Hidaka Subprefecture

Hidaka Subprefecture (日高振興局, Hidaka-shinkō-kyoku) is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The west side of the Hidaka mountains occupies most of the area. Hidaka is sparsely populated and has many of Hokkaido's natural resources. The governmental office is located in Urakawa.

Hidaka Subprefecture
日高振興局
Hidaka-shinkō-kyoku
Location of Hidaka Subprefecture
PrefectureHokkaido
CapitalUrakawa
Area
 • Total4,811.91 km2 (1,857.89 sq mi)
Population
 (March 2009)
 • Total81,403
 • Density17/km2 (44/sq mi)
Websitehttp://www.hidaka.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/
Hidaka Subprefecture
Urakawa
Shinhidaka
Shizunai office of Hidaka Subprefecture
Office building of Urakawa Subprefecture in 1919

History
  • 1897: Urakawa Subprefecture established.
  • 1932: Urakawa Subprefecture renamed Hidaka Subprefecture.

The name Hidaka ("sun high") is derived from the province of the same name established in 1869, which in turn was named after an unknown place in the Nihonshoki, a history book written in 720. There is no direct connection between the Hidaka of the Nihonshoki and the modern Hidaka.

Geography

Located on the south-east coast of Hokkaido, Hidaka Subprefecture has an area of 4,811.91 square kilometres (1,857.89 sq mi) making it the 7th largest subprefecture in the prefecture and 5.8% of Hokkaido's total area. More than 80% of the area is covered with forest.

The prefecture borders Tokachi Subprefecture to the north across the Hidaka Mountains. To the west is Iburi Subprefecture. The south side of the subprefecture is its coast on the Pacific Ocean.[1]

The Hidaka Mountains are known as a "Mecca of Mountaineering", with more than 20 mountains including Mount Poroshiri at 2,052 metres (6,732 ft). These mountains are part of the Hidaka Sanmyaku-Erimo Quasi-National Park, which include Mount Apoi alpine vegetation community and Cape Erimo coast landscape. These areas boast wildlife such as brown bear, sika deer, and common seal.[2]

Municipalities
Name Area (km2) Population District Type Map
Rōmaji Kanji
Biratori 平取町 743.16 5,305 Saru District Town
Erimo えりも町 283.93 4,954 Horoizumi District Town
Hidaka 日高町 992.67 12,596 Saru District Town
Niikappu 新冠町 585.88 5,696 Niikappu District Town
Samani 様似町 364.33 4,482 Samani District Town
Shinhidaka 新ひだか町 1,147.75 23,516 Hidaka District Town
Urakawa (capital) 浦河町 694.24 12,800 Urakawa District Town

Mergers
See also: List of mergers in Hokkaido § Hidaka Subprefecture

Demographics

The population of Hidaka Subprefecture is 81,407 in 33,996 households.[1] In the 2005 census, this represents 1.4% of the total population of Hokkaido. The population of Hidaka peaked in 1960. The current population is down 4,613 from the last census in 2005.[3]

References
  1. "Summary of Hidaka (日高の概要 Hidaka no Gaiyō)" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Government, Hidaka Subprefectural Office. 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  2. "Summary of Hidaka: Nature (日高の概要: 自然 Hidaka no Gaiyō: Shizen)" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Government, Hidaka Subprefectural Office. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  3. "Summary of Hidaka: Population (日高の概要:人口 Hidaka no Gaiyō: Jinkō)" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Government, Hidaka Subprefectural Office. 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hidaka Subprefecture.

42°10′21″N 142°46′05″E

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