Ōta, Gunma

Ōta 太田
—  Special city  —
太田市 · Ōta
Flag
Location of Ōta in Gunma Prefecture
Ōta
Coordinates: 36°17′N 139°23′E / 36.283°N 139.383°E / 36.283; 139.383Coordinates: 36°17′N 139°23′E / 36.283°N 139.383°E / 36.283; 139.383
Country	Japan
Region	Kanto
Prefecture	Gunma Prefecture
Government
– Mayor	Masayoshi shimizu (since June 1995)
Area
– Total	175.66 km2 (67.8 sq mi)
Population (October 1, 2010)
– Total	219,789
– Density	1,251.22/km2 (3,240.6/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City symbols
- Tree	Osmanthus, Maple Leaf, Ginkgo
- Flower	Chrysanthemum, Sage, Spring orchid, Azalea
Phone number	0276-47-1111
Address	2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken 373-8718
Website	http://www.city.ota.gunma.jp/

Ōta (太田市, Ōta-shi^?) is a city 50 miles northwest of Tokyo, in eastern Gunma prefecture, Japan. This city is located between the Tone and Watarase rivers. As a result, the new city reached a total population of 219,789, making it the third most populous city in Gunma.

Ōta's leading industry is manufacturing, centered in the southeast part of the city. Ōta leads the prefecture in manufacturing revenue, which exceeds ¥1.3 trillion annually. It is the home of the car manufacturer Subaru, a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. However, the northern part of Ōta is characterized by its farms, most of which produce rice. Also, Ōta is a major transportation hub in the Tomo (Eastern Gunma) region and the home of the Sanyo Wild Knights rugby team.

Ōta is also known as having one of the largest selections of bars in Japan. Many of them are to the south of Ōta Station, in the downtown area. A large number of these bars are hostess bars with surprisingly conspicuous names such as "Pub Sexy" and "Club the Minge" (in English).

The city became a special city on April 1, 2007 (the neighboring city, Isesaki also became a special city on the same day).

History

The city's name was taken from Ōtajuku (太田宿^?). The original city of Ōta lasted from May 31, 1948 until March 27, 2005. The mayor of the new city of Ōta is Masayoshi Shimizu, the last mayor of the original city of Ōta. During the years before World War II, airplane production was the industrial mainstay of Ota. After the war, much of the skills and technology used in the production of aircraft was redirected into the production of automobiles.

Original City of Ōta

• On April 1, 1889, as the modern town and village system was introduced, town of Ōta and villages of Kuai, Sawano, Shimanogō, Gōdo and Hōsen were incorporated in Nitta District and villages of Niragawa and Morita were incorporated in Yamada District.
• On July 15, 1893, villages of Yabagawa and Kyūhaku became independent from Niragawa.
• On April 1, 1940, Ōta, Kuai, Sawano and Niragawa merged to form new town of Ōta.
• On November 1, 1943, Ōta absorbed Shimanogō.
• On May 3, 1948, Ōta gained city status (the current city of Hitachiota in Ibaraki Prefecture had the same name in the past, while Hitachiota was a town as Ōta.
• On April 1, 1957, the city absorbed the village of Kyodo from Nitta District and the village of Kyuhaku from Yamada District.
• On July 1, 1960, the city absorbed parts of the village of Yabakawa from Yamada District.
• On April 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Hosen from Nitta District.
• On December 1, 1963, the city absorbed the village of Kesatoda from Yamada District.
• In 1977, "Belltown," located in front of Ōta Station opens (Uni Ota store was also opened at the same time ※closed on January 2007)
• In 1995, Masayoshi Shimizu (current mayor) defeated Hisao Tozawa to become the mayor of Ōta until the former city of Ōta dissolves.
• In 1998, the new city hall building (the current city hall) completed.
• On October 10, 1998, FM Taro launched its airwaves from Ota Hall located next to the city hall.
• On December 5, 2003, the largest shopping center in the Kita-Kantō Region, "Aeon Ota Shopping Center" opened at Ishihara-cho, northwestern area of the city.
• On November 25, 2004, Ōta station was elevated to an over-cross station.
• On March 27, 2005, the old city of Ōta closes.

The new city of Ōta (March 28, 2005-present)

• On March 28, 2005, the old city of Ōta and the towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahon, all from Nitta District, were replaced, and the area became the new city of Ōta.
  • As of the merger, the total area is 176.49 km², and the population went over 200,000 with 217,000 people.
  • The former city of Ōta had a population of 152,000, with a total area of 97.96 km².
    The city hall is located at the former Ota City Hall and the former town halls of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahon became synthesis branch offices.
• On April 17, 2005, the mayor election was held upon this merger and the former mayor of the old city of Ōta, Masayoshi Shimizu, was elected as the first mayor of the new city of Ōta.
• On July 1, 2005, the city's seal was selected.

Scheduled

• In 2006, The new train station building of Ōta will be completed.
• On April 1, 2007, the city will became a special city. (Next door neighbor Isesaki will also become a special city on the same day)
• In September 2007, Ōta and Yabutsuka interchanges on the Kita-Kantō Expressway will open.

Mayor

the post-merger of the city of Ōta

• 1st: Masayoshi Shimizu(清水 聖義, April 18, 2005~)
  • interim mayor: Akira Yamazaki (山﨑 昭, the former mayor of the town of Nitta, March 28~April 17, 2005)

former city of Ōta

• preceding：Hisao Tosawa (戸澤 久夫, ~1995)
• last:Masayoshi Shimizu (currently the mayor of Ōta, 1995~March 27, 2005)

※Also, the city council has it own council from the old city of Ōta, and the old towns of Nitta, Ojima, and Yabuzukahonmachi, with a combined council members of 73.

Places of interest

• Daikoin Temple - Founded in 1618 by Ieyasu Tokugawa. Popular with nickname Kosodate Donryu (meaning kid-raising Saint Donryu). Located 2.4 km northwest of the downtown.
• Kanayama Castle - A Kamakura-era castle on the top of Mt. Kanayama (244 m). Located 3.2 km north of the downtown. Mt. Kanayama is the symbol of Ota City.
• Tenjin'yama Coffin - A large ancient burial mound (from around the 5th century). The Haniwa unearthed in Ota are the only Haniwa to be designated as national treasures, and are on display in the National Museum in Tokyo.
• Yabuzuka Onsen - Ōta's hot springs. Originally it was Yabuzukahoncho Town area annexed by Ōta. 9.7 km northwest of the downtown.
• Snake Center - Located in Yabuzuka Onsen area. Famous for collection of rare kinds of snakes.

Landmarks

• Daikoin Temple, Kanayama Castle, Tenjin'yama Kofun, Yabuzuka Onsen, Snake Center.

Festivals

• Ota Matsuri July 19 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm. July 20 1:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Transportation

Rail

Ōta Station is one of Tobu Railway's hub stations. The Isesaki Line, Kiryu Line, and Koizumi Line all meet here. Following are approximate times by train from Ōta:

• Takasaki, Gunma: 1 hr
• Maebashi, Gunma: 50 min
• Isesaki, Gunma: 30 min
• Kiryu, Gunma: 20 min
• Ashikaga, Tochigi: 10 min
• Tatebayashi, Gunma: 25 min
• Tokyo: 1 hr 10 min (by Express Ryomo)

Bus

• Intercity/Express bus: for Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Kanazawa, Toyama and Sendai
• Local buses: for Kumagaya, Saitama (¥500/40 minutes) and AEON Shopping Mall (¥170/10 minutes), which is the largest shopping facility in the city.

Roads

• Kita-Kantō Expressway
• National Route 17
• National Route 50
• National Route 122- connects to Tokyo, Saitama City, Tatebayashi, Kiryu, and Nikkō.
• National Route 354
• National Route 407- connects to Higashimatsuyama, Kumagaya, and Ashikaga.

Sister cities

• Burbank, California, United States
• Both Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
• Yingkou, China

City Hall Information

• Ota City Hall

〒 373-8718

2-35, Hama-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-47-1111

• Nitta Synthesis Branch Office (the old Nitta Town Hall)

〒 370-0392

29, Nittakanai-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-57-1111

• Ojima Synthesis Branch Office (the old Ojima Town Hall)

〒 370-0495

520, Kasukawa-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0276-52-1511

• Yabuzuka Synthesis Branch Office (the old Yabuzukahon Town Hall)

〒 379-2393

661-1, Obara-cho, Ōta-shi, Gumma-ken

Phone number: 0277-78-2111

References

External links

• Ōta official website in Japanese
• Ota International Association Website in English
• Ota travel guide from Wikitravel
• Video tour of Donryusama Temple