Shioya, Tochigi 1.73

Shioya is a town located in Shioya District, Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of May 2015, the town had an estimated population of 11,542 and a population density of 65.5 persons per km2. Its total area was 176.06 km2.GeographyShioya is located in central Tochigi Prefecture.Surrounding municipalities Tochigi Prefecture Utsunomiya Sakura Nasushiobara Yaita NikkōHistoryThe villages of Tamanyu, Funyu, and Omiya were created within Shioya District of Tochigi Prefecture on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system after the Meiji Restoration. The three villages merged on March 31, 1957 to create the village of Shioya. Shioya was elevated to town status on February 11, 1965.EconomyThe economy of Shioya is heavily dependent on agriculture, but is increasingly a bedroom community for the nearby cities of Utsunomiya and Nikkō.