Ueno Village, Gunma群馬県上野村

Living in Ueno Village, Gunma

Mount Kasamaru

We have Summarized the livability of Ueno Village, Gunma.

What kind of place is Ueno Village, Gunma?

Ueno Sky Bridge

Uenomura: A town rich in nature and attracting many i-turn migrants

Gunma Prefecture’s Ueno Village is a small mountain village located at the southernmost tip of Gunma Prefecture.
It is bordered by Minami-Maki Village to the north, Kan’na Village to the east, Sakuho Town and Kita-Aiki Village in Nagano Prefecture to the west, and Minami-Aiki Village in Nagano Prefecture and Chichibu City in Saitama Prefecture to the south. This area is the southwesternmost point spanning three prefectures.
The village is surrounded by dense forests and is known for its rich greenery and abundant wildlife. It offers a serene, nature-filled environment.
The main industries are forestry and agriculture, but the village is also known for tourism. Many people who have moved from urban areas enjoy a peaceful life completely different from city life.
It is the smallest municipality in Gunma Prefecture, with a population of around 1,200, and about 20% of the residents are returnees (I-turns).

Ueno Village is characterized by its rich natural environment and mountain cuisine. Enjoying delicious local foods in this setting can be very refreshing.
Notable products include Jukko miso, wild boar, and shiitake mushrooms. You can taste foods like wild boar that are hard to find in the city.

PR video of Ueno Village, Gunma

This is “Uenomura” in Gunma

[Uenomura Woodworks] Aiming for a future together with the forest

How is the traffic situation in Ueno Village?

National Route 299 Uenomura Nippa

Uenomura, a town at the crossroads between Saitama, Gunma, and Nagano prefectures

There are no trains running in Ueno Village, so travel by car is the main mode of transportation.
If you need to use a train, the nearest stations are Shimoniita Station in Kanra District or Chichibu Station in Saitama Prefecture. It takes more than 30 minutes by car to Shimoniita Station and over 50 minutes to Chichibu Station, making train travel relatively impractical.

Ueno Village is served by the Japan Central Bus’s Okutano Line, which connects “Shioji no Yu” in Ueno Village to “Shinmachi” in Takasaki City. This route operates with small buses running seven times a day in each direction, taking about 2 hours from JR Takasaki Line’s Shinmachi Station to Shioji no Yu.
Additionally, there is a shared taxi service with three round trips a day connecting Ueno Village Fureai-kan and Shimoniita Town in Kanra District.

Main roads include National Route 299, which crosses Ueno Village from east to west. This important road provides access to Nagano Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, and Gunma Prefecture.
Also, Gunma Prefectural Roads 45 (Shimoniita-Ueno Line) and 124 (Ueno-Komi Line) run north and south through Ueno Village, providing access north to Minami-Maki Village in Gunma Prefecture and south to Kita-Aiki Village in Nagano Prefecture.

  • There are buses and shared taxis that can take you to Takasaki City and Tomioka City.

  • There are no trains in this area, so a car is essential. In winter, snow accumulates, so you will need to prepare for snowfall, such as with chains or studless tires.

  • How are the rent and land prices in Ueno Village?

    Katsuyama, Uenomura

    Uenomura: A town that offers generous support to U-turn and I-turn migrants

    In Ueno Village, due to its mountainous location, it is difficult to find typical rental properties such as apartments or condos. However, Ueno Village does offer village-managed housing for those seeking to relocate.
    These homes are available for U-turn and I-turn residents, with single-family homes starting at ¥12,000 per month and 2DK type apartments starting at ¥7,000 per month, making them very affordable. Note that prices may vary based on the tenant’s income, so for more details, check Ueno Village’s village-managed housing information.

    Finding a house to purchase in Ueno Village is also challenging using conventional methods. Therefore, contacting the Ueno Village Promotion Division is recommended.
    They provide robust support for housing acquisition for U-turn and I-turn residents.
    For example, the Housing Loan Interest Subsidy program offers full interest subsidies for housing loans up to ¥5 million for new construction and ¥3 million for renovations, for up to 10 years.
    Additionally, the Housing Acquisition Support Fund provides subsidies equivalent to real estate acquisition tax and fixed asset tax for up to 5 years.

  • The average housing prices, including rent, are relatively low in this area, so the financial burden of living related to housing is low. As the town is located at a high altitude, it is an ideal place for those who wish to live in the mountains.

  • There are few properties available, and it is difficult to find the right home, especially for rent. There is a lot of snow in the winter, so those considering settling here should be prepared for the adverse effects of winter.

    How is childcare and education in Ueno Village?

    Ryujin Falls

    Uenomura: A town where generous child-rearing support can ease the burden of daily life

    Various forms of support are available to welcome U-turn and I-turn immigrants from urban areas. The range of support extends to things that might seem unimaginable in the city.
    For instance, a wedding gift of ¥200,000 is provided through the Marriage Celebration Fund, and a ¥30,000 birth gift is given through the Birth Celebration Fund when a child is born.
    Additionally, a wooden toy is given as a commemorative gift for newborns.

    For families with three or more children, the Childcare Allowance provides ¥10,000 per month. Furthermore, for the third and subsequent children, the Special Childcare Allowance provides ¥50,000 per month.
    A ¥30,000 enrollment gift is also provided through the School Enrollment Gift when a child enters elementary or junior high school.
    Additionally, school meal fees are also waived.

    For students attending high school or university, scholarships are available. There is also a benefit where repayment for the scholarships is waived for the duration of employment for villagers who have been residents for over a year.
    In addition to these benefits, various subsidies such as municipal housing provision, housing loan interest subsidies, and housing preparation support funds are provided. These various forms of financial support and aid are designed to ensure that residents do not face difficulties in their daily lives.

    Ueno Village provides a Child Medical Expense Subsidy Program for children up to 18 years old who are enrolled in health insurance. This program helps cover the out-of-pocket expenses for insured medical treatments. Unlike other municipalities where subsidies often only cover up to junior high school, Ueno Village offers comprehensive support for families with children.

  • Surrounded by mountains, it is an environment rich in nature where you can raise your children freely. The area is proactive in supporting the child-rearing generation, offering wedding and childbirth gifts, etc.

  • There are no trains, so if children go out alone, they will need to be picked up and dropped off by car.

    How about shopping in Ueno Village?

    Roadside Station Ueno

    Uenomura: A town rich in fresh mountain and river produce

    Due to its location deep in the forest, a variety of mountain delicacies are available for sale.
    The Ueno Village Roadside Station serves as a tourism hub for Ueno Village.
    It was the first roadside station established in Gunma Prefecture and was renovated in 2018.
    Here, you can purchase products like Jikkoku miso, wild boar, shiitake mushrooms, and local specialty wooden crafts.
    Popular activities include barbecuing while enjoying views of the clear Kanna River nearby, tasting soft serve ice cream made with the local Jikkoku miso, and trying pudding and bread made at the station’s bakery, Mori no Kashi Kobo.

    The Ueno Village Fureai-kan (Kawa no Eki Ueno) is the place where you can find all the village’s souvenirs.
    It offers tourist information about Ueno Village, introduces traditional cultural aspects, and sells local specialty products.
    One of the most popular items is the mushroom curry, which features chunks of the village’s specialty shiitake mushrooms and is known as a local delicacy.

    The Ueno Village Craftsman Shop Kokage showcases and sells the unique works of local artists, including woodworking, bamboo crafts, and natural dyeing.

  • You can do some special shopping at the roadside station, such as buying local specialties. There is a JA Mart and private shops, so you can buy groceries in the village.

  • There are no large or medium-sized supermarkets in the village, so if you want to enjoy shopping you will have to go to other areas.

  • How about jobs and recruitment in Ueno Village?

    Uenomura: A town with many job openings related to agriculture and forestry

    Uenomura is an area where jobs such as agriculture and forestry stand out, which are unique to mountainous areas. There are also woodworking industries related to forestry, and you can find manufacturing jobs as well. There are also many accommodation facilities, so you can find jobs in the accommodation industry as well.

    Ueno Village, Gunma’s unique subsidy/subsidy system

    Ueno Village, Gunma’s unique relocation assistance and relocation subsidy system

    Wedding gift money Living allowance

    Ueno Village, Gunma’s unique housing assistance and subsidy system

    Housing Acquisition Support Fund Subsidies for elderly housing renovations Subsidy for interest on housing loans Uenomura Wooden House Earthquake Resistance Inspector Dispatch Project

    Ueno Village, Gunma’s unique childcare support system

    Birthday gift Childcare allowance Special childcare allowance Admission gift Presenting wooden toys to newborns Child seat assistance

    Ueno Village, Gunma’s unique system for further education and tuition assistance/subsidies

    scholarship Admission gift
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