Hida, Gifu
Hida or Hida Furukawa is a city located in Gifu, Japan., the city had an estimated population of 24,726, and a population density of 31 persons per km2, in 8,905 households. The total area of the city was. The official kanji for the city is actually 飛驒, which uses the old rendering of the 騨 character. However, the 驒 character is not included on the official list of usable characters, so the 騨 character is often used outside of the city.
Geography
Hida is the northernmost city in Gifu Prefecture, and is located in the northern part of the Hida Highlands bordering on Toyama Prefecture to the north. The majority of the area of the city is forested, with many mountains exceeding 1,000 meters within the city borders. The northeastern edge of the Hida Mountain range exceeds 2,000 meters. Most of the population is concentrated along river terraces along the Jinzū River and the Takahara River.Climate
The city has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters. The average annual temperature in Hida is. The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around, and lowest in January, at around.Neighbouring municipalities
Per Japanese census data, the population of Hida has decreased steadily over the past 50 years.History
The area around Hida Furukawa was part of traditional Hida Province. During the Edo period, the whole Hida province was tenryō territory under the direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. During the post-Meiji restoration whole Japan was under a massive westernization and new reforms, the area was organised into Yoshiki District, Gifu. On July 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system, the town of Furukawa and the villages of Kawai and Miyagawa were created. The modern city of Hida Furukawa was established on February 1, 2004, from the merger of these municipalities with the town of Kamioka. In this region there is always a disambiguation between Hida Furukawa and Hida Takayama or Takayama city. Even though Furukawa has is own municipality, Takayama is a mayor city in the area after Gifu city, and Furukawa is under Hida Takayama's precincts.Government
Hida Furukawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature of 14 membersEconomy
The main two traditional economies in the city are the production of sake and traditional Japanese candles. The Furukawa area of the city is known for both of these crafts, while the Kamioka section is mainly known for its sake production.Education
Hida has five public elementary schools, two public middle schools and one combined elementary/middle school operated by the city government. The city has two public high schools operated by the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education. Tokyo University's Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory together with the data processing centre has been located in Kamioka since 2002.Transportation
Railway
– Takayama Main Line- - - - - - -
Local bus
Highway
- Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway, which connects the cities of Nagoya and Gifu with Toyama.
Sister cities
- Leutasch, Austria, friendship city since January 23, 1998
- Libin, Belgium, sister city since September 9, 1996
- Xingang, Chiayi, Taiwan, sister city since October 13, 2017
Local attractions