Hidaka Subprefecture
Encyclopedia
is a subprefecture
of Hokkaidō
, Japan
. The west side of the Hidaka mountains occupies most of the area. Hidaka is sparsely populated and has many of Hokkaidō's natural resources. The governmental office is located in Urakawa
.
The name Hidaka 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.
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
.
The Hidaka Mountains are known as a "Mecca of Mountaineering" with more than 20 mountains including Mount Poroshiri
at 2052 metres (6,732.3 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.
42.172607°N 142.768083°W
Subprefectures in Hokkaido
Hokkaido Prefecture had 14 branch offices called 支庁 in Japanese, which is often translated in English as subprefectures. Normally, a subprefecture consists of a few to a dozen cities, towns, and/or villages....
of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The west side of the Hidaka mountains occupies most of the area. Hidaka is sparsely populated and has many of Hokkaidō's natural resources. The governmental office is located in Urakawa
Urakawa, Hokkaido
is a town located in Urakawa District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 14,814 and a density of 21.3 persons per km². The total area is 694.24 km².-External links:* in Japanese...
.
History
- 1897 Urakawa Subprefecture established
- 1932 Urakawa Subprefecture renamed Hidaka Subprefecture.
The name Hidaka is derived from the province
Provinces of Japan
Before the modern prefecture system was established, the land of Japan was divided into tens of kuni , usually known in English as provinces. Each province was divided into gun ....
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 Hokkaidō, Hidaka subprefecture has an area of 4811.91 square kilometres (1,857.9 sq mi) making it the 7th largest subprefecture in the prefecture and 5.8% of Hokkaidō's total area. More than 80% of the area is covered with forest.The prefecture borders Tokachi Subprefecture
Tokachi Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan corresponding to the old province of Tokachi. As of 2004 its estimated population is 360,802 and its area is 10,830.99 km².Tokachi-Obihiro Airport is in the city of Obihiro.- Geography :-Towns and villages by district:...
to the north across the Hidaka Mountains
Hidaka Mountains
Hidaka Mountains is a mountain range in southeastern Hokkaidō, Japan. It runs 150 km from Mount Sahoro or Karikachi Pass in central Hokkaidō south, running into the sea at Cape Erimo. It consists of folded mountains that range from 1500 to 2000 metres in height. Mount Poroshiri is the highest...
. To the west is Iburi Subprefecture
Iburi Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan.- Geography :Located in south-central Hokkaido, Iburi stretches East-West and North-South. Iburi covers an area of . Iburi borders Oshima subprefecture to the West, Shiribeshi, Ishikari, and Sorachi subprefectures to the North, and Hidaka subprefecture to the...
. The south side of the subprefecture is its coast on the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
The Hidaka Mountains are known as a "Mecca of Mountaineering" with more than 20 mountains including Mount Poroshiri
Mount Poroshiri
or sometimes Mount Horoshiri is located in the Hidaka Mountains, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the highest mountain in the Hidaka range, and is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan.-Nukabira course:The course is a two-day course....
at 2052 metres (6,732.3 ft). These mountains are part of the Hidaka Sanmyaku-Erimo Quasi-National Park
Hidaka Sanmyaku-Erimo Quasi-National Park
is the largest quasi-national park in Japan. The park includes the Hidaka Mountains and Cape Erimo and is located in southeast Hokkaidō. The park was designated Erimo Prefectural Park in 1950 and Erimo Prefectural Nature Park in 1958 until it was raised to a quasi-national in 1981...
, which include Mount Apoi
Mount Apoi
is located in the Hidaka Mountains, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is near the town of Samani. It is well known for hosting a large number of plants that are found only on Hokkaidō, such as...
alpine vegetation community and Cape Erimo
Cape Erimo
is a cape in Hokkaidō, located at . It is the de facto southern tip of Hidaka Mountains.Hot and cold fronts meet nearby of the cape thus creating a dense mist which covers the cape for more than 100 days a year. Wind blows here with the speed of 10 m/s for almost 300 days a year...
coast landscape. These areas boast wildlife such as brown bear
Brown Bear
The brown bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family and as the largest land-based predator.There are several recognized...
, sika deer
Sika Deer
The Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world...
, and common seal.
Towns and villages by district
- Hidaka DistrictHidaka District, Hokkaidois a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of October 31, 2006, the district has an estimated population of 27,150 and a density of 23.7 persons per km². The total area is 1,147.74 km².- Towns and villages :*Shinhidaka...
- ShinhidakaShinhidaka, Hokkaidois a town located in Hidaka District, Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. Shinhidaka is the most populous town and the economic center of Hidaka Subprefecture.-History:...
- Shinhidaka
- Horoizumi DistrictHoroizumi District, Hokkaidois a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 5,872 and a density of 20.68 persons per km². The total area is 283.93 km².-Towns and villages:*Erimo...
- ErimoErimo, Hokkaidois a town located in Horoizumi District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.Erimo is famous for its strong winds, kelp , and its scenic cape, Cape Erimo erimo-misaki. The cape was made famous by Shinichi Mori's enka song. It is supposed to be a romantic place to visit. The cape hosts a population of Kurile...
- Erimo
- Niikappu DistrictNiikappu District, Hokkaidois a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 5,862 and a density of 10.0 persons per km². The total area is 585.88 km².- Towns and villages :*Niikappu...
- NiikappuNiikappu, Hokkaidois a town located in Niikappu District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Geography:Niikappu stretches from the Pacific Ocean of southeast Hokkaido north to the Hidaka Mountains along the Niikappu River. The town covers a total area of 585.88 km². Its highest point is Mount Poroshiri and the lowest is...
- Niikappu
- Samani DistrictSamani District, Hokkaidois a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 5,770 and a density of 15.84 persons per km². The total area is 364.33 km².-Towns and villages:*Samani...
- SamaniSamani, Hokkaido, is a town located in Samani District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 5,466 and a density of 15.84 persons per km2...
- Samani
- Saru DistrictSaru District, Hokkaidois a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 21,190 and a density of 12.21 persons per km²...
- BiratoriBiratori, Hokkaidois a town located in Saru District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 5,909 and a density of 7.95 persons per km². The total area is 743.16 km²....
- HidakaHidaka, Hokkaidois a town located in Saru District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Geography:Hidaka town is divided into two wards, which coincide with the former towns of Hidaka and Monbetsu. Biratori lies between the two wards separating them. Hidaka lies in the Hidaka Mountains at a cross road leading to Sapporo,...
- Biratori
- Urakawa DistrictUrakawa District, Hokkaidois a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 15,986 and a density of 23.03 persons per km². The total area is 694.23 km².-Towns and villages:*Urakawa...
- UrakawaUrakawa, Hokkaidois a town located in Urakawa District, Hidaka, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 14,814 and a density of 21.3 persons per km². The total area is 694.24 km².-External links:* in Japanese...
- Urakawa
Demographics
The population of Hidaka subprefecture is 81,407 in 33,996 households. In the 2005 census, this represents 1.4% of the total population of Hokkaidō. The population of Hidaka peaked in 1960. The current population is down 4,613 from the last census in 2005.External links
42.172607°N 142.768083°W