UTSUNOMIYA CITY宇都宮市
KANUMA CITY鹿沼市
SAKURA CITYさくら市
NAKAGAWA TOWN那珂川町
TAKANEZAWA TOWN高根沢町
KAMINOKAWA TOWN上三川町
NASUKARASUYAMA CITY那須烏山市
NASUSHIOBARA CITY那須塩原市
NASU TOWN那須町
SHIOAYA TOWN塩谷町
YAITA CITY矢板市
OTAWARA CITY大田原市
NIKKO CITY日光市
ASHIKAGA CITY足利市
SANO CITY佐野市
TOCHIGI CITY栃木市
MIBU TOWN壬生町
OYAMA CITY小山市
NOGI TOWN野木町
SHIMOTSUKE CITY下野市
HAGA TOWN芳賀町
ICHIKAI TOWN市貝町
MOOKA CITY真岡市
MASHIKO TOWN益子町
MOTEGI TOWN茂木町
Mibu Town is located in the southern central part of Tochigi Prefecture, covering an area of about 61.06 square kilometers. To the north, it borders Kanuma City and Utsunomiya City, while to the east and south, it borders Shimotsuke City, and to the west, Tochigi City. As of November 2023, the population is approximately 38,000, with about 16,000 households. It is situated 90 km north of Tokyo, characterized by a mostly flat terrain in the northern Kanto Plain, with the Omokawa River flowing in the west, the Kurokawa River in the central area, and the Sugisaka River in the east.
The town’s history dates back to the Muromachi period when it was established by the Mibu clan. During the Edo period, it thrived as a castle town and a post town on the Nikkō highway. In the Meiji era, the Mibu Prefecture was established due to the abolition of the feudal domains, and in 1889, Mibu Town was formed after implementing the town and village system. In 1954, Mibu Town merged with Inaba Village, and the following year, it annexed Minami Inukai Village, forming the current Mibu Town. Since the 1950s, the development of industrial parks to attract toy factories has led to its unique identity as the “Town of Toys.” During this period, the establishment of Dokkyo Medical University and Dokkyo Medical University Hospital promoted the medical industry, and today, the town ranks fifth in Japan for the number of doctors and nurses per 100,000 population.
One of the notable tourist attractions in Mibu Town is the ‘Mibu Town Toy Museum.’ It is located a 23-minute walk from Kuniya Station on the Tobu Utsunomiya Line, situated within the ‘Tochigi Wanpaku Park.’ Opened in 1995, this facility features a unique exterior reminiscent of a medieval castle, with plenty of play areas for children, including large playground equipment, a ball pit, and train models. Additionally, there is a toy hospital where broken toys can be repaired, making it a popular comprehensive facility for toys, attracting visitors from both inside and outside the prefecture.
The Tobu Utsunomiya Line runs through Mibu Town, with four stations: Omocha-no-machi Station, Mibu Station, Yasuzuka Station, and Kuniya Station. The Kita-Kanto Expressway crosses Mibu Town, and you can board the highway at Mibu IC. In addition, there is National Route 352, which runs from Kamikawa Town in the east to Kanuma City in the northwest, and National Route 121, which runs through the town to the northeast, and is used by many people both inside and outside Mibu Town.
There are four train stations within the town, making it easy to access the town and neighboring areas. The main roads are well maintained and wide.
There are few train routes and trains, which makes it somewhat inconvenient.
According to a real estate information website, the average rent for a newly built apartment within a 10-minute walk from the station in the city is about 55,000 yen for a 1K and 80,000 yen for a 2DK.The average land price per tsubo is about 110,000 yen per tsubo.
Housing prices are relatively reasonable, so there is a place to live suitable for a wide range of people, including families, single people, and seniors.
It is necessary to check hazard maps in mountainous areas and along rivers.
In Mibu Town, there are 8 nurseries, 5 kindergartens, 8 elementary schools, 2 junior high schools, 1 high school, 2 junior colleges/universities, and 1 vocational school. The ‘Child Medical Expense Subsidy System‘ covers children under 18 years old (up to March 31 after reaching 18) for both outpatient and inpatient care, providing full subsidies. Child allowances include ¥15,000 for children under 3 years old, ¥10,000 for the first and second children aged 3 and up until elementary school, ¥15,000 for the third child and beyond, and ¥10,000 for junior high school students.
Mibu Town also provides unique child-rearing support. Through the ‘Birth and Child-Rearing Support Benefits‘, a gift of ¥50,000 is given to each pregnant woman after a consultation upon submitting a pregnancy notification, and ¥50,000 is provided for each newborn after a home visit with infant families. Parents raising children entering elementary, junior high, or high school receive the ‘Mibu Town Enrollment Preparation Child-Rearing Support Voucher‘. For each child entering elementary or junior high school, ¥5,000 worth (5 vouchers of ¥1,000) is distributed, and for each child entering high school, ¥10,000 worth (10 vouchers of ¥1,000) is provided, which can be used for purchasing necessary items at participating stores in Mibu Town. Additionally, the child-rearing support app ‘Wanakaku! Mibu Town Child-Rearing Navigation Mikona‘ provides useful information for families and allows tracking of children’s growth and vaccination schedules.
There are almost no waiting lists for childcare facilities, so it is easy to get in. Support for starting school is generous.
There is less financial support for preschool children than in other areas.
The town features a variety of supermarkets, drugstores, and local shops mainly around Mibu Station and along Prefectural Road 18. While there are no large shopping malls, there are about five supermarkets in the area, making it convenient for purchasing food and daily necessities. The ‘Mibu Road Station‘ is located 20 minutes on foot from the Tobu Utsunomiya Line’s “Kuniyah Station” and is conveniently situated next to a parking area for the Kitakanto Expressway. It is easily accessible from both highways and general roads, offering fresh local produce for sale and dining options. Moreover, within its extensive facilities, you can find Tochigi Wanpaku Park, Mibu Town Toy Museum, and Mibu Town General Park, making it a well-known destination not only for shopping but also as a tourist attraction.
Roadside Station Mibu is a convenient place to purchase vegetables, fruits, souvenirs, and local specialties.
There are no large shopping malls or department stores, so you will need to travel far to make specific purchases.
Mibu Town’s main industry is agriculture, and it is home to thriving local specialties such as strawberries, tomatoes, and Chinese chives. In addition, kanpyo (dried gourd) production began in the Edo period, and Mibu Town is also famous as the birthplace of “Yashu kanpyo.” In the mid-Showa period, the town’s population increased due to the attraction of the Toy Park, Dokkyo Medical University, and Dokkyo Medical University Hospital. Today, toy manufacturing-related companies and factories, as well as the university hospital, remain in the town, providing employment.
Mibu Town has a thriving local economy and tends to have many local companies and community-based employment opportunities. There are plenty of job openings tailored to the characteristics and demand of the area.
Commuting to the city center entails risks such as time and transportation costs.
