Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Kanuma (鹿沼市) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The total area of the town is 490.64 km² (189.44 sq mi).

Geography Kanuma is located in central Tochigi Prefecture. The cities is located in the northern part of the Kanto region. The western half of the city area is occupied by the Ashio Mountains, and the eastern half by a diluvial plateau called Kanuma Plateau. The city is bordered by the prefectural capital of Utsunomiya to the east.

Surrounding municipalities Tochigi Prefecture • Utsunomiya • Tochigi • Sano • Nikko • Mibu; Gunma Prefecture • Midori.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Kanuma peaked around the year 2000 and has declined since.

History Kanuma was the castle town for a 25,000 koku feudal domain in the early Edo period. Even after the domain was suppressed by the Tokugawa shogunate, the area continued to prosper from its location with a number of post stations on the Nikkō Reiheishi Kaidō. The town of Kanuma was created on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of then modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on October 10, 1948. On January 1, 2006, the town of Awano (from Kamitsuga District) was merged into Kanuma.

Government Kanuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 24 members. Kanuma contributes three members to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Tochigi 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy The economy of Kanuma is primarily agricultural. Hemp was once a major cash crop, but has been supplanted by soba and strawberries.

Education Kanuma has 24 primary schools and ten middle schools operated by the city government. The city has four public high schools operated by the Tochigi Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail JR East – Nikkō Line • Kanuma; Tobu Railway – Tobu Nikkō Line • Niregi - Momiyama - Shin-Kanuma - Kita-Kanuma - Itaga

Transport: Road • Tōhoku Expressway – Kanuma Interchange • National Route 121 • National Route 293 • National Route 352.