Katashina, Gunma


Katashina is a village located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2015, the village had an estimated population of 4,458, and a population density of 11.4 persons per km2. Its total area is 391.76 km2. Much of the village is within the borders of Oze National Park.

Geography

Located in northern Gunma, Katashina is bordered by Tochigi Prefecture to the east and Fukushima Prefecture to the northeast. The village is very mountainous, with the highest elevation being 2578m and the lowest 640m. The temperature can reach up to 36°C in the summer, but in the winter, it can drop to -18°C. The average temperature is 11°C, the yearly precipitation is 1042 mm, and amount of snowfall is 95 cm, with the snowy period lasting for 120 days.
The area of present-day Kawabe was part of the tenryō holdings within Kōzuke Province administered directly by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. On April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration, Katashina village was established within Tone District, Gunma.

Economy

The economy of Katashina is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism to ski resorts and to onsen hot springs.

Education

Katashina has four elementary schools and one middle school.

Transportation

Katashina is not served by any railway lines.

Highways