Itakura, Gunma
Geography. Itakura is located in the northern Kantō Plains in the extreme southern corner of Gunma prefecture, bordered by Saitama Prefecture to the south and Tochigi Prefecture to the north. The Tone River flows through the town, and the Watarase River forms its northern border. Surrounding municipalities. Gunma Prefecture Saitama Prefecture Tochigi Prefecture Climate. Itakura has a Humid continental climate (Köppen "Cfa") characterized by hot summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Itakura is 14.3 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1303 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average  in August, at around 26.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.3 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Itakura has remained relatively steady over the past 60 years. History. The villages of Nishiyada, Ebise, Ōgano and Inara were created within Ōra District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. On February 1, 1955, the four villages merged to form the town of Itakura. Meiwa was raised to town status on October 1, 1998. Government. Itakura has a mayor-council form of government with  a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Itakura, together with the other municipalities in Ōra District contributes three members to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Gunma 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. Itakura is largely a bedroom community for Tokyo and nearly Tatebayashi. About 55% of the town's area is farmland, and Itakura's main agricultural products include rice and cucumbers, though many other crops are grown locally. Education. Itakura has two public elementary schools and one public middle  schools operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Gunma prefecture Board of Education. Toyo University has a branch campus in Itakura. Transportation. Railway. Tōbu Railway – Tōbu Nikkō Line