Shinhidaka, Hokkaido 2.73

is a town located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Shinhidaka is the most populous town, and the economic center of Hidaka Subprefecture.HistoryThe 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.GeographyShinhidaka is in southeastern Hokkaido, between the Pacific Ocean to the South and the Hidaka Mountains to the North. Several rivers rise in the mountains and empty into the sea, including the Shizunai River and the Mitsuishi River.Shinhidaka has total area of 1,147.74 km². Its highest location is Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi at 1,979.4 m (6,494 ft).DemographicsAs of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 23,516, and a density of 23.7 persons per km².Arts and culture, literally, road 20 ken in width, is an avenue lined with trees and a major tourist attraction of the town. The 8km road was created for a visit of the Imperial Family to the nearby Niikappu horse ranch in 1903. The ranch is under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Agency. It took five years to transplant trees from the local mountains to create the avenue. It was finished in 1916. Shinhidaka holds a cherry blossom festival yearly in May at the road in Shizunai ward.