Minamiuonuma

Minami-Uonuma-shi (南魚沼市, South Uonuma City) is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

As of August 31, 2006, the city has an estimated population of 62,733 and a population density of 107.27 persons per km². The total area is 584.82 km².

Surrounding by Uonuma basin, “Muikamachi basin”. There is the changes of the seasons deeply. One of the heaviest snow falls in winter in Japan.

Especially Minami-Uonuma is famous for not only among the greatest Koshihikari rice‐growing districts in Niigata, Japan but the best Japanese rice, “Minamiuonuma Koshihikari”.

History

The modern city of Minami-Uonuma was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns Muikamachi and Yamato (both from Minamiuonuma District).
On October 1, 2005, the town of Shiozawa (from Minamiuonuma District) was also merged into Minami-Uonuma.

Geography

Minami-Uonuma City is situated in a valley in a mountainous region of Niigata Prefecture known as “Snow Country” because of the heavy snowfall in winter. The city is bounded by Uonuma and the Echigo-Sanzan mountains in the north, and Yuzawa, a popular ski resort town, in the south. The Uono river flows through most of the city. The city and its surrounding areas are dotted with many onsen (Japanese hot springs) and 8 ski resorts, making it a popular destination in winter. There are also a large number of paddy fields, and popular seasonal fruit like watermelon, as this is a major rice-growing region in Japan.

Transportation

Shinkansen

The Joetsu Shinkansen has a stop at Urasa Station in Minami-Uonuma. From here, the shinkansen takes 40 minutes to reach Niigata city, the prefectural capital (100 km away), and 90 minutes to reach Tokyo, 230 km away.