Shibukawa (渋川市) is a city in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 76,098 in 32,439 households, and a population density of 320 pd/sqkm. The total area of the city is 240.27 sqkm. Shibukawa is the location of Ikaho Onsen, a popular hot spring resort.

Geography

Shibukawa is located at the juncture of the Tone River and Agatsuma River, in the central part of Gunma Prefecture, on the northern edge of the Kantō plains. It is about 120 km from Tokyo. To the west is Mount Haruna, and to the east is Mount Akagi. To the north are Mount Onoko and Mount Komochi. The Tone River flows from the north (between Mount Akagi and Mount Komochi) southward through the city, while the Agatsuma River flows from the west (between Mount Onoko and Mount Haruna), merging with the Tone River near the center of the city. Shibukawa is 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). Shibukawa's highest altitude is 1565 m above sea level; its lowest point is 139 m above sea level. The majority of the city lies between 200 and 800 m above sea level Farmland covers 49.88 km2 (20.8% of the city), housing covers 20.31 km2 (8.4%), and mountains and forests cover 77.39 km2 (32.2%) of the city’s area. The remaining 92.84 km2 (38.6%) has other land uses.

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Shibukawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shibukawa is 13.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1335 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Shibukawa peaked around the year 1990 and has declined since.

History

Shibukawa is located within what was formerly Kōzuke Province. During the Edo period, the area of present-day Shibukawa prospered due to its location on the Mikuni Kaidō highway connecting Takasaki with Niigata. Post stations within the borders of modern Shibukawa were Shibukawa-shuku, Kanai-shuku, Kitamoku-shuku and Yokobori-shuku. Shibukawa town was created in Nishigunma District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. In 1896, Nishiguma District and Kataoka District merged to form Gunma District, Gunma; however, the area containing Shibukawa was separated out in October 1949 into Kitagunma District. On April 1, 1954, Shibukawa town absorbed the villages of Furumaki, Kanashima and Toyoaki to become the city of Shibukawa. On February 20, 2006, Shibukawa absorbed the town of Ikaho, the villages of Komochi and Onogami (all from Kitagunma District), and the villages of Akagi and Kitatachibana (both from Seta District).

Government

Shibukawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Shibukawa contributes two members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Gunma 1st district and the Gunma 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Shibukawa is a regional commercial center and transportation hub. Seasonal tourism, particularly to its hot spring and ski resorts, play a major role in the local economy. The area is noted for its production of konjac.

Education

Shibukawa has 14 public elementary schools and nine public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

High schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

Transportation

Railway

JR East – Jōetsu Line JR East – Agatsuma Line Ikaho Ropeway

Highway

Local attractions

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. The festival is based on a traditional Japanese form of entertainment where revelers paint a face on their torsos and stomachs and pretend it is a head. A kimono is then wrapped around the waist and the person's real head is hidden by a large cloth hat. The belly button is traditionally painted into a mouth. These days, modern motifs and Japanese anime designs have crept into the festival, which city officials said is all about having fun.

Sister cities

Shibukawa is twinned with:

Noted people from Shibukawa