Uonuma (魚沼市) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 35,027 in 13,289 households, and a population density of 37 persons per km2. Its total area is 946.76 sqkm. The city is famous for its koshihikari rice, which commands a premium in the Japanese market.

Geography

Uonuma is located in an inland region of south-central Niigata Prefecture, bordered by Fukushima Prefecture to the east and Gunma Prefecture to the south. Parts of the city are within the borders of Oze National Park or the Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park

Surrounding municipalities

Climate

Uonuma has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Uonuma is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2049 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.0 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.4 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Uonuma has declined over the past 50 years.

History

The area of present-day Uonuma was part of ancient Echigo Province, with the name of Uonuma appearing in the Shoku Nihongi in an entry dated 702 AD. During the Edo period, the area was largely tenryō territory administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate or part of the holdings of Aizu Domain. The area was greatly affected by the Tenpō famine of 1835–1837. After the Meiji restoration, the area was organised as part of Kitauonuma District, Niigata with the creation of the modern municipalities system. The modern city of Uonuma was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Horinouchi and Koide, and the villages of Hirokami, Irihirose, Sumon and Yunotani (all from Kitauonuma District).

Government

Uonuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 20 members.

Economy

The economy of Uonuma is dominated by agriculture, predominantly rice production, along with sake brewing.

Education

Uonuma has nine public elementary schools and six public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education, and also two special education schools.

Transportation

Railway

Highway

Local attractions

Places of interest

Onsen

Ski resorts

In addition to this, the Echigo Axiom ski resort (Formerly named Gongendō ski resort) in the old SUmon village, Nakame Ski resort in the former Ichirose village was open but both have been closed.

Festivals and events

Traditional crafts

Osawa Washi: Traditional Japanese paper (former Yunotani village)

Notable people from Uonuma