Hida, Gifu Explained

Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption: 
Coordinates:36.2381°N 137.1862°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Chūbu
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Gifu
Leader Title:Mayor
Area Total Km2:792.53
Population Total:24,726
Population As Of:November 1, 2017
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:Japan Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+9
Blank Name Sec1:Phone number
Blank Info Sec1:0577-73-2111
Blank1 Name Sec1:Address
Blank1 Info Sec1:2-22 Hon-machi, Furukawa-chō, Hida-shi, Gifu-ken 509-4292
Blank Name Sec2:Climate
Blank Info Sec2:Dfa
Module:
Embedded:yes
Flower:Lysichiton camtschatcense

is a city located in Gifu, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 24,726, and a population density of 31 persons per km2, in 8,905 households.[1] The total area of the city was 792.53sqkm. The official kanji for the city is actually 飛驒, which uses the old rendering of the 騨 character. However, the 驒 character is not included on the official list of usable characters (as decided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), so the 騨 character is often used outside of the city.

Geography

Hida is the northernmost city in Gifu Prefecture, and is located in the northern part of the Hida Highlands bordering on Toyama Prefecture to the north. The majority of the area of the city is forested, with many mountains exceeding 1,000 meters within the city borders. The northeastern edge of the Hida Mountain range exceeds 2,000 meters. Most of the population is concentrated along river terraces along the Jinzū River and the Takahara River.

Climate

The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Dfa). The average annual temperature in Hida is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around, and lowest in January, at around .

Neighbouring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Hida has decreased steadily over the past 50 years.

History

The area around Hida Furukawa was part of traditional Hida Province. During the Edo period, the whole Hida province was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the post-Meiji restoration whole Japan was under a massive westernization and new reforms, the area was organised into Yoshiki District, Gifu. On July 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, the town of Furukawa and the villages of Kawai and Miyagawa were created. The modern city of Hida Furukawa was established on February 1, 2004, from the merger of these municipalities with the town of Kamioka. In this region there is always a disambiguation between Hida Furukawa and Hida Takayama or Takayama city. Even tho Furukawa has is own municipality, Takayama is a mayor city in the area after Gifu city, and Furukawa is under Hida Takayama's precints.

Government

Hida Furukawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 14 members

Economy

The main two traditional economies in the city are the production of sake and traditional Japanese candles. The Furukawa area of the city is known for both of these crafts, while the Kamioka section is mainly known for its sake production.

Education

Hida has five public elementary schools, two public middle schools and one combined elementary/middle school operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education. Tokyo University's Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory together with the data processing centre (Kamioka Observatory) has been located in Kamioka since 2002.[3]

Transportation

Railway

JR TōkaiTakayama Main Line

Local bus

From Takayama[Nohi bus]

Highway

Sister cities

Local attractions

Festivals in Hida

The Furukawa Festival is held annually on April 19 and 20. This traditional event is an annual festival of the Keta Wakamiya Shrine. It attracts many tourists every year, especially on the night of the 19th when the large drum float, Okoshi-Daiko, is paraded through the town by hundreds of half-naked men.[4]

Popular culture

Kimi no Na Wa

Hida Furukawa was featured in several key locations in the popular 2016 animated film, Kimi no Na Wa (君の名は, Your Name).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Official city statistics page . December 3, 2017 . December 3, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171203153925/http://www.city.hida.gifu.jp/b_koseki/2017/12/2017121.html . dead.
  2. https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-gifu.php Hida population statistics
  3. Web site: Kamioka mine, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
  4. Web site: Furukawa Festival . January 31, 2017 . February 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170202084235/http://www.hida.jp/english/activities/area-attractions/furukawa-festival . dead.