Hida 飛騨市 |
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City | ||
Furukawa Festival, held annually in April
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Location of Hida in Gifu Prefecture |
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Location in Japan | ||
Coordinates: 36°14′N 137°11′E / 36.233°N 137.183°ECoordinates: 36°14′N 137°11′E / 36.233°N 137.183°E | ||
Country | Japan | |
Region | Chūbu | |
Prefecture | Gifu Prefecture | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Hisanori Inoue | |
Area | ||
• Total | 792.31 km2 (305.91 sq mi) | |
Population (July 2011) | ||
• Total | 26,403 | |
• Density | 33/km2 (86/sq mi) | |
Symbols | ||
• Tree | Beech | |
• Flower | Lysichiton camtschatcense | |
Time zone | Japan Standard Time (UTC+9) | |
City hall address | 2-22 Hon-machi, Furukawa-chō, Hida-shi, Gifu-ken 509-4292 |
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Website | www |
Hida (飛騨市 Hida-shi) is the northernmost city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It received its name from the historical province of Hida Province, which was centered on the same area.
The official kanji for the city is actually 飛驒, which uses the old rendering of the 騨 character. However, the 驒 characters is not included on the official list of usable characters (as decided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), so the 騨 character is often used outside of the city.
As of July 2011, the city has an estimated population of 26,403 and a population density of 33 persons per km². The total area is 792.31 km².
The modern city of Hida was established on February 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Furukawa and Kamioka, and the villages of Kawai and Miyagawa (all from Yoshiki District).
The city is located on the northern part of the Hida Plateau. The city is geographically divided into two areas, the eastern and western half. The Takahara River flows through the eastern half the city and the Miya River flows through the western half (both rivers are part of the Jinzū River river system). A mountainous region separates the two sides and the population generally clusters around the two river valleys.
Much of the area within the city's borders is covered in forests. There are many mountains that reach higher than 1,000 feet (305 m), though some peaks in the Hida Mountains reach even higher, going beyond 2,000 feet (610 m).
The main two traditional economies in the city are the production of sake and Japanese candles. The Furukawa area of the city is known for both of these crafts, though the Kamioka section is also known for its sake production.