| Shinhidaka 新ひだか町 |
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| Location of Shinhidaka in Hokkaidō (Hidaka) | |||
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Shinhidaka
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Hokkaidō | ||
| Prefecture | Hokkaidō (Hidaka) | ||
| District | Hidaka | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Yoshihide Sakai | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1,147.75 km2 (443.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population (March 2008) | |||
| • Total | 26,502 | ||
| • Density | 23.1/km2 (59.8/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | ||
| City symbols | |||
| - Tree | Ezoyamazakura and Japanese Ash | ||
| - Flower | Ezoyamatsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi) and Rugosa Rose | ||
| Phone number | 0146-43-2111 | ||
| Address | 3-2-50, Shizunai Miyukichō, Shinhidaka-chō, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaidō 056-8650 |
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| 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.
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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 led to conflict with the Ainu resulting in a failed revolt of the Ainu in the Shizunai River valley. This became known as Shakushain's Revolt.
On March 31, 2006 the town of Mitsuishi, from Mitsuishi District, and the town of Shizunai, from Shizunai District, were merged to form the new town of Shinhidaka. Mitsuishi District and Shizunai District were both dissolved as a result of this merger.
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 () at 1,979.4 m (6,494 ft).
As of December 31, 2007, the town has an estimated population of 26,714 and a density of 23.7 persons per km². [1]
Nijikken-dōro (二十間道路), literally, road 20 ken (36 metres (118 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]