Water division - Bunsui

The former name of a town (Bunsui-machi) in Nishikanbara-gun, central Niigata Prefecture. The area now occupies the western part of Tsubame City. The former Kashiba-machi was along the Shinshinanogawa diversion channel. In 1954 (Showa 29), the town of Jizodo, the villages of Shimakami and Kugami merged and were renamed Bunsui-machi. In 1957, Bunsui-machi incorporated part of Okozu-mura. In 2006 (Heisei 18), it was merged into Tsubame City. The JR Echigo Line and National Route 116 pass through the area, and there are also bus services from Sanjo and Nagaoka City. Jizodo-cho, where the old town hall was located, was an important riverside linking the early modern Nishikawa waterway with Teradomari Port, and was bustling with rice shops, fish wholesalers, restaurants, and boatmen's towns, and still thrives as a shopping district. The area around the diversion gate has been designated as the Shinano River Diversion Memorial Park, and is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, where the Oiran Dochu cherry blossom viewing event is a famous attraction. Kunikami, at the southern foot of Mt. Yahiko, is a treasure trove of Ryokan anecdotes, and there are many Ryokan ruins such as Gogoan at Kunikami Temple and Otogo Shrine.

[Hisao Yamazaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

新潟県の中部、西蒲原郡(にしかんばらぐん)にあった旧町名（分水町(まち)）。現在は燕(つばめ)市の西部を占める地域。新信濃川(しなのがわ)分水路に沿う旧河岸場(かしば)町。1954年（昭和29）地蔵堂(じぞうどう)町を中心に、島上(しまかみ)、国上(くがみ)の2村が合併して分水町と改称。1957年分水町は大河津(おおこうづ)村の一部を編入。2006年（平成18）燕市に合併。JR越後(えちご)線と国道116号が通じ、三条・長岡市よりバスの便もある。旧役場があった地蔵堂町は、近世西川水運と寺泊(てらどまり)港との連絡河岸として重きをなし、米穀商店、鮮魚問屋、料理屋、船頭町などでにぎわい、いまも買い物街として栄えている。分水の水門付近は信濃川分水記念公園に指定され、桜の名所として花見行事のおいらん道中が名物になっている。弥彦(やひこ)山南麓(ろく)の国上は良寛(りょうかん)逸話の宝庫で、国上(こくじょう)寺の五合庵(ごごうあん)、乙子(おとご)神社など良寛遺跡が多い。

［山崎久雄］

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