Minakami Town, Tone District, located at the northernmost tip of Gunma Prefecture, is a relatively new city formed in 2005 by the merger of two towns and one village. Located at the upper reaches of the Tone River, it is home to the trailhead for Mt. Tanigawadake, and the Tone River flows through the valley between Mt. Daiho and Mt. Sanho, while the Akatani River flows into the south. The Joetsu Shinkansen, Joetsu Line, and Kanetsu Expressway run north and south through the center of the town. The town's climate is unique in that it is the only one in the Kanto region classified as a Sea of Japan climate. The source of the Tone River is also designated as a Natural Environment Conservation Area. In the past, a checkpoint was established at Sarugakyo-juku on the Mikuni Kaido road, and two post towns were established in the former Tsukiyono town and seven in the former Niiharu village. This made the town a vital transportation route connecting the Kanto region and Echigo, including for the Edo period (alternate attendance).