Kanna Town, Gunma群馬県神流町

Living in Kanna Town, Gunma

Shiramizu Falls

We have Summarized the livability of Kanna Town, Gunma.

What kind of place is Kanna Town, Gunma?

Kanna Town Dinosaur Center

Kanna Town is recommended for those who want to live in the mountains surrounded by nature.

Located in the southwestern part of Gunma Prefecture and belonging to Tano District, ‘Kanna Town’.
It is a region on the border between Gunma Prefecture and Saitama Prefecture, surrounded by Shimonita Town and Nanmoku Village on the northeast side, Ueno Village on the west side, Fujioka City from the north to the west, and Ogano Town in Saitama Prefecture to the south. The population is about 1,650 people, and the number of households is 915 (as of October 2022).
In 1889, with the enforcement of the municipal system, Kamikawa Village and Sato Village were established in Minamikanna District. In 1896, Minamikanna District, Midorino District, and Tago District merged, resulting in the formation of Tano District. As a result, the villages of Kamikawa and Nakazato were established in Tano District.
In the 1900s, with the 1926 town system reform, Kamikawa Village was renamed to Manba Town, and in 2003, the merger of Manba Town and Nakazato Village resulted in the birth of Kanna Town.

The population of Kanna Town, Gunma Prefecture, has been in a declining trend since its peak in 1950.
In 2009, the elderly population ratio exceeded 52%, making it the second most aged community in the prefecture after Nanmoku Village.
As of 2005, the elderly population ratio was the 8th highest in the country, and the ratio of children was about 6%, which was the third lowest in the country.
From these figures, it is clear that the town has a small number of children and a large elderly population.

The town’s main industry is agriculture, with many farmers cultivating primarily vegetables. However, about 90% of the area is covered by forest, so forestry is also prevalent. One of the town’s specialties is bamboo crafts, and it is also known for local sake, mushrooms, konnyaku, and nameko mushrooms.
The tourist attraction ‘Kanna Town Dinosaur Center‘ is a popular natural history museum. It features dinosaur skeleton exhibits and offers fossil excavation experiences, attracting many visitors.

PR video of Kanna Town, Gunma

Kanna no Ryo PV

KANNA Winter illumination

How is the traffic situation in Kanna Town?

National Route 462

Kanna Town is a town where a private car is essential as there are no trains.

Kanna Town does not have any train services, and there are no train stations. However, there are local buses running from JR Shinmachi Station on the Takasaki Line and JR Gunma-Fujioka Station on the Hachiko Line.
Additionally, the Okutano Line of Nippon Chuo Bus connects Shinmachi Station, Gunma-Fujioka Station, Onishi Post Office, Kanna Town Hall, Manba, Ueno Village Fureai-kan, and Shioji no Yu.

The main roads for cars are National Route 299 and National Route 462, as well as Prefectural Route 46 Tomioka-Kanna Line and Prefectural Route 71 Takasaki-Kanna-Chichibu Line, which provide access within and outside the town and the prefecture. Due to the mountainous area, caution is required during heavy snowfalls in winter.

  • There is a well-developed bus system that provides access not only within the town but also to neighboring cities, making it very convenient for people without a car.

  • There is no train station, so if you want to take the train you will need to travel to a station in a nearby area.

  • How are the rent and land prices in Kanna Town?

    There are almost no rental or pre-built houses, and detached houses must be built in Kanna Town.

    There are very few rental properties, such as apartments or condominiums, in Kanna Town. It is difficult to find them on real estate websites, so it is necessary to regularly check the Kanna Town vacant house bank (Akiya Bank) in the hope that rental properties will be listed there.

    As of October 2022, the average land price in Kanna Town is around 26,000 yen per tsubo (approximately 3.3 square meters).
    This price is mainly for the Manba district of Kanna Town, and the prices drop further in the more mountainous areas.

  • 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 there are few properties, your options are limited. Since this is a car-oriented area, it is safer to have a parking space or garage for two or more cars.

    How is childcare and education in Kanna Town?

    Kannagawa Park

    Kanna Town is a town rich in nature and offers generous support for raising children.

    Kanna Town has one nursery school and no kindergartens. There is one elementary school, one junior high school, and one high school.
    Surrounded by rich nature with mountains and rivers nearby, it offers a favorable environment for raising children, including the ‘Kanna Town Dinosaur Center‘ museum.

    Although Kanna Town in Gunma Prefecture is a depopulated community with an aging population and low birthrate, there are initiatives to support those raising children.
    The town considers it important to increase the number of people settling down, and provides a wedding celebration grant of 100,000 yen per couple for those who choose to live in Kanna Town after marriage through the ‘Wedding Celebration Fund‘.
    Furthermore, as part of the ‘Childcare Support Fund‘, the town provides grants of 100,000 yen for the first child, 200,000 yen for the second child, 300,000 yen for the third child, and 500,000 yen for the fourth and subsequent children, from birth until they graduate from junior high school.
    There are also subsidies for the purchase of child seats, a “Sukoyaka” playroom for childcare, ongoing projects such as expanding parks, and offering free access to the community pool.

    Kanna Town’s ‘Children’s Medical Expense Subsidy‘ covers outpatient and inpatient medical costs for children up to the age of 18 (until March 31 after their 18th birthday).
    Through the ‘Single-Parent Family Medical Expense Subsidy Program,’ a portion of medical expenses based on insurance coverage is also provided for families raising children up to the age of 18 (until March 31 after their 18th birthday) in single-parent households.

  • The surroundings are rich in nature and mountain scenery, making it a safe and relaxed place to raise children.

  • There is no train station, so children will need to be picked up and dropped off by car if they are going out alone.

    How about shopping in Kanna Town?

    Jikkoku Highway

    Kanna Town: A town where you can get locally grown seasonal foods

    As Kanna Town in Gunma Prefecture is a sparsely populated depopulated community, the number of shops is not particularly large. However, there are several individual stores, so there are adequate places to purchase groceries and other necessities.
    There are also bakeries, confectioneries, and cafes scattered around, which can be enjoyable on weekends and holidays.
    However, since these shops are located along National Route 462, having a car is essential for shopping in Kanna Town.

    Kanna Town has the ‘Michi-no-Eki Manyo no Sato‘, where you can purchase locally harvested wild vegetables and other produce, as well as enjoy meals at its restaurant. In addition to souvenirs, the station also sells seasonal foods, making it popular among local residents.

  • Although it is a small town, it is dotted with locally-owned, privately owned shops.

  • There are no large shopping malls, so if you want to enjoy shopping for fashion or miscellaneous goods, you will need to go to a nearby area.

  • How about jobs and recruitment in Kanna Town?

    Kanna Town: A town with a thriving forestry industry

    Kanna Town has few job openings for customer service positions in stores or factory work, so it is a difficult place to find work.
    A notable feature of the town is that it is home to a thriving forestry industry that makes use of the mountainous areas, making it an ideal area for those interested in forestry.

    Kanna Town, Gunma’s unique subsidy/subsidy system

    Kanna Town, Gunma’s unique relocation assistance and relocation subsidy system

    Wedding gift money/Kanna Town commuting and school expenses subsidy program/I/U-turn settlement support

    Kanna Town, Gunma’s unique housing assistance and subsidy system

    Kanna Town Vacant House Bank Housing loan interest subsidy to promote permanent residence I/U-turn rental subsidy

    Kanna Town, Gunma’s unique childcare support system

    Provision of childcare support grants

    Kanna Town, Gunma’s unique system for further education and tuition assistance/subsidies

    Scholarship loans
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