| Shizukuishi 雫石町 |
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|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Location of Shizukuishi in Iwate | |
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Shizukuishi
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Tōhoku |
| Prefecture | Iwate |
| District | Iwate |
| Area | |
| • Total | 609.01 km2 (235.1 sq mi) |
| Population (31 July 2010) | |
| • Total | 18,492 |
| • Density | 30.4/km2 (78.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) |
| Website | Town of Shizukuishi |
Shizukuishi (雫石町 Shizukuishi-chō) is a town located in Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
As of 31 July 2010, the town has an estimated population of 18,492.[1]
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Shizukuishi is located in the Ōu Mountains. Mount Iwate, an active volcano, lies just to the north of Shizukuishi and dominates the landscape. The Ōu Mountains form the boundary to the west as well with Akita Komagatake, another active volcano, just across the border in Akita Prefecture. The downtown area is located where the Shizukuishi and Kakkonda Rivers meet. Gosho Lake was created in 1981 with the completion of Gosho Dam.
To the west, Shizukuishi borders Akita Prefecture. To the south are Nishiwaga, Hanamaki and Shiwa. To the east are Yahaba, Morioka (Iwate prefecture's capital and largest city) and Takizawa. To the north is Hachimantai.
There are many onsen hot spring resorts in the area. In winter, numerous ski areas and resorts come to life. Koiwai Farm is a working dairy and tourist attraction. Every year in February it hosts a large snow festival.
This "remote farming village"[2] is known for its annual hemp festival every year in August which draws "crowds of sightseers".[3] Due to the town's rural nature, low income and low population Yoshiaki Tsutsumi, Japan's richest man at the time, was able to build a large ski area and hotel without the kind of "organized opposition of environmentalists" which stymied his plans elsewhere in Japan.[2]
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Shizukuishi,_Iwate Shizukuishi, Iwate] at Wikimedia Commons