Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Kantō Region, JapanMaebashi (前橋市, Maebashi-shi) is the capital city of Gunma Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. The city has an estimated population density of 1100 persons per km². The total area of the city is 311.59 km² (120.31 sq mi). It was the most populous city within Gunma Prefecture until Takasaki merged with nearby towns between 2006 and 2009. Maebashi is known to be the "City of Water, Greenery and Poets" because of its pure waters, its rich nature and because it gave birth to several Japanese contemporary poets, such as Sakutarō Hagiwara.

History The town of Maebashi was established within Higashigunma District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. Maebashi was raised to city status on April 1, 1892. In 1901, it annexed a portion of Kamikawabuchi village from Seta District.

On August 5, 1945, approximately 64.2% of the urban core of the city was destroyed during World War II during air raids which followed the dropping of propaganda leaflets warning of the impending attacks.

In 1951, a portion of Kaigaya Village from Seta District was merged into Maebashi. The city expanded further on April 1, 1954, by annexing the villages of Kamikawabuchi, Shimokawabuchi, Azuma, Minamitachibana, Kaigaya, Haga, Motosōja, and Sōja from Seta District, followed by a portion of Jōnan village in 1957. On April 1, 1960, a portion of Tamamura Town and another portion of Jōnan village were merged into Maebashi, which finally annexed the remainder of Jōnan village in 1967.

Maebashi hosted the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships.

On April 1, 2001, Maebashi was designated a special city (tokureishi) with increased local autonomy.

On December 5, 2004, the town of Ōgo, as well as the villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi (all from Seta District), were merged into Maebashi. On May 5, 2009, the village of Fujimi (Seta District) was merged into Maebashi. Seta District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Maebashi became a core city (Chūkakushi) on April 1, 2009.

Geography Maebashi is located at the foot of Mount Akagi in the north-east corner of the Kantō Plain. It is also surrounded by Mount Haruna and Mount Myōgi. Two rivers run through the city: the Tone River, Japan's second-longest, and the Hirose River. Although it is located inland more than 100 km away from the coast, the elevation of the southern part of the city is only around 100 meters. The highest elevation is 1823 meters above sea level on the south side of Mt. Kurohino, a peak of Mount Akagi. Maebashi is the farthest from the sea (about 120 km) of all Japanese prefectural capitals. The surrounding cities comprise an urban zone of over 1 million people, separated by farmland to the south from the built up areas of Greater Tokyo.

Surrounding municipalities Gunma Prefecture • Isesaki • Kiryū • Numata • Shibukawa • Takasaki • Shintō • Tamamura • Yoshioka.

Economy As of 2010, Greater Maebashi, Maebashi Metropolitan Employment Area, has a GDP of US$59.8 billion. The air conditioning system and compressor manufacturing company Sanden Corporation as well as the tofu and tofu products company Sagamiya Foods have manufacturing sites in the city. The Gunma Bank is headquartered in Maebashi.

Universities • Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences • Gunma University • Gunma University of Health and Welfare • Maebashi Institute of Technology • Maebashi Kyoai Gakuen College.

Transport: Rail JR East – Jōetsu Line • Shin-Maebashi - Gumma-Sōja

JR East – Ryōmō Line • Komagata - Maebashi-Ōshima - Maebashi - Shin-Maebashi • Jōmō Electric Railway Company – Jōmō Line ◦ Chūō-Maebashi - Jōtō - Mitsumata - Katakai - Kamiizumi - Akasaka - Shinzō-Kekkan Center - Egi - Ōgo - Higoshi - Kitahara - Araya - Kasukawa - Zen

Transport: Road • Kan-etsu Expressway – Maebashi Interchange • Kita-Kantō Expressway – Maebashi-Minami Interchange • National Route 17 • National Route 50 • National Route 291 • National Route 353.

Sport Thespakusatsu Gunma at Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma was originally formed in Kusatsu, but plays in Maebashi due to J.League stadium requirements.

Local attractions • Gunma Prefectural Government Building • Kōzuke Kokubun-ji ruins, a National Historic Site • Maebashi Castle • Maebashi Tōshō-gū • Shikishima Park.

Festivals • Ogo Gion Festival.