Higashishirakawa, Gifu

Higashishirakawa
東白川村
Village
Higashishirakawa Village Hall

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Location of Higashishirakawa in Gifu Prefecture
Higashishirakawa
 
Coordinates: 35°38′33.1″N 137°19′25.8″E / 35.642528°N 137.323833°E / 35.642528; 137.323833Coordinates: 35°38′33.1″N 137°19′25.8″E / 35.642528°N 137.323833°E / 35.642528; 137.323833
Country Japan
Region Chūbu
Prefecture Gifu
District Kamo
Government
  Mayor Yasue Shin'ichi[1]
Area
  Total 87.09 km2 (33.63 sq mi)
Population (November 1, 2017)
  Total 2,336
  Density 27/km2 (69/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City symbols  
- Tree Acer pycnanthum
- Flower Rhododendron dilatatum
Phone number 0574-78-3111
Address Kando 548, Higashishirakawa-mura, Kamo-gun, Gifu-ken 509-1392
Website Official website
Goka area in Higshishirakawa

Higashishirakawa (東白川村, Higashishirakawa-mura) is a village located in Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 November 2017, the village had an estimated population of 2,336 and a population density of 27 persons per km2, in 858 households.[2] The total area of the village was 87.09 square kilometres (33.63 sq mi). Higashishirakawa has been selected as one of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan.[3]

Geography

Higashishirakawa is located in the [Mino-Mikawa Plateau of central Gifu Prefecture, surrounded by 1000-meter class mountains. Over 90% of the village area is forested. The town village has a climate characterized by characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Higashishirakawa is 12.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2038 mm with September as the wettest month.The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.4 °C.[4]

Neighbouring municipalities

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Higashishirakawa has declined steadily over the past 40 years.

Census Year Population
1970 4,080
1980 3,578
1990 3,323
2000 2,980
2010 2,513

History

The area around Higashishirakawa was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, it was part of the territory controlled by Naegi Domain. During the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, the area was organised into Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture. The village of Higashishirawa was formed on July 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The early Meiji period Haibutsu kishaku movement was especially strong in this area, and to this day, Higashishirakawa is the only municipality in Japan without a single Buddhist temple. Plans to merge the village with the neighbouring city of Gifu were rejected by a referendum in June 2004.

Economy

The mainstay of the local economy is agriculture and forestry.

Education

Higashishirakawa has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railway

The village does not have any passenger train service.

Highway

References

  1. 村長室へようこそ. Higashishirakawa official website (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  2. Official home page
  3. The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan (in Japanese)
  4. Higashishirakawa climate data
  5. Higashishirakawa population statistics

Media related to Higashishirakawa, Gifu at Wikimedia Commons

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