:Minamiuonuma

File:Hakkaisansnow.jpeg

Minamiuonuma is situated in a valley in a mountainous region of Niigata Prefecture, located on Honshu, Japan's largest and most centralised island. Dotted with ski lodges and other winter activity facilities, the city is in a region known as "Snow Country"; indeed, Minamiuonuma sits at an average elevation of around 617 m (2,024 ft) above sea level,{{cite web|url=https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/map-6gfktf/Minamiuonuma |title=Minamiuonuma topographic map, elevation, terrain |access-date=25 January 2025}} creating a wintry climate in the coldest months of the year. The city sits just between Mount Sakado to the southeast, which measures 634 m (2,080 ft) tall, and Masugata Yama, measuring some 747 m (2,450 ft) above sea level, to the northwest.{{cite web|url=https://en-gb.topographic-map.com/map-6gfktf/Minamiuonuma |title=Minamiuonuma topographic map, elevation, terrain |access-date=25 January 2025}} The highest peaks in the area reach well over 1600 m (5,249 ft), and some measure as high as 2000 m (approx. 6,700 ft).{{Cite web |title=Minamiuonuma County Mountains |url=https://peakvisor.com/adm/minamiuonuma-county.html }}

Parts of the city are within the borders of the Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park; to the north, the city is bounded by Uonuma and the Echigo Sanzan-Tadami Quasi-National Park (and its associated mountains), and to the south by Yuzawa, a popular ski resort town. The Uono River flows through most of the city. The city and its surrounding areas are dotted with many onsen (hot springs) and ski resorts, making it a popular destination in winter. There are also a large number of seasonal paddy fields, as this is part of the major koshihikari rice-growing region in Japan. Other popular seasonal produce is grown, as well, like watermelon.

• Gunma Prefecture
• Minakami
• Niigata Prefecture
• Tōkamachi
• Uonuma
• Yuzawa

Minamiuonuma has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa), characterised by warm, wet summers and cold winters, with heavy snowfall. The average annual rainfall is 1865 mm (73"), with September being the wettest month. The average annual temperature in the region is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F); temperatures are highest, on average, in August, at around 24.3 °C (75.7 °F), and lowest in January, at around -1.1 °C (30 °F).[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/niigata/minamiuonuma-5517/ Minamiuonuma climate data]

According to Japanese census data,[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-niigata.php Minamiuonuma population statistics] the population of Minamiuonuma peaked around 1950 and has since declined to about the same level as a century ago.

{{Historical populations

| 1920 | 51,366

| 1930 | 56,414

| 1940 | 59,970

| 1950 | 72,360

| 1960 | 68,650

| 1970 | 61,995

| 1980 | 62,830

| 1990 | 65,566

| 2000 | 65,492

| 2010 | 61,624

| 2020 | 54,851

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File:Amalgamation Minamiuonuma jp.svg

The area of present-day Minamiuonuma was part of the ancient Echigo Province. The village of Muikamachi was created with the establishment of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, and was elevated to "town" status on July 13, 1900. The city of Minamiuonuma was established on November 1, 2004, from the merger of Muikamachi with the neighbouring town of Yamato (both from Minamiuonuma District).{{Cite web |title=南魚沼市の概要 |url=https://www.city.minamiuonuma.niigata.jp/docs/5936.html |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=南魚沼市 |language=ja}} On October 1, 2005, the town of Shiozawa (from Minamiuonuma District) was also merged into Minamiuonuma.{{Cite web |title=南魚沼市の概要 |url=https://www.city.minamiuonuma.niigata.jp/docs/5936.html |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=南魚沼市 |language=ja}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jK33qQjYcQ4C |title=住民基本台帳人口移動報告年報 |date=2005 |publisher=総務庁統計局 |pages=139 |language=ja |trans-title=Annual Report on Population Movement in the Basic Resident Register |quote=Shiozawa-machi was incorporated into Minamiuonuma-shi as of October 1, 2005.}}

File:MinamiUonuma city hall.JPG

Minamiuonuma has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 22 members. Minamiuonuma, together with the town of Yuzawa, contributes two members to the Niigata Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Niigata 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

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The economy of Minamiuonuma is based primarily on agriculture and seasonal tourism.

Minamiuonuma has 17 public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the city government. There are four public high schools operated by the Niigata Prefectural Board of Education, and the prefecture also operate one special education school for the handicapped. The International University of Japan is based at Minamiuonuma.

• 22pxEast Japan Railway Company (JR East) - Jōetsu Shinkansen
• {{STN|Urasa|x}}
• 20px JR East - Jōetsu Line
• {{STN|Ishiuchi|x}} - {{STN|Ōsawa|x|Niigata}} - {{STN|Jōetsu International Skiing Ground|x}} - {{STN|Shiozawa|x}} - {{STN|Muikamachi|x}} - {{STN|Itsukamachi|x}} - {{STN|Urasa|x}} - {{STN|Yairo|x}}
• 50px Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line
• {{STN|Muikamachi|x}} - {{STN|Uonuma-Kyūryō|x}}

• 20px Kan-etsu Expressway – Shiozawa-Ishiuchi IC, Muikamachi IC
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{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

Minamiuonuma is twinned with:{{cite web |title=姉妹都市交流|url=http://www.city.minamiuonuma.niigata.jp/shisei/shiminkyoudou/kouryujigyou/1454742265601.html|publisher=Minamiuonuma|language=ja|access-date=2020-07-10}}

• {{flagicon|NZL}} Ashburton, New Zealand, since 1987
• {{flagicon|NOR}} Lillehammer, Norway, since 1992
• {{flagicon|AUT}} Sölden, Austria, since 1982

File:Siozawa-bokushidori.jpg

• Hakkaisan Ropeway, aerial lift that climbs Mount Hakkai
• Sakado Castle ruins, a National Historic Site
• Shiozawajuku, old shopping street
• Untoan Temple, Buddhist temple

{{wide image|Minamiuonuma_Urasa.jpg|600px|An aerial panorama of Urasa in Minami-Uonuma city with the Echigo-Sanzan mountains in the background}}

• Haruki Yoshida, footballer.{{cite web |title=帝京長岡の吉田が愛媛と仮契約「代表選ばれ世界に」 - Ｊ２ : 日刊スポーツ |url=https://www.nikkansports.com/soccer/news/201912070000671.html?mode=all |website=Nikkan Sports |access-date=11 March 2025 |language=ja |date=December 7, 2019}}

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• [http://www.city.minamiuonuma.niigata.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Niigata}}

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Category:Cities in Niigata Prefecture