Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Encyclopedia
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).
Minami-Uonuma 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
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, and popular seasonal fruit like watermelon, as this is a major rice
-growing region in Japan
.
has a stop at Urasa Station
in Minami-Uonuma. From here, the shinkansen
takes 40 minutes to reach Niigata city
, the prefectural capital (100 km away), and 90 minutes to reach Tokyo
, 230 km away.
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It has an area of 584.82 km² and a population of 62,733 (as of August 31, 2006).
History
- The city was established on November 1, 2004 in a merger of the towns MuikamachiMuika, Niigatawas a town located in Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 28,687 and a density of 108.75 persons per km². The total area was 263.79 km²....
and YamatoYamato, NiigataYamato was a town located in Minamiuonuma District, Niigata, Japan.The town was established as a village in 1956, and promoted to a town in 1962.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 15,195 and a density of 116.07 persons per km²...
, both from Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata. - On October 1, 2005, the town of ShiozawaShiozawa, NiigataShiozawa was a town located in Minamiuonuma District, Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 20,142 and a density of 105.94 persons per km². The total area was 190.12 km²....
from Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata was also merged into Minami-Uonuma.
Geography
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
in a mountainous region of Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
known as “Snow Country
Snow country (Japan)
Snow country refers to areas in Japan characterized by heavy, long-lasting snowfalls....
” because of the heavy snowfall in winter. The city is bounded by Uonuma
Uonuma, Niigata
is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 946.93 km² and a population of 41,894 .It is famous for its rice – the koshihikari rice grown in Uonuma is the most sought-after and most expensive rice in Japan...
and the Echigo-Sanzan mountains in the north, and Yuzawa
Yuzawa, Niigata
is an onsen town located in Minamiuonuma District in the mountains of the Chuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, Japan.-Demographics:...
, 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
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
(Japanese hot springs) and 8 ski resorts, making it a popular destination in winter. There are also a large number of paddy fields, and popular seasonal fruit like watermelon, as this is a major rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
-growing region in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Shinkansen
The Joetsu ShinkansenJoetsu Shinkansen
The is a high-speed railway line connecting Tokyo and Niigata, Japan, via the Tōhoku Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company .-History:The program was initiated in 1971 by Niigata-born prime minister Tanaka Kakuei...
has a stop at Urasa Station
Urasa Station
is a train station located in Minamiuonuma, Niigata, Japan. It opened on September 1, 1923.- Adjacent stations :-External links:*...
in Minami-Uonuma. From here, the shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
takes 40 minutes to reach Niigata city
Niigata, Niigata
is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
, the prefectural capital (100 km away), and 90 minutes to reach Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 230 km away.
Educational institutions
- International University of JapanInternational University of JapanThe is a private university located in Minami-Uonuma city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.IUJ is the first, and one of the few Japanese universities which run their courses entirely in English. It was founded in 1982, primarily with the aim of providing a platform for delegates from all over the...
External links
- Official website of Minami-Uonuma city
- Official website of Minami-Uonuma city
- Official website of Minami-Uonuma city (Translated English)
- http://www.umex.ne.jp/E/index.cfm/Local Association which plays active role in International University of JapanInternational University of JapanThe is a private university located in Minami-Uonuma city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.IUJ is the first, and one of the few Japanese universities which run their courses entirely in English. It was founded in 1982, primarily with the aim of providing a platform for delegates from all over the...
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