Numata, Gunma Prefecture, Kantō Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Numata (沼田市, Numata-shi) is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 July 2020, the city had an estimated population density of 110 persons per km². The total area of the city is 443.46 square km (171.22 sq mi), making it the largest city in terms of area within Gunma Prefecture. (The neighboring town of Minakami is the largest municipality in terms of area within Gunma.)

Geography Numata is located in northern Gunma Prefecture. The Tone River flows through the western part of the city and the tributary, the Katashina River, flows through the southern end, forming a large river terrace. The downtown area is located at the top of the terrace, along the Tone River. • Mountains: Kesamaruyama (1961m), Mount Akagi (1828m) • Rivers: Tone River, Katashina River.

Surrounding municipalities Gunma Prefecture • Kiryū • Shibukawa • Maebashi • Midori • Minakami • Katashina • Kawaba • Shōwa • Takayama; Tochigi Prefecture • Nikkō.

History Numata developed during the Sengoku period as a castle town surrounding Numata Castle, a stronghold in Kōzuke Province contested by the Uesugi, Takeda, Later Hōjō and Sanada clans. During the Edo period, the area of present-day Numata was the centre of the Numata Domain, a 35,000 koku feudal domain held by then Toki clan under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Numata Town was created within Tone District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. On March 1, 1954, Numata merged with neighboring Tonami, Ikeda, Usune and Kawada villages, and was raised to city status. On February 13, 2005 the villages of Shirasawa and Tone were incorporated into Numata.

Government Numata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 20 members. Numata contributes one member to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Gunma 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy Numata is a regional commercial centre and transportation hub, but was traditionally known for lumber production.

Education Numata has 12 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 a special education school for the handicapped.

Education: Elementary • Numata Elementary School • Numata Higashi Elementary School • Numata Kita Elementary School • Masugata Elementary School • Tonami Higashi Elementary School • Ikeda Elementary School • Usune Elementary School • Kawada Elementary School • Shirasawa Elementary School • Tone Azuma Elementary School • Hiragawa Elementary School • Tone Nishi Elementary School • Tana Elementary School;

Education: Middle • Numata Middle School • Numata Minami Middle School • Numata Nishi Middle School • Numata Higashi Middle School • Ikeda Middle School • Usune Middle School • Shirasawa Middle School • Tone Middle School • Tana Middle School;

Education: High • Numata High School • Numata Girls' High School • Tone Jitsu High School • Oze High School.

Transport: Rail • JR East – Jōetsu Line • Numata - Iwamoto

Transport: Road • Kan-etsu Expressway – Numata IC • National Route 17 • National Route 120 • National Route 145 • National Route 291

Local attractions • Site of Numata Castle • Fukiware Falls, National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument; One of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls • Oigami Onsen • Tambara Ski Park • Tamahara Dam.