was a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than city, cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares ...

located in Ukiha District,

Fukuoka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 km2 (1,925 sq mi). Fukuoka Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the southwest, Kumamo ...

, Japan. As of 2003, the town had an estimated

population Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using ...

of 21,204 and a

density Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often used for density is ''ρ'' (the lower case Greek letter rho), although the Latin letter ''D'' can also be used. Mathematicall ...

of 415.85 persons per km². The total area was 50.99 km². On February 5, 2005, Tanushimaru, along with the town of Kitano (from Mii District), and the towns of Jōjima and Mizuma (both from

Mizuma District is a district located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2003 statistics and counting the decrease in size and population due to the Kurume merger, the district has an estimated population of 14,305 and a density of 776 persons per km2. The to ...

), was merged into the expanded city of

Kurume is a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 303,579 and a population density of 1,320 persons per km². The total area is 229.96 km². On February 5, 2005, the town of Kitano (from ...

and no longer exists as an independent

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality ...

. Tanushimaru was famous for its hot springs, the best being Mino Onsen, as well as its plant farming, unagi, and kappa (a historical, frog-like creature). Legend had it that the nearby river is the origin of all Japanese kappa, and many monuments to the river monster can be seen around the town. Many of the local inhabitants offer cucumbers and sake to the kappa shrines. Kappa statue with Sake

There are also many grape fields, and grape picking is a popular tourist activity. Tanushimaru is home to seven fine elementary schools, Mino, Mizuwake, Takeno, Shibakari, Tanushimaru, Kawaii, and Funagoshi, as well as Tanushimaru Middle School and Ukiha Technical High School. Until recently Tanushimaru was classified as part of Ukiha-Gun. Close ties remain with the neighboring city of Ukiha, particularly with Yoshii town.

External links

Tanushimaru official website of Kurume
in Japanese (some English) {{Authority control Populated places disestablished in 2005 2005 disestablishments in Japan Dissolved municipalities of Fukuoka Prefecture Kurume