Shinhidaka, Hokkaido

Shinhidaka
新ひだか町
Town
Shinhidaka Town Hall
Shinhidaka Town Hall
Flag of Shinhidaka
Flag
Official seal of Shinhidaka
Seal
Location of Shinhidaka in Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
Location of Shinhidaka in Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
Interactive map of Shinhidaka
Shinhidaka is located in Japan
Shinhidaka
Shinhidaka
 
Coordinates: 42°20′29″N 142°22′07″E / 42.34139°N 142.36861°E / 42.34139; 142.36861
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
DistrictHidaka
Government
 • MayorYoshihide Sakai
Area
 • Total
1,147.55 km2 (443.07 sq mi)
Population
 (December 31, 2025)
 • Total
19,785
 • Density17.241/km2 (44.654/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address3-2-50, Shizunai Miyukichō, Shinhidaka-chō, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaidō 056-8650
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp
Symbols
FlowerEzoyamatsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempferi) and beach rose (Rosa rugosa)
MascotKonbuman (こんぶマン) and Kobune-chan (こぶねちゃん)
TreeEzoyamazakura and Japanese ash
Panorama of Shizunai

Shinhidaka (新ひだか町, Shinhidaka-chō) is a town located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 31 December 2025, the town had an estimated population of 19,785 in 1120 households, and a population density of 17 people per km2. The total area of the town is 1,147.55 km2 (443.07 sq mi). Although Urakawa is the capital of Hidaka Subprefecture, Shinhidaka is the most populous town and the economic center of the subprefecture.

Geography

Shinhidaka is located in southern Hokkaido, in the central coastal area of the Hidaka Subprefecture. The southwestern part faces the Pacific Ocean, and the mountainous area originating from the Hidaka Mountains in the northeastern part is designated as the Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park. The southern part faces the Pacific Ocean. The urban area spreads out at the mouth of the Shizunai River. Its highest location is Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi (42°37′30″N 142°45′58″E / 42.62500°N 142.76611°E / 42.62500; 142.76611) at 1,979.4 m (6,494 ft). Takami Dam, Hokkaido's largest dam, is located in Shinhidaka.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

Shinhidaka has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with warm summers and cold winters. With an alternate definition, using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm, Shinhidaka falls in the rare oceanic climate (Cfb) of the east coast of the continents due to the warm current of Tsushima. Owing to its slightly more southerly latitude, easterly aspect, and location on the sea, snowfall is much lighter than in the major cities of western Hokkaido, like Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, and Wakkanai. Precipitation is heaviest in the summer months when remnant typhoons may approach. Year-round sunshine, although less than in the Tokachi Plain, is also higher than in western Hokkaido

Climate data for Mitsuishi, Shinhidaka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.7
(51.3)		 10.5
(50.9)		 17.3
(63.1)		 22.6
(72.7)		 25.8
(78.4)		 28.4
(83.1)		 32.1
(89.8)		 33.4
(92.1)		 31.2
(88.2)		 23.5
(74.3)		 19.9
(67.8)		 14.3
(57.7)		 33.4
(92.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.4
(32.7)		 0.8
(33.4)		 4.5
(40.1)		 10.3
(50.5)		 15.4
(59.7)		 18.8
(65.8)		 22.4
(72.3)		 24.3
(75.7)		 22.0
(71.6)		 16.3
(61.3)		 9.5
(49.1)		 2.9
(37.2)		 12.3
(54.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.6
(23.7)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 4.7
(40.5)		 10.0
(50.0)		 14.2
(57.6)		 18.4
(65.1)		 20.0
(68.0)		 16.6
(61.9)		 10.1
(50.2)		 4.2
(39.6)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 7.3
(45.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −11.3
(11.7)		 −11.2
(11.8)		 −6.1
(21.0)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 3.7
(38.7)		 9.4
(48.9)		 14.8
(58.6)		 16.0
(60.8)		 11.0
(51.8)		 3.5
(38.3)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 1.6
(34.8)
Record low °C (°F) −24.1
(−11.4)		 −25.9
(−14.6)		 −23.6
(−10.5)		 −11.6
(11.1)		 −5.9
(21.4)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 5.4
(41.7)		 5.0
(41.0)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −12.5
(9.5)		 −20.8
(−5.4)		 −25.9
(−14.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 38.4
(1.51)		 35.7
(1.41)		 62.7
(2.47)		 98.7
(3.89)		 146.3
(5.76)		 105.5
(4.15)		 158.7
(6.25)		 182.4
(7.18)		 152.3
(6.00)		 127.2
(5.01)		 94.2
(3.71)		 59.6
(2.35)		 1,258.4
(49.54)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.4 7.2 8.1 10.8 11.0 9.0 11.3 11.5 11.3 11.9 12.6 11.1 123.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 145.6 155.3 185.5 188.6 193.8 161.9 126.9 143.9 165.7 171.6 126.3 120.9 1,886.7
Source 1: JMA
Source 2: JMA

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Shinhidaka has declined in recent decades.

History

The river valleys of what is now Shinhidaka were occupied by the Ainu. From the 19th century, people from Japan began to settle in the region.

On March 31, 2006, the town of Mitsuishi merged with the town of Shizunai to create the new town of Shinhidaka.

Government

Shinhidaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Shinhidaka, as part of Hidaka Subprefecture, contributes two members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The main industries are dairy farming and fishing (kelp), as well as the breeding and production of racehorses, fishing, forestry, rice farming, field crops, and livestock farming.

Education

Shinhidaka has four public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town. The town has two public high schools and one special education school for the handicapped operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education. The town also has one vocational training school for nursing.

Transportation

Railways

Shinhidaka was served by the JR Hokkaido Hidaka Main Line. However, no trains have operated between Mukawa and Samani since January 2015, due to storm damage. Plans to restore this section of the line have been abandoned, due to declining passenger numbers and very high maintenance costs, and the section was officially closed on 1 April 2021, and replaced by a bus service.

Defunct railway stations in Shinhidaka: Shizunai - Higashi-Shizunai - Harutachi - Hidaka-Tōbetsu - Hidaka-Mitsuishi - Hōei - Honkiri

Highways

Sister cities

Local attractions

Mascots

Konbuman and Kobune-chan, the town's mascots

Shinhidaka's mascots are Konbuman (こんぶマン) and Kobune-chan (こぶねちゃん). They are superhero siblings.

References

  1. ↑ "Shinhidaka Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ↑ (in Japanese) Official Home Page of Shinhidaka Archived April 24, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, last access May 30, 2008.
  3. ↑ Japan Meteorological Agency; 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
  4. ↑ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  5. ↑ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Prefecture home page.
  7. ↑ Shinhidaka population statistics
  8. ↑ "Shinhidaka Town Assembly home page".
  9. ↑ "Shinhidaka Town Board of Education".
  10. ↑ Lexington Sister Cities Commission Archived October 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, last access October 20, 2014
  11. 1 2 3 Shinhidaka - Overview of the Town, last access May 6, 2016
  12. ↑ (in Japanese) Ezo-zakura Call Archived April 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, last access May 30, 2008
  13. ↑ "みついし昆布". Shinhidaka.
  14. ↑ "新ひだか町ふるさと大使・サポート大使". Shinhidaka.
  15. ↑ "昆布マンのプロフィール（新ひだか町）". Kawaii Hokkaido.