Tamamura
Geography. Tamamura is located in southern Gunma prefecture in the northern extremity of the Kantō plains, bordering Saitama Prefecture to the south. The Tama River flows through the town. Surrounding municipalities. Gunma Prefecture Saitama Prefecture Climate. Kanra has a Humid continental climate (Köppen "Cfa") characterized by hot summers and cold winters. The average annual temperature in Kanra is 14.5 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1250 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.4 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese  census data, the population of Tamamura has doubled over the past 40 years. History. Tamamura developed during the Edo period as a post town on the Nikkō Reiheishi Kaidō, a subroute to Nikkō Kaidō which connects the Nakasendō with Nikkō, bypassing Edo. Tamamura town was created within Nawa District, Gunma Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. Nawa District and Sai District merged to form Sawa District in 1896. On April 10, 1955 Tamamura annexed the neighboring village of Shibane, followed by Jōyō on August 1, 1957. Government. Tamamura has  a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 13 members. Tamamura contributes one member to the Gunma Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Gunma 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. Many people were employed in sericulture in the past. Education. Kanra has five public elementary schools and two public middle schools operated by the town government and one public high school operated by the Gunma Prefectural Board of Education. The town also has one private elementary school. Transportation. Railway . Tamamura does not have any passenger railway service. The nearest station is Shinmachi Station in the neighboring city of Takasaki.