Shimokitayama, Nara
[file:不動七重滝（日本の滝百選） - panoramio.jpg|right|thumb|Fudonanae Falls]
Shimokitayama is a village located in Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture, Japan., the village had an estimated population of 678 and a population density of 5.1 persons per km2. The total area of the village is.
Geography
Bordering on Kamikitayama to the north and Totsukawa to the west, it is the southeasternmost region in Nara Prefecture. It shares a border to the east with Kumano, Mie Prefecture, and to the south, with Kitayama, Wakayama Prefecture. Much of the village is within the borders of the Yoshino-Kumano National Park and the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range World Heritage Site.
Shimokitayama is composed of seven main hamlets, arranged roughly in a circle, and Zenki, which is no longer inhabited but which once housed a religious community of shugendo practitioners, including Jitsukaga.
Roads lead north toward Nara from Ikehara, east toward Kumano from Shimokuwahara, south toward Kitayama from Kamikuwahara, and west toward Totsukawa from Uramukai.
;Ikehara
;Ikemine
;Kamikuwahara
;Sada
;Shimokuwahara
;Teragaito
;Uramukai
;Zenki
Climate
Shimokitayama has a humid subtropical climate characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shimokitayama is 11.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1893 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.3 °C.
History
The area of Shimokitayama was part of ancient Kii Province. The village Shimokitayama was established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system.
Government
Shimokitayama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of six members. Shimokitayama, collectively with the other municipalities of Yoshino District, contributes two members to the Nara Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Nara 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
Located in the mountainous area in the southern part of the prefecture, transportation is inconvenient and economic activity is not thriving. Local businesses are mainly in the tourism industry, such as hot springs and golf courses, and forestry
Education
Shimokitayama has one public combined elementary/junior high school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school.
Transportation
Railways
Shimokitayama has no passenger railway service. The nearest train station is Owase Station on the JR Central Kisei Main Line in Owase.
Highways
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Local attractions