Uonuma, Niigata

Uonuma 魚沼市
City
Uonuma City Hall
Flag Seal
Location of Uonuma in Niigata
Uonuma
Coordinates: 37°13′48.4″N 138°57′41.3″E / 37.230111°N 138.961472°ECoordinates: 37°13′48.4″N 138°57′41.3″E / 37.230111°N 138.961472°E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) (Hokuriku)
Prefecture	NIigata
Area
• Total	946.76 km^2 (365.55 sq mi)
Population (June 2016)
• Total	36,842
• Density	38.4/km^2 (99/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
• Tree	Magnolia kobus
• Flower	Erythronium japonicum
• Bird	Japanese bush-warbler
• Fish	Ayu
Phone number	025-792-1000
Address	130-1 Kodejima, Uonuma-shi, Niigata-ken 946-8601
Website	www.city.uonuma.niigata.jp

Lake Okutadami in Uonuma

Uonuma (魚沼市 Uonuma-shi) is a city located in south-central Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. As of 1 June 2016, the city had an estimated population of 36,842 and a population density of 38.9 persons per km². Its total area was 946.76 square kilometres (365.55 sq mi). The city is famous firebrand-name 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 area 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

• Niigata Prefecture
  • Sanjō
  • Nagaoka
  • Ojiya
  • Tōkamachi
  • Minamiuonuma
• Gunma Prefecture
  • Minakami
  • Katashina
• Fukushima Prefecture
  • Tadami
  • Hinoemata

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. 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).

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. There are two public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education, and also two special education schools.

Transportation

Railway

• JR East – Jōetsu Line
  • Koide - Echigo-Horinouchi - Kita-Horinouchi
• JR East – Tadami Line
  • Ōshirakawa - Kakinoki - Irihirose - Kamijō - Echigo-Suhara - Uonuma-Tanaka - Echigo-Hirose - Yabukami - Koide

Highway

• Kan-Etsu Expressway
• Japan National Route 17
• Japan National Route 252
• Japan National Route 289
• Japan National Route 290
• Japan National Route 291
• Japan National Route 352

Sights, historical sites, tourist spots (including facilities), festivals, events, etc.

Places of interest / sights

• 

  Uonogawa, the river flowing through Uonuma
  Okutadami Dam/ Okutadami lake (Official name: Kanayama lake)
• Ginzanhira (Ueda Ginzan/ Shiramine Ginzan)
• 

  Okutadami Lake, an artificial lake where many fishermen come to catch the delicious species living here
  Eirin temple. Eirin and saifuku temple hold beautiful sculptures from the Japanese Michelangelo, Uncho Ishikawa, dating from the end of the Edo Era. Both temples have been designated cultural assets by Niigata prefecture
• Saifuku temple
• 

  Irihirose, roadside station.
  Former House of Meguro family · Sato family (Important cultural assets of the country)
• Ikeno Tōge - Ikeno Tōge and Kagamigaike are so close that there is a road station on the shores of Kagamigaike Pond.
• Kagamigaike - Neighboring Irihirose road station.
• 

  A view from the forest in Oze natural park, Uonuma
  Oze - It is one of the entrances of Niigata prefecture.
• Miya Hīragi Memorial Hall - Uonuma City Hall Adjacent to Horinouchi Government Office
• Hibikino no Mori Park - adjoining Koide Township Cultural Center
• Echigo Golf Club - Opened in September 1992 according to the third sector system by local governments (Niigata prefecture and former Hiroshima village) and 11 private companies based on the Okutadami Recreation Area Development Project in Niigata Prefecture. It applied for the civil rehabilitation law on January 13, 2006 and has effectively broken down, but it started again.
• Stars' house - Astronomical observation facility located at the summit of Suhara ski resort. There is a celestial observation dome equipped with a 400 mm reflective telescope.
• Nakayama Tunnel
• Shimizu Kawabe Shrine
• Hayatsu Gallery
• Echigo Herbal Garden Irihirose
• General Park Koide Park
• General Park Tsukioka Park
• Hirokami Nature Park
• Horinouchi Yana field
• Hirokami yana place
• Asakusa Yamaoka Ecology Museum
• Noyama no Kō House of documents
• Yunotani Onsen village
• Ginzantaira Onsen, Hot Springs from the snowfalls
• Toshikazu Onsen, New Asakusadake Onsen
• Kusushi Onsen
• Nakanosawa Onsen - Hanekawa manor
• Sumon Onsen Seiun house
• Yunotani cultural exchange center Yubio
• The village of Kamiyu and the surroundings
• Komami viewing spot
• National Residence Asakusa Sanso
• Small Shirosawa Hut · Oku Ginzan Campground

Etc

Ski resort

• Koide ski resort
• Yunotani Pharmaceutical Ski Resort
• Ōyu hot spring ski resort
• Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort
• Suhara ski area
• Municipal Ohara (Former inspection International Ohara) ski resort

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.

Festival / event

• Dai no Ban Bon Odori Osaka (Horinouchi area designated as an important intangible folk cultural property on December 16, 1998)
• Shineri Benten Tataki Jizo Festival (Kojima district June 30 every year), where as a guy you can pinch the women in a special place. If they reply by a tap on your shoulder, you will have good fortune this year!
• Ushi no kakutsuki no Shuuzoku: (However designated important intangible folk cultural property by Dai Imogawa area On 22 May 1978, it is nowadays suspended because it involved bull fights)
• Uonuma "Fureai Summer Snow Festival" (Ginzandaira District, every Last Friday and Sunday of July)
• Koide festival (Koide area every August from 25th to 27th)
• Horinouchi Juugoya Matsuri, where the full moon is celebrated (Horinouchi area, every second weekend of September: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. It was formerly held from September 14th to 16th)
• Uonuma city Koide international snowball brawl
• Snow Flower Water Festival (Horinouchi Area February 11th of every year)
  • At the same time, 'Hatto Festival' will be held.
• Sumeragi Ōichi (Horinouchi area, on every first Sunday of May to October)
• Oze Saburo Chuunagon Kuyō Matsuri
• Yunosato snow festival · hundred lights
• Torioi: Procession held at New Year's (January 14 every year)
• God of the age (January 15 every year)
• Shioritōge Hill Climb in Yunotani

Etc

Traditional crafts

Osawa Washi : Traditional Japanese paper (former Yunotani village)

Etc

Notable people from Uonuma

• Ken Watanabe, actor in many Japanese and American productions.

External links

• Media related to Uonuma, Niigata at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (Japanese)