'Shinano-town',（信濃町 Shinano-machi） is located in the northern part of Nagano prefecture, on the border of Niigata. There are approximately 9600 people who live in Shinano. As of March 2009, there are six elementary schools and one junior high school within town lines. However, starting in 2011, all schools in Shinano will be merging into a single K-8 facility which will be housed in a new building. Shinano's ALT works at the Junior High School. There are several districts within the township: Kurohime, Kashiwabara, Furuma, Furumi and Noijiri-ko are the largest. There are teachers housing units in all districts.