Yuzawa, Niigata
Template:For Template:Expand Japanese Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Template:Nihongo is a town located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Template:As of, the town had an estimated population of 7,926, and a population density of 22.2 persons per km2. The total area of the town was Template:Convert. The town is famous for its hot springs.
Geography
Yuzawa is located in southwestern Niigata Prefecture, in a mountainous area bordering northern Nagano Prefecture and northern Gunma Prefecture. Due to its geographical location between the Sea of Japan and the surrounding Japanese Alps it has one of the highest annual snowfalls in Japan. There are numerous ski resorts within the region. Mount Naeba (2143 meters) is partly located within the town limits. Much of the town is within the borders of either the Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park or the Uonuma Renpo Prefectural Park.
Surrounding municipalities
Climate
Yuzawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Yuzawa is Template:Cvt. The average annual rainfall is Template:Cvt with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around Template:Cvt, and lowest in January, at around Template:Cvt.<ref name ="normals"/>
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,<ref>Yuzawa population statistics</ref> the population of Yuzawa has declined over the past 30 years. Template:Historical populations
History
The area of present-day Yuzawa was part of ancient Echigo Province. The villages of Yuzawa, Template:Nihongo, Template:Nihongo, Template:Nihongo, Template:Nihongo, and Template:Nihongo were created on 1 April 1889 as part of the modern municipalities system. On 1 November 1901, Futai and Asakai merged to become the village of Template:Nihongo. Yuzawa, Mikuni, Kandatsu, Tsuchidaru, and Mitsumata merged on 1 April 1955 to become the town of Yuzawa.
Education
Yuzawa has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the town government. The town no longer has a high school.
Transportation
Railway
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Hokuhoku Express - Hokuhoku Line
- Echigo-Yuzawa
Highway
Local attractions
Ski resorts
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There are many ski resorts in Yuzawa and the surrounding area of Minamiuonuma and Minakami. The town is served by the Echigo-Yuzawa and Gala-Yuzawa stations on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line, making it one of the most accessible winter sports areas from Tokyo, and the town's economy is mainly based on skiing and snowboarding. There are 10 ski resorts in Yuzawa, and the most frequent users for the 2023-2024 season were Naeba Ski Resort, GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort, Iwappara Ski Resort, and Kagura Ski Resort, in that order.<ref name="yuzawaski">Template:Cite web</ref>
Once a year, the Fuji Rock Festival, Japan's largest outdoor music event, is held at Naeba Ski Resort.
| Ski resorts | Number of visitors |
|---|---|
| Naeba | 309,400 |
| Gala Yuzawa | 259,250 |
| Iwappara | 255,000 |
| Kagura | 244,170 |
| Kandatsu | 219,510 |
| Yuzawa Nakazato | 164,150 |
| NASPA | 107,580 |
| Yuzawa Kogen | 73,910 |
| Nakazato Snow Wood | 64,390 |
| Yuzawa Park | 25,780 |
Onsen and onsen ryokan
Yuzawa has at least 27 onsen (hot springs ) and onsen ryokan (traditional inns with onsen).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The most famous of these is Kaikake Onsen (ja), which first appeared in documents in the 1400s. During the Sengoku Period, Uesugi Kenshin had his troops bathe in the onsen to heal their wounds. During the Edo period, it was popular as a hot spring that cured eye diseases.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Akayu Onsen is a hidden onsen located along a mountain stream southeast of Mount Naeba and is reached by a 2.5-hour hike.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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Kaikake Onsen -
Akayu Onsen
Ponshu-kan
Niigata Prefecture is famous for its sake, and there is a sake-themed facility outside the ticket gates of Echigo-Yuzawa Station that has become a tourist attraction. At the facility, called "Ponshu-kan" (meaning "Sake House"), visitors receive 5 coins for every 500 yen they spend, which they can put into vending machines to sample nearly 130 brands of Niigata Prefecture sake. Sake can also be purchased and visitors can take a bath in a onsen filled with sake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cultural references
Yasunari Kawabata's classic novel Snow Country takes place in Yuzawa.<ref>Lindelauf, Perrin, "Finding the fabled Snow Country", Japan Times, 18 January 2009, p. 12.</ref>
See also
- Takahan RyokanTemplate:Spaced ndash an historic inn located in Yuzawa