Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Shibukawa (渋川市) is a city in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Shibukawa is the location of Ikaho Onsen, a popular hot spring resort.

Geography Shibukawa is in the northern extremity of the Kantō plains of central Gunma Prefecture, encompassing the juncture of the Tone River and Agatsuma River. It is about 120 km (75 miles) from Tokyo. To the west is Mount Haruna, and to the east is Mount Akagi. To the north are Mount Onoko and Mount Komochi. The Tone River flows from the north (between Mount Akagi and Mount Komochi) southward through the city, while the Agatsuma River flows from the west (between Mount Onoko and Mount Haruna), merging with the Tone River near the centre of the city.

Shibukawa is at a central point of the Japanese archipelago and is thus known as the Bellybutton of Japan (日本のおへそ, nihon no oheso).

Shibukawa's highest altitude is 1,565 m (5,135 ft) above sea level; its lowest point is 139 m (456 ft) above sea level. The majority of the city lies between 200 and 800 metres (656 and 2,625 feet) above sea level

Farmland covers 49.88 km² (19.26 sq mi) (20.8% of the city), housing covers 20.31 km² (7.84 sq mi) (8.4%), and mountains and forests cover 77.39 km² (29.88 sq mi) (32.2%). The remaining 92.84 km² (35.85 sq mi) (38.6%) has other land uses.

Surrounding municipalities • To the north: Numata, Shōwa, Takayama • To the east: Maebashi • To the south: Maebashi, Shintō, Yoshioka • To the west: Takasaki, Higashiagatsuma, Nakanojō.

History Shibukawa is located within traditional Kōzuke Province. During the Edo period, the area of present-day Shibukawa prospered from its location on the Mikuni Kaidō highway connecting Takasaki with Niigata. Post stations within the borders of modern Shibukawa were Shibukawa-shuku, Kanai-shuku, Kitamoku-shuku and Yokobori-shuku.

Shibukawa town was created in Nishigunma District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. In 1896, Nishiguma District and Kataoka District merged to form Gunma District, Gunma; however, the area containing Shibukawa was separated out in October 1949 into Kitagunma District. On April 1, 1954, Shibukawa absorbed the villages of Furumaki, Kanashima and Toyoaki to become the city of Shibukawa.

On February 20, 2006, Shibukawa absorbed the town of Ikaho, the villages of Komochi and Onogami (all from Kitagunma District), and the villages of Akagi and Kitatachibana (both from Seta District).

Government Shibukawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Shibukawa contributes two members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Gunma 1st district and the Gunma 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Shibukawa is a regional commercial centre and transportation hub. Seasonal tourism, particularly to its hot spring and ski resorts, play a major role in the local economy.

The area is noted for its production of konjac.

Education Shibukawa has 14 public elementary schools and nine public middle schools operated by the city government, and four public high schools operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped.

High schools • Shibukawa High School • Shibukawa Girls' High School • Shibukawa Kougyou High School • Shibukawa Seisui High School; Middle schools • Akagi North Middle School • Akagi South Middle School • Furumaki Middle School • Hokkitsu Middle School • Ikaho Middle School • Kanashima Middle School • Komochi Middle School • Shibukawa Middle School • Shibukawa North Middle School; Elementary schools • Ikaho Elementary School • Furumaki Elementary School • Kanashima Elementary School • Miharada Elementary School • Nagaou Elementary School • Nakagou Elementary School • Onogami Elementary School • Shibukawa North Elementary School • Shibukawa South Elementary School • Shibukawa West Elementary School • Tachibana North Elementary School • Tachibana South Elementary School • Toyoaki Elementary School • Tsukuda Elementary School.

Transport: Rail JR East – Jōetsu Line • Yagihara - Shibukawa - Shikishima - Tsukuda

JR East – Agatsuma Line • Shibukawa - Kanashima - Ubashima - Onogami – Onogami-Onsen

Ikaho Ropeway • Hototogisu Station and Miharashi Station

Transport: Road • Kan-etsu Expressway – Shibukawa-Ikaho IC, Akagi IC • National Route 17 • National Route 353

Local attractions • Ikaho Onsen • Takehisa Yumeji Memorial Museum • Tokutomi Roka Memorial Museum • Mizusawa-dera, 16th stop on the Bandō Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage • Shibukawa Skyland Park - an amusement park • Ikaho Green Bokujou - a farm designed to show its visitors about farming • Ikaho Sistina Museum- an op art museum which also has a Sistine Chapel replica • Japan Chanson Museum - a museum dedicated to the chanson style of music • Shibukawa Sōgō Park - a large park encompassing hiking trails, campsites, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a running track, and other recreational facilities • Onoike Ajisai Park- a hydrangea park with a pond and hiking trails • Shibukawa Sky Terume - a hot spring in a building which looks something like a spaceship

Festivals Shibukawa calls itself "The Bellybutton of Japan" (日本のおへそ) and hosts the Bellybutton Festival (へそ祭り) every year in late July. The festival is based on a traditional Japanese form of entertainment where revelers paint a face on their torsos and stomachs and pretend it is a head. A kimono is then wrapped around the waist and the person's real head is hidden by a large cloth hat. The belly button is traditionally painted into a mouth. These days, modern motifs and Japanese anime designs have crept into the festival, which city officials said is all about having fun.