes place in August of each year. The host city alternates each year, and families in both cities serve as host families for the visiting students.

References

• "藤岡市・鬼石町合併協議会". 藤岡市ホームページ. 2008-06. http://www.city.fujioka.gunma.jp/f_kikaku/gappei/fo-gappei-syusei/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-16.  (Japanese)

External links

• Fujioka official website (Japanese)