is a city

Cities of Japan

||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...

  50 miles northwest of 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...

, in eastern Gunma prefecture

Gunma Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...

, 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...

. This city is located between the Tone

Tone River

The is a river in the Kantō region of Japan. It is in length and has a drainage area of...

 and Watarase

Watarase River

The is a major river in the northern Kantō region of Japan. A tributary of the Tone River, it is 106.7 km in length and drains an area of 2,621 km². Its source is at Mount Sukai on the boundary of the city of Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture and it empties into the Tone at the boundary of the...

 river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

s. As a result, the new city reached a total population of 219,789, making it the third most populous city in Gunma.

Ōta's leading industry is manufacturing

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...

, centered in the southeast part of the city. Ōta leads the prefecture in manufacturing revenue, which exceeds annually. It is the home of the car manufacturer Subaru

Subaru

; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...

, a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. However, the northern part of Ōta is characterized by its farms, most of which produce rice. Also, Ōta is a major transportation hub in the Tomo (Eastern Gunma) region and the home of the Sanyo Wild Knights

Sanyo Wild Knights

Panasonic Wild Knights is a Japanese rugby union team based in Ōta city, Gunma prefecture which plays in the Top League. Inspired by Tony Brown at fly half , it dominated the league in the fifth season and was the first team to be unbeaten throughout a Top League season.All-Japan Champions:...

 rugby team.

Ōta is also known as having one of the largest selections of bar

Bar (establishment)

A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...

s in Japan. Many of them are to the south of Ōta Station, in the downtown area. A large number of these bars are hostess bar

Hostess bar

Hostess clubs are a common feature in the night-time entertainment industry of Japan, east Asian countries and other areas with a high east Asian population. They employ primarily female staff and cater to males seeking drinks and attentive conversation. The more recent host clubs are similar...

s with surprisingly conspicuous names such as "Pub Sexy" and "Club the Minge" (in English).

The city became a special city

Special cities of Japan

of Japan are cities with populations of at least 200,000, and are delegated a subset of the functions delegated to core cities.This category was established by the Local Autonomy Law, article 252 clause 26...

 on April 1, 2007 (the neighboring city, Isesaki

Isesaki, Gunma

is a city located in Gunma, Japan. The current population is 211,021, with 80,638 households. A small city located near the geographic center of Japan's main island of Honshū, Isesaki is the fourth largest city in Gunma Prefecture and it is one of the growing cities within Gunma Prefecture...

 also became a special city on the same day).

History

The city's name was taken from . The original city of Ōta lasted from May 31, 1948 until March 27, 2005. The mayor of the new city of Ōta is Masayoshi Shimizu

Masayoshi Shimizu

is the city president of Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-External links:*...

, the last mayor of the original city of Ōta. During the years before World War II, airplane production was the industrial mainstay of Ota. After the war, much of the skills and technology used in the production of aircraft was redirected into the production of automobiles.

Original City of Ōta

• On April 1, 1889, as the modern town and village system was introduced, town of Ōta and villages of Kuai, Sawano, Shimanogō, Gōdo and Hōsen were incorporated in Nitta District and villages of Niragawa and Morita were incorporated in Yamada District
  Yamada District, Gunma
  is a former district which was located in Gunma, Japan.As of 27 March 2006, the district has been dissolved in order to form the new city of Midori....
  
  .
• On July 15, 1893, villages of Yabagawa and Kyūhaku became independent from Niragawa.
• On April 1, 1940, Ōta, Kuai, Sawano and Niragawa merged to form new town of Ōta.
• On November 1, 1943, Ōta absorbed Shimanogō.
• On May 3, 1948, Ōta gained city status (the current city of Hitachiota
  Hitachiota, Ibaraki
  is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 55,906, with a household number of 20,298 and the density of 150.28 persons per km²...
  
   in Ibaraki Prefecture
  Ibaraki Prefecture
  is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
  
   had the same name in the past, while Hitachiota was a town as Ōta.
• On April 1, 1957, the city absorbed the village of Kyodo from Nitta District and the village of Kyuhaku from Yamada District
  Yamada District, Gunma
  is a former district which was located in Gunma, Japan.As of 27 March 2006, the district has been dissolved in order to form the new city of Midori....
  
  .
• On July 1, 1960, the city absorbed parts of the village of Yabakawa from Yamada District
  Yamada District, Gunma
  is a former district which was located in Gunma, Japan.As of 27 March 2006, the district has been dissolved in order to form the new city of Midori....
  
  .
• On April 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Hosen from Nitta District.
• On December 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Kesatoda from Yamada District
  Yamada District, Gunma
  is a former district which was located in Gunma, Japan.As of 27 March 2006, the district has been dissolved in order to form the new city of Midori....
  
  .
• In 1977, "Belltown," located in front of Ōta Station opens (Uni Ota store was also opened at the same time ※closed on January 2007)
• In 1995, Masayoshi Shimizu
  Masayoshi Shimizu
  is the city president of Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-External links:*...
  
   (current mayor) defeated Hisao Tozawa to become the mayor of Ōta until the former city of Ōta dissolves.
• In 1998, the new city hall building (the current city hall) completed.
• On October 10, 1998, FM Taro launched its airwaves from Ota Hall located next to the city hall.
• On December 5, 2003, the largest shopping center in the Kita-Kantō Region, "Aeon Ota Shopping Center" opened at Ishihara-cho, northwestern area of the city.
• On November 25, 2004, Ōta station was elevated to an over-cross station.
• On March 27, 2005, the old city of Ōta closes.

The new city of Ōta (March 28, 2005-present)

• On March 28, 2005, the old city of Ōta and the towns of Nitta
  Nitta, Gunma
  Nitta was a town located in Nitta District, Gunma, Japan.On March 28, 2005 Nitta, along with the towns of Ojima and Yabuzukahon, all from Nitta District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōta....
  
  , Ojima
  Ojima, Gunma
  Ojima was a town located in Nitta District, Gunma, Japan.On March 28, 2005 Ojima, along with the towns of Nitta and Yabuzukahon, all from Nitta District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōta....
  
  , and Yabuzukahon
  Yabuzukahon, Gunma
  was a town located in Nitta District, Gunma, Japan.On March 28, 2005 Yabuzukahon, along with the towns of Nitta and Ojima, all from Nitta District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōta....
  
  , all from Nitta District, were replaced, and the area became the new city of Ōta.
  • As of the merger, the total area is 176.49 km², and the population went over 200,000 with 217,000 people.
  • The former city of Ōta had a population of 152,000, with a total area of 97.96 km².
    The city hall is located at the former Ota City Hall and the former town halls of Nitta
    Nitta, Gunma
    Nitta was a town located in Nitta District, Gunma, Japan.On March 28, 2005 Nitta, along with the towns of Ojima and Yabuzukahon, all from Nitta District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōta....
    
    , Ojima
    Ojima, Gunma
    Ojima was a town located in Nitta District, Gunma, Japan.On March 28, 2005 Ojima, along with the towns of Nitta and Yabuzukahon, all from Nitta District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōta....
    
    , and Yabuzukahon
    Yabuzukahon, Gunma
    was a town located in Nitta District, Gunma, Japan.On March 28, 2005 Yabuzukahon, along with the towns of Nitta and Ojima, all from Nitta District, was merged into the expanded city of Ōta....
    
     became synthesis branch offices.
• On April 17, 2005, the mayor election was held upon this merger and the former mayor of the old city of Ōta, Masayoshi Shimizu
  Masayoshi Shimizu
  is the city president of Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-External links:*...
  
  , was elected as the first mayor of the new city of Ōta.
• On July 1, 2005, the city's seal was selected.

Scheduled

• In 2006, The new train station building of Ōta will be completed.
• On April 1, 2007, the city will became a special city
  Special cities of Japan
  of Japan are cities with populations of at least 200,000, and are delegated a subset of the functions delegated to core cities.This category was established by the Local Autonomy Law, article 252 clause 26...
  
  . (Next door neighbor Isesaki
  Isesaki, Gunma
  is a city located in Gunma, Japan. The current population is 211,021, with 80,638 households. A small city located near the geographic center of Japan's main island of Honshū, Isesaki is the fourth largest city in Gunma Prefecture and it is one of the growing cities within Gunma Prefecture...
  
   will also become a special city on the same day)
• In September 2007, Ōta and Yabutsuka interchanges on the Kita-Kantō Expressway
  Kita-Kanto Expressway
  The is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The route connects the capitals of the 3 northern prefectures in the Kantō region - Maebashi, Utsunomiya, and Mito....
  
   will open.

the post-merger of the city of Ōta

• 1st: Masayoshi Shimizu
  Masayoshi Shimizu
  is the city president of Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-External links:*...
  
  (清水 聖義, April 18, 2005~)
  • interim mayor: Akira Yamazaki (山﨑 昭, the former mayor of the town of Nitta, March 28~April 17, 2005)

former city of Ōta

• preceding：Hisao Tosawa (戸澤 久夫, ~1995)
• last:Masayoshi Shimizu
  Masayoshi Shimizu
  is the city president of Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-External links:*...
  
   (currently the mayor of Ōta, 1995~March 27, 2005)

※Also, the city council has it own council from the old city of Ōta, and the old towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahonmachi, with a combined council members of 73.

Places of interest

• Daikoin Temple - Founded in 1618 by Ieyasu Tokugawa. Popular with nickname Kosodate Donryu (meaning kid-raising Saint Donryu). Located 2.4 km northwest of the downtown.
• Kanayama Castle
  Kanayama Castle
  , also known as Ōta Kanayama Castle and as Nitta Kanayama Castle, is a yamashiro located on top of Mount Kanayama in Ōta, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
  
   - A Kamakura-era castle on the top of Mt. Kanayama (244 m). Located 3.2 km north of the downtown. Mt. Kanayama is the symbol of Ota City.
• Tenjin'yama Coffin - A large ancient burial mound (from around the 5th century). The Haniwa
  Haniwa
  The are terracotta clay figures which were made for ritual use and buried with the dead as funerary objects during the Kofun period of the history of Japan....
  
   unearthed in Ota are the only Haniwa to be designated as national treasures, and are on display in the National Museum in Tokyo.
• Yabuzuka Onsen - Ōta's hot springs. Originally it was Yabuzukahoncho Town area annexed by Ōta. 9.7 km northwest of the downtown.
• Snake Center - Located in Yabuzuka Onsen area. Famous for collection of rare kinds of snake
  Snake
  Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
  
  s.

Rail

Ōta Station

Ota Station (Gunma)

is a railway station in Ōta, Gunma, Japan, operated by Tobu Railway.-Lines:Ōta Station is served by the Tōbu Isesaki Line, Tōbu Kiryū Line, and Tōbu Koizumi Line, and is 94.7 km from the Tokyo terminus of the Isesaki Line at .-Station layout:...

 is one of Tobu Railway

Tobu Railway

is a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures...

's hub stations. The Isesaki Line, Kiryu Line, and Koizumi Line all meet here. Following are approximate times by train from Ōta:

• Takasaki
  Takasaki, Gunma
  is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1900.Takasaki is a regional transportation hub because its train station is the junction of several rail lines as well as a Shinkansen stop....
  
  , Gunma: 1 hr
• Maebashi
  Maebashi, Gunma
  is the capital city of Gunma Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1892, by the samurai Makuba Kawai.On December 5, 2004 the town of Ōgo, and the villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi, all from Seta District, were merged into Maebashi....
  
  , Gunma: 50 min
• Isesaki
  Isesaki, Gunma
  is a city located in Gunma, Japan. The current population is 211,021, with 80,638 households. A small city located near the geographic center of Japan's main island of Honshū, Isesaki is the fourth largest city in Gunma Prefecture and it is one of the growing cities within Gunma Prefecture...
  
  , Gunma: 30 min
• Kiryu
  Kiryu, Gunma
  is a city in Gunma, Japan, near the cities of Ōta and Ashikaga. Incorporated on March 1, 1921, Kiryū is considered both a city and part of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area, although it is still widely thought of as a rural area...
  
  , Gunma: 20 min
• Ashikaga
  Ashikaga, Tochigi
  is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Ashikaga is located north of Tokyo.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 153,766, with a household number of 59,219, and a density of 864.73 persons per km²...
  
  , Tochigi: 10 min
• Tatebayashi
  Tatebayashi, Gunma
  is a city located in Gunma, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 79,755, with a household number of 34,413, and the density of 1,307.89 persons per km²...
  
  , Gunma: 25 min
• 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...
  
  : 1 hr 10 min (by Express Ryomo)

Bus

• Intercity/Express bus: for Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Osaka
  Osaka
  is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
  
  , Kyoto
  Kyoto
  is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
  
  , Nara
  Nara, Nara
  is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
  
  , Nagoya, Kanazawa
  Kanazawa, Ishikawa
  is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
  
  , Toyama
  Toyama, Toyama
  is the capital city of Toyama Prefecture, Japan, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in the Chūbu region on central Honshū, about 200 km north of the city of Nagoya and 300 km northwest of Tokyo....
  
   and Sendai
• Local buses: for Kumagaya, Saitama
  Kumagaya, Saitama
  is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 . The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight...
  
   (/40 minutes) and AEON Shopping Mall (/10 minutes), which is the largest shopping facility in the city.

Roads

• Kita-Kantō Expressway
  Kita-Kanto Expressway
  The is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The route connects the capitals of the 3 northern prefectures in the Kantō region - Maebashi, Utsunomiya, and Mito....
  
  
• National Route 17
  Route 17 (Japan)
  National Route 17 is a highway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It originates at Nihonbashi in Chūō, Tokyo and terminates in the city of Niigata , where it meets Routes 7, 8, 49, 113 and 116)....
  
  
• National Route 50
• National Route 122
  Route 122 (Japan)
  National Route 122 is a national highway of Japan connecting Nikkō, Tochigi and Toshima, Tokyo in Japan, with a total length of 158.3 km ....
  
  - connects to 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...
  
  , Saitama City
  Saitama, Saitama
  ' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
  
  , Tatebayashi
  Tatebayashi, Gunma
  is a city located in Gunma, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 79,755, with a household number of 34,413, and the density of 1,307.89 persons per km²...
  
  , Kiryu
  Kiryu, Gunma
  is a city in Gunma, Japan, near the cities of Ōta and Ashikaga. Incorporated on March 1, 1921, Kiryū is considered both a city and part of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area, although it is still widely thought of as a rural area...
  
  , and Nikkō
  Nikko, Tochigi
  is a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists...
  
  .
• National Route 354
  Route 354 (Japan)
  National Route 354 is a national highway of Japan connecting Takasaki, Gunma and Hokota, Ibaraki in Japan, with a total length of 172.8 km ....
  
  
• National Route 407
  Route 407 (Japan)
  National Route 407 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ashikaga, Tochigi and Iruma, Saitama in Japan, with a total length of 60.4 km ....
  
  - connects to Higashimatsuyama
  Higashimatsuyama, Saitama
  is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 89,647 and a population density of 1,372.22 persons per km²...
  
  , Kumagaya
  Kumagaya, Saitama
  is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 . The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight...
  
  , and Ashikaga
  Ashikaga, Tochigi
  is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Ashikaga is located north of Tokyo.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 153,766, with a household number of 59,219, and a density of 864.73 persons per km²...
  
  .

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Yingkou is located in the northwestern portion of the Liaodong Peninsula, and on the left bank of the Daliao River, which enters the sea in the city. To the west is the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Gulf, and the city thus looks across to Jinzhou and Huludao...

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Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

City Hall Information

• Ota City Hall

〒 373-8718

2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-47-1111

• Nitta Synthesis Branch Office (the old Nitta Town Hall)

〒 370-0392

29, Nittakanai-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-57-1111

• Ojima Synthesis Branch Office (the old Ojima Town Hall)

〒 370-0495

520, Kasukawa-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-52-1511

• Yabuzuka Synthesis Branch Office (the old Yabuzukahon Town Hall)

〒 379-2393

661-1, Obara-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0277-78-2111

External links

• Ōta official website in Japanese
• Ota International Association Website in English
• Video tour of Donryusama Temple