Shimokitayama, Nara

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Location of Shimokitayama in Nara prefecture

Shimokitayama (下北山村, Shimokitayama-mura^?) is a village located in Yoshino District, Nara, Japan.

As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 1,243 and a density of 9.31 persons per km². The total area is 133.53 km².

Bordering on Kamikitayama to the north and Totsukawa to the west, it is the southeasternmost region in Nara Prefecture. It shares a border to the east with Kumano, Mie Prefecture, and to the south, with Kitayama, Wakayama Prefecture.

[edit] Geography

Shimokitayama is composed of seven main hamlets, arranged roughly in a circle, and Zenki, located in the corner northwest of Ikehara.

Roads lead north toward Nara from Ikehara, east toward Kumano from Shimokuwahara, south toward Kitayama from Kamikuwahara, and west toward Totsukawa from Uramukai.

Ikehara: The main center of Shimokitayama's main industry, tourism, Ikehara is home to Kinari no Sato, a resort containing an onsen known as Kinari no Yu, various fishing and camping shops, gas stations, a few cafes and izakaya, and a small karaoke bar. It also contains Fumonji, a temple of the Sōtō sect of Zen Buddhism, and Shimokitayama Junior High School.
Ikemine: Ikemine is home to the Ike no Taira nine-hole golf course, the Myōjin Ike Pond Shrine and a Tenrikyō temple.
Teragaito: Teragaito contains Shimokitayama's village hall, Sumiyoshi Shrine, and Shimokitayama Elementary School. It is also home to Shōbōji, a temple of the Sōtō sect of Zen Buddhism at which local shugenja Jitsukaga Gyōja is enshrined.

Uramukai: Uramukai includes the drainage area known as Okuji, a series of waterfalls and mountain streams sacred to shugenja, who keep a hut high in the mountains for training purposes.
Sada: Sada is home to a gas station and a Tenrikyō temple.
Kamikuwahara: Kamikuwahara is almost entirely residential.
Shimokuwahara: Shimokuwahara contains Shimokitayama Preschool and Ryūganji a temple of the Sōtō sect of Zen Buddhism.
Zenki: Zenki is a wild and mountainous region which contains several large waterfalls sacred to shugenja, including the famous Nana E no Taki.