Itakura, Gunma 2.15

Itakura is a town located in Ōra District, Gunma Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of February 2015, the town had an estimated population of 11,024 and a population density of 561 persons per km². Its total area was 19.64 km². Itakura's animal mascot is the catfish. It is represented in a bronze statue at Raiden Shrine, as a mikoshi in Itakura's summer festival, and also is emblazoned on the town's manhole covers. Itakura is one of the few places in Japan where catfish is eaten, and it boasts two restaurants specializing in catfish dishes.GeographyItakura is located in the northern Kantō Plains in the extreme southern corner Gunma prefecture, bordered by Saitama Prefecture to the south and Tochigi Prefecture to the north. The Tone River flows through the town, and the Watarase River forms its northern border.Surrounding municipalities Gunma Prefecture Tatebayashi Meiwa Hanyu Kazo Sano Tochigi Koga is only separated by meters from the Itakura border.