| Shimojō | |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Settlement Type: | Village |
| Pushpin Map: | Japan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | |
| Coordinates: | 35.3973°N 137.7859°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Japan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu) |
| Subdivision Type2: | Prefecture |
| Subdivision Name2: | Nagano |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Shimoina |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Area Total Km2: | 38.12 |
| Population Total: | 3545 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | Japan Standard Time |
| Utc Offset1: | +9 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Symbols |
| Blank Info Sec1: | |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | • Tree |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | Acer pycnanthum |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | • Flower |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Cosmos |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | • Bird |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Phone number |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0260-27-2311 |
| Blank1 Name Sec2: | Address |
| Blank1 Info Sec2: | 8801-1 Mutsuzawa, Shimojō-mura, Shimoina-gun, Nagano-ken 399-2101 |
is a village located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan., the village had an estimated population of 3,748 in 1275 households, and a population density of 98 persons per km2. The percentage of the population over 65 years old was 33.78%.[1] The total area of the village is 38.12sqkm.
Shimojō is located mountainous southern Nagano Prefecture.
The town has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cold winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Shimojō is 12.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1857 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around -0.8 °C.[2]
Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Shimojō has seen some success in reversing decades of decline. The village of Shimojō has defied the declining birthrate noted in Japan as well increasing capital revenue by increasing worker efficiency. In 2003–2005, the village birthrate, "was 2.12...against the national average of 1.25 in 2005" while, "...personal expenses were cut by ¥450 million".[4] Reforms have thus allowed the village to grow without government subsidies due to its sufficient capital which has allowed the village, as village head Ito Kihei remarks, to offer, "places to enjoy...such facilities as a mobile library, a swimming pool and a culture hall [while] enriching the child-raising environment and assistance by making medical expenses free for children through junior high school."
The area of present-day Shimojō was part of ancient Shinano Province. The village of Shimojō was established on April 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.
The economy of Shimojō is primarily agricultural. Principal crops include buckwheat, pears, apples and dried persimmons.
Shimojō has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.