Shimonita, Gunma


Shimonita is a town located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2015, the town had an estimated population of 7,855, and a population density of 41.7 persons per km2. Its total area is 188.38 km2. Shimonita is famous for its konjac and Welsh onion.

Geography

Shimonita is located in southwestern Gunma Prefecture bordering on Nagano Prefecture to the west. Part of the town is within the borders of the Myōgi-Arafune-Saku Kōgen Quasi-National Park. Approximately 84% of the town's total area is covered by forests.
During the Edo period, the area of present-day Shimonita was largely part of the tenryō territory held directly by Tokugawa shogunate within Kōzuke Province. The modern town of Shimonita was created within Kitakanra District of Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. In 1950 Kitakanra District was renamed Kanra District. Shimonita annexed the neighboring villages of Osaka, Saimoku, Aokura and Mayama on March 10, 1955.

Economy

The economy of Shimonita is heavily dependent on agriculture.

Education

Train