Meiwa Town, Gunma群馬県明和町
Living in Meiwa Town, Gunma
We have Summarized the livability of Meiwa Town, Gunma.
EASTERN AREA東部地域
CONTENTS
- What kind of place is Meiwa Town?
- Meiwa TownPR video
- How is the traffic situation in Meiwa Town?
- How are the rent and land prices in Meiwa Town?
- How is childcare and education in Meiwa Town?
- How about shopping in Meiwa Town?
- How about jobs and recruitment in Meiwa Town?
- Meiwa Town’s unique subsidy/subsidy system
What kind of place is Meiwa Town, Gunma?
Pear orchard
Meiwacho: A town filled with beautiful and nostalgic scenery
Located in the southeastern part of Gunma Prefecture and belonging to the Ōra District, Meiwa Town.
It is a town on the border between Gunma and Saitama Prefectures, surrounded by Tatebayashi City to the north, Chiyoda Town to the west, Itakura Town to the east, and Hanyū City in Saitama Prefecture across the Tone River to the south. The population is about 10,000 people, with around 4,000 households. (As of 2020)
Meiwa Town is shaped along the Tone River and is rich in water, greenery, and nature.
Within Gunma Prefecture, it is relatively close to Tokyo, making it a region within commuting distance.
In fact, there are people who commute to southern Saitama and Tokyo, and commuting by train can take less than an hour.
As there are no large mountains nearby, you can enjoy distant views, and beautiful scenery can be seen from the Tone River.
However, according to the hazard map in case the Tone River embankment breaks, it is predicted that Meiwa Town would be significantly affected, so the town is preparing measures in case of flooding.
Meiwa Town’s specialty is pears.
At the roadside station “Nashi no Eki,” which opened in 2021, many people from both inside and outside the prefecture visit to buy fresh pears.
PR video of Meiwa Town, Gunma
[Tatebayashi Oura Town Drama] “If a miracle happened – in this corner of Gunma” Episode 3: Meiwa Town “The miracle of Kawamata Station”
How is the traffic situation in Meiwa Town?
Kawamata Station
Meiwacho is close to Tokyo and Saitama and is convenient for commuting by train.
The train that runs through Meiwa Town is the Tobu Isesaki Line.
There is ‘Kawamata Station,’ which provides convenient access to destinations like Kuki in Saitama Prefecture, Tatebayashi, or Sano City.
Many people commute by train, and when accessing the Tokyo area, they can transfer at JR Kuki Station and take the JR Utsunomiya Line’s Shonan-Shinjuku Line or Ueno-Tokyo Line.
It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station.
There are mainly two types of buses that run in Meiwa Town: the regional public bus routes and the Meiwa Town-operated buses.
The regional public bus routes are community buses that connect to nearby cities and towns such as Tatebayashi, Chiyoda Town, and Itakura Town, operated by these municipalities.
The town-operated buses, which are available for anyone to ride for 100 yen, are convenient for traveling within the town.
Major roads include National Route 122, which can be taken towards Tokyo, providing access to the city in about 1.5 hours.
Although there is no interchange within the town, the Tohoku Expressway is nearby, and by heading to the neighboring Tatebayashi Interchange, one can use the highway to reach central Tokyo in about an hour.
This area has easy access to Tokyo and Saitama by train or car.
Since a car is necessary for daily life in this area, it is convenient for each household to have two or more cars.
How are the rent and land prices in Meiwa Town?
Meiwacho is a town with a wide variety of rental properties for both singles and families.
As of August 2022, the average rent for apartments and condominiums in Meiwa Town is 47,000 yen.
This area has a relatively good supply of rental properties, including nationwide chain studio apartments.
When looking at average rent by type, 1R to 1K apartments are around 40,000 yen, 1DK to 2DK are about 50,000 yen, and even larger apartments, such as 2LDK to 3DK, are around 50,000 yen. With a budget of 60,000 yen, you should be able to find a reasonably good property.
As of September 2022, the average land price in Meiwa Town is 82,000 yen per tsubo (3.3 square meters).
In the Shinri area, it is 99,000 yen per tsubo, in Nakaya it is 89,000 yen per tsubo, in Tajima it is 57,000 yen per tsubo, and in Ōwa it is 53,000 yen per tsubo, listed in descending order of price.
The average housing prices, including rent, are relatively low compared to areas in the central part of the prefecture, meaning that housing-related financial burdens in this area are minimal.
Since this is a car-oriented area, it is safer to have parking spaces or garages for two or more cars.
How is childcare and education in Meiwa Town?
Hometown Square
Meiwa-cho: A town with a good environment for raising children
Meiwa Town has one nursery school, one kindergarten, two elementary schools, one junior high school, and one high school.
There are several parks in the town, including one with active play equipment such as thrilling slides and rope climbing that children can enjoy.
Meiwa Town’s Welfare Medical Expense Subsidy covers outpatient visits for children up to the age of 18 (until March 31st after their 18th birthday) and inpatient care for children up to the age of 18 (until March 31st after their 18th birthday).
The Medical Expense Support System for Single-Parent Families provides financial assistance for part of the medical expenses based on insurance-covered treatments for children up to the age of 18 (until March 31st after their 18th birthday) being raised in single-parent families.
In addition, Meiwa Town offers the School Enrollment Preparation Grant for Single-Parent Families, which provides funds to help children in single-parent households prepare for kindergarten, school enrollment, or employment. The amounts are 10,000 yen for kindergarten or nursery school, 12,000 yen for elementary school, 15,000 yen for junior high school, and 20,000 yen upon graduation from junior high school.
The area is filled with rural scenery and nature, and there are many town-wide festivals and events, making it a safe and relaxed environment in which to raise children.
There is only one station, so if children go out alone, they will need to be picked up and dropped off by car.
How about shopping in Meiwa Town?
Meiwakenzo
Meiwacho: A town with a promising future, with the opening of Costco
While Meiwa Town does not have a shopping mall, there is a community-based supermarket called Meiwa Kenzo. It offers a full range of common food products, as well as clothing sales and dry cleaning services.
In addition, there are convenience stores and drugstores scattered throughout Meiwa Town, so residents should have no trouble accessing everyday necessities.
Although Meiwa Town previously required residents to go to nearby areas for shopping, the opening of a Costco has brought an influx of visitors from neighboring towns for shopping, greatly enlivening the area.
Meiwa Town has also established a Costco Membership Subsidy Program to assist residents with their shopping at Costco.
Although it is a small town, there are many shopping spots scattered around so you will have no trouble buying food and daily necessities. The opening of Costco has completely changed the atmosphere of the town.
If you want to enjoy shopping for fashion and miscellaneous goods, you will need to go to a nearby area.
How about jobs and recruitment in Meiwa Town?
Meiwa-cho is a town in an area of wide rural areas that is expected to attract businesses such as commercial facilities.
Meiwa Town is an area with widespread farmland and a strong agricultural presence.
However, with the Tone River flowing nearby, its proximity to Saitama Prefecture, and the presence of highways and national routes, there are industrial parks that attract manufacturing and transportation industries. As a result, job openings in these sectors are easy to find.
The opening of Costco has the potential to spur the development of many commercial facilities.
In the future, job openings in shopping malls and restaurants are expected to increase.
Meiwa Town, Gunma’s unique subsidy/subsidy system
Meiwa Town, Gunma’s unique relocation assistance and relocation subsidy system
| Meiwa Town Marriage and New Life Support Project Meiwa Town M-turn Incentive Grant |
Meiwa Town, Gunma’s unique housing assistance and subsidy system
Meiwa Town, Gunma’s unique childcare support system
| Meiwa Town Birth Celebration Money Meiwa Town Single Parent Family Entrance Preparation Grant Subsidy for purchasing infant and toddler support devices |
Meiwa Town, Gunma’s unique system for further education and tuition assistance/subsidies
| Scholarship Fund English Proficiency Test Subsidy Program |
