Katashina, Gunma

Katashina (片品村, Katashina-mura) is a village located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2015, the village had an estimated population of 4,458, and a population density of 11.4 persons per km². Its total area is 391.76 km². Much of the village is within the borders of Oze National Park.

Katashina 片品村
Village
Oze wetlands, Katashina
Flag Seal
Location of Katashina in Gunma Prefecture
Katashina
Coordinates: 36°46′21″N 139°13′30.8″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
District	Tone
Area
• Total	391.76 km^2 (151.26 sq mi)
Population  (February 2015)
• Total	4,458
• Density	11.4/km^2 (30/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols
• Tree	Silver birch
• Flower	Asian skunk-cabbage
• Bird	Copper pheasant
Phone number	0278-58-2111
Address	3967-3 Ōaza Kamata, Katashina-mura, Tone-gun, Gunma-ken 378-0498
Website	http://www.vill.katashina.gunma.jp/

Geography

Located in northern Gunma, Katashina is bordered by Tochigi Prefecture to the east and Fukushima Prefecture to the northeast. The village is very mountainous, with the highest elevation being 2578m and the lowest 640m. The temperature can reach up to 36°C in the summer, but in the winter, it can drop to -18°C. The average temperature is 11°C, the yearly precipitation is 1042 mm, and amount of snowfall is 95 cm, with the snowy period lasting for 120 days.[1]

• Mountains: Mount Nikkō-Shirane (2578m), Mount Shibutsu (2228m), Mount Hotaka(2158m)
• Rivers: Katashina River, Ōtaki River
• Lakes: Marunuma (Maru Swamp), Suganuma

Surrounding municipalities

• Gunma Prefecture
  • Numata
  • Minakami
  • Kawaba
• Tochigi Prefecture
  • Nikko
• Fukushima Prefecture
  • Hinoemata
• Niigata Prefecture
  • Uonuma

History

The area of present-day Kawabe was part of the tenryō holdings within Kōzuke Province administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. On April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration, Katashina village was established within Tone District, Gunma.

Economy

The economy of Katashina is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism to ski resorts and to onsen hot springs.

Education

Katashina has four elementary schools (Minami-sho, Kata-sho, Kita-sho, Hotaka-sho) and one middle school.

Transportation

Katashina is not served by any railway lines.

Highways

• Japan National Route 120
• Japan National Route 401

Local attractions

• Katashina Hot Springs
• Hanasaku Hot Springs
• Oze Tokura Hot Springs
• Marunuma Hot Springs
• Shirane Hot Springs
• Ozegahara - Oze National Park
• Marunuma Dam
• Sonohara Dam
• Konsei Mountain Pass
• Chigira Farm
• Marunuma Plateau Ski Resort
• Katashina Plateau Ski Resort
• Oze Iwakura Ski Area
• Oze Tokura Ski Area
• Hotaka Bokujo Ski Area
• Oguna Hotaka Ski Area
• Ca et la Ski Resort Oze

References

1. 片品村の沿革・位置・地勢・気象

External links

Media related to Katashina, Gunma at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website (in Japanese)