Shinhidaka, Hokkaidō

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**Shinhidaka**
**新ひだか町**
Shinhidaka's location in Hokkaidō (Hidaka), Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaidō
Prefecture	Hokkaidō (Hidaka)
District	Hidaka
Physical characteristics
Area	1,147.75 km² (443.15 sq mi)
Population (as of March 2008)
Total	26,502
Density	23.1 /km² (60 /sq mi)
Location	42°15′N, 142°34′E
Symbols
Tree	Ezoyamazakura and Japanese Ash
Flower	Ezoyamatsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi) and Rugosa Rose
Flag
Shinhidaka Government Office
Mayor	Yoshihide Sakai
Address	〒056-8650 3-2-50, Shizunai Miyukichō, Shinhidaka-chō, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaidō
Phone number	0146-43-2111
Official website: Town of Shinhidaka

Shinhidaka (新ひだか町, Shinhidaka-chō^?) is a town located in Hidaka District, Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. Shinhidaka is the most populous town and the economic center of Hidaka subprefecture.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Arts and Culture
5 Sister cities
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

The river valleys of what is now Shinhidaka were occupied by the Ainu. From the 19th centutry, Japan began to settle the region in earnest. This lead to conflict with the Ainu resulting in a failed revolt of the Ainu in the Shizunai River valley. This became known as Shakushain's War.

On March 31, 2006, the towns of Mitsuishi from Mitsuishi District and Shizunai from Shizunai District merged to form the new town of Shinhidaka. Mitsuishi District and Shizunai District were both dissolved with this merger.

[edit] Geography

Shinhidaka is in southeastern Hokkaidō, between the Pacific Ocean to the South and the Hidaka Mountains to the North. Several rivers rise in the mountains and empty into the sea, including the Shizunai River and the Mitsuishi River.

Shinhidaka has total area of 1,147.74 km².^[1] Its highest location is Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi ( 42°37′30″N, 142°45′58″E) at 1,979.4 m (6,494 ft).

[edit] Demographics

As of December 31, 2007, the town has an estimated population of 26,714 and a density of 23.7 persons per km². ^[1]

[edit] Arts and Culture

(二十間道路, Nijikken-dōro^?), literally, road 20 ken (36 metres (120 ft)) in width, is an avenue lined with Ezo mountain cherry Prunus sargentii, (エゾヤマザクラ, Ezo-yamazakura^?) trees and a major tourist attraction of the town. The 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) road was created for a visit of the Imperial Family to the nearby Niikappu horse ranch in 1903. The ranch is under the juridiction of the Imperial Household Agency. It took five years to transplant trees from the local mountains to create the avenue. It was finished in 1916. Shinhidaka holds a cherry blossom festival yearly in May at the road in Shizunai ward.^[2]