Shimonita, Rural municipality in Kanra district, Japan
Shimonita is a small town in southwestern Gunma Prefecture surrounded by forested hills and farmland. The landscape is dominated by cultivated fields and woodland, creating a rural setting where agriculture remains the main activity.
During the Edo period, the area was governed directly by the Tokugawa shogunate as part of Kōzuke Province. Over time, it developed into a region known for specific agricultural practices that continue today.
Local farmers here grow Welsh onions and konjac following methods passed down through generations, products deeply tied to the region's food identity. These crops shape how people use the land and what they cook in their kitchens.
The town is reachable by car from the nearby resort town of Karuizawa in about an hour, or by express bus from Tokyo. Since it is set in a rural area, having your own transportation makes it easier to explore the farmland and surrounding villages.
A local park offers free samples of dishes made from konjac, a traditional ingredient that locals have cultivated for centuries. Visitors get to taste how this plant ingredient is used in everyday regional cooking.
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