{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Shinhidaka | native_name = {{nobold|新ひだか町}} | native_name_lang = ja | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Shinhidaka Town Hall.jpg | image_caption = Shinhidaka Town Hall | image_flag = Flag of Shinhidaka, Hokkaido.svg | image_seal = Shinhidaka Hokkaido chapter.JPG <!-- maps and coordinates --> | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-point = none | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | image_map = Shinhidaka in Hokkaido Prefecture Ja.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Shinhidaka in Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture) | coordinates = {{coord|42|20|29|N|142|22|07|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Hokkaido | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture) | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = Hidaka | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Yoshihide Sakai | leader_title1 = Vice Mayor | leader_name1 = | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = 1,147.55 | population_total = 19,785 | population_as_of = December 31, 2025 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone1 = JST | utc_offset1 = +09:00 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | blank_name_sec1 = City hall address | blank_info_sec1 = 3-2-50, Shizunai Miyukichō, Shinhidaka-chō, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaidō 056-8650 | blank_name_sec2 = Climate | blank_info_sec2 = Dfb | website = {{URL|http://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp/}} | module = {{Infobox region symbols| embedded=yes | tree = Ezoyamazakura and Japanese ash | flower = Ezoyamatsutsuji (''Rhododendron kaempferi'') and beach rose (''Rosa rugosa'') | bird = | butterfly = | fish = | mascot = Konbuman (こんぶマン) and Kobune-chan (こぶねちゃん) }} }} right|thumb|270px|Panorama of Shizunai
{{Nihongo|'''Shinhidaka'''|新ひだか町|Shinhidaka-chō}} is a town located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. {{As of |2025|12|31}}, the town had an estimated population of 19,785 in 1120 households, and a population density of 17 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Shinhidaka-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp|title= Shinhidaka Town official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the town is {{cvt|1,147.55|km2}}. Although Urakawa is the capital of Hidaka Subprefectre, Shinhidaka is the most populous town, and the economic center of the subprefecture.
==Geography== Shinhidaka is located in southern Hokkaido, in the central coastal area of the Hidaka Subprefecture. The southwestern part faces the Pacific Ocean, and the mountainous area originating from the Hidaka Mountains in the northeastern part is designated as the Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park. The southern part faces the Pacific Ocean. The urban area spreads out at the mouth of the Shizunai River.<ref name="homepage">{{in lang|ja}} [http://shinhidaka.hokkai.jp/matinituite/aramasi.html Official Home Page of Shinhidaka] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424085647/http://shinhidaka.hokkai.jp/matinituite/aramasi.html |date=April 24, 2008 }}, last access May 30, 2008.</ref> Its highest location is Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi ({{coord|42|37|30|N|142|45|58|E|region:JP_type:city}}) at 1,979.4 m (6,494 ft). Takami Dam, Hokkaido's largest dam, is located in Shinhidaka.
===Neighboring municipalities=== *Niikappu *Urakawa *Taiki *Nakasatsunai
===Climate=== Shinhidaka has a humid continental climate (Köppen ''Dfb'') with warm summers and cold winters. With an alternate definition, using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm, Shinhidaka falls in the rare oceanic climate (''Cfb'') of the east coast of the continents due to the warm current of Tsushima. Owing to its slightly more southerly latitude, easterly aspect and location on the sea, snowfall is much lighter than in the major cities of western Hokkaido like Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa and Wakkanai.<ref>Japan Meteorological Agency; [http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=22&block_no=47426&year=&month=&day=&view= 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）]</ref> Precipitation in heaviest in the summer months when remnant typhoons may approach. Year-round sunshine, although less than in the Tokachi Plain, is also higher than western Hokkaido
{{Weather box |width=auto |collapsed = Y |single line = Y |metric first = Y |location = Mitsuishi, Shinhidaka (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) |Jan record high C = 10.7 |Feb record high C = 10.5 |Mar record high C = 17.3 |Apr record high C = 22.6 |May record high C = 25.8 |Jun record high C = 28.4 |Jul record high C = 32.1 |Aug record high C = 33.4 |Sep record high C = 31.2 |Oct record high C = 23.5 |Nov record high C = 19.9 |Dec record high C = 14.3 |Jan high C = 0.4 |Feb high C = 0.8 |Mar high C = 4.5 |Apr high C = 10.3 |May high C = 15.4 |Jun high C = 18.8 |Jul high C = 22.4 |Aug high C = 24.3 |Sep high C = 22.0 |Oct high C = 16.3 |Nov high C = 9.5 |Dec high C = 2.9 |year high C = |Jan mean C = -4.6 |Feb mean C = -4.2 |Mar mean C = -0.2 |Apr mean C = 4.7 |May mean C = 10.0 |Jun mean C = 14.2 |Jul mean C = 18.4 |Aug mean C = 20.0 |Sep mean C = 16.6 |Oct mean C = 10.1 |Nov mean C = 4.2 |Dec mean C = -1.8 |year mean C = |Jan low C = -11.3 |Feb low C = -11.2 |Mar low C = -6.1 |Apr low C = -1.8 |May low C = 3.7 |Jun low C = 9.4 |Jul low C = 14.8 |Aug low C = 16.0 |Sep low C = 11.0 |Oct low C = 3.5 |Nov low C = -1.7 |Dec low C = -7.5 |year low C = |Jan record low C = -24.1 |Feb record low C = -25.9 |Mar record low C = -23.6 |Apr record low C = -11.6 |May record low C = -5.9 |Jun record low C = -0.4 |Jul record low C = 5.4 |Aug record low C = 5.0 |Sep record low C = -0.8 |Oct record low C = -5.7 |Nov record low C = -12.5 |Dec record low C = -20.8 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 38.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 35.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 62.7 |Apr precipitation mm = 98.7 |May precipitation mm = 146.3 |Jun precipitation mm = 105.5 |Jul precipitation mm = 158.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 182.4 |Sep precipitation mm = 152.3 |Oct precipitation mm = 127.2 |Nov precipitation mm = 94.2 |Dec precipitation mm = 59.6 |year precipitation mm = 1258.4 |unit rain days = 1.0 mm |Jan rain days = 7.4 |Feb rain days = 7.2 |Mar rain days = 8.1 |Apr rain days = 10.8 |May rain days = 11.0 |Jun rain days = 9.0 |Jul rain days = 11.3 |Aug rain days = 11.5 |Sep rain days = 11.3 |Oct rain days = 11.9 |Nov rain days = 12.6 |Dec rain days = 11.1 |Jan sun = 145.6 |Feb sun = 155.3 |Mar sun = 185.5 |Apr sun = 188.6 |May sun = 193.8 |Jun sun = 161.9 |Jul sun = 126.9 |Aug sun = 143.9 |Sep sun = 165.7 |Oct sun = 171.6 |Nov sun = 126.3 |Dec sun = 120.9 |year sun = 1886.7 |source 1 = JMA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_a.php?prec_no=22&block_no=1198&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） |publisher=JMA |access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref> |source 2 = JMA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_amd_ym.php?prec_no=22&block_no=1198&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） |publisher=JMA |access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref>}}
===Demographics=== Per Japanese census data,<ref name="Hokkaido pop">{{cite web |url=https://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ss/tuk/900brr/index2.htmll|title= Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register|location= Hokkaido Prefecture home page|language= ja}}</ref> the population of Shinhidaka has declined in recent decades.
{{Historical populations | 1920 | 12583 | 1925 | 13680 | 1930 | 17174 | 1935 | 19410 | 1940 | 19412 | 1945 | 24022 | 1950 | 26570 | 1955 | 30123 | 1960 | 32746 | 1965 | 35754 | 1970 | 33241 | 1975 | 32257 | 1980 | 33190 | 1985 | 32610 | 1990 | 30262 | 1995 | 29337 | 2000 | 28438 | 2005 | 27265 | 2010 | 25420 | 2015 | 23231 | 2020 | 21517 |cols=2 |align = none | footnote = Shinhidaka population statistics<ref name=zensus>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/hokkaido/ Shinhidaka population statistics]</ref> }}
==History== The 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.
==Government== Shinhidaka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Shinhidaka, as part of Hidaka Subprefecture, contributes two members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 9th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.<ref name="Shinhidaka Gikai">{{cite web |url=https://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp/gikai/|title= Shinhidaka Town Assembly home page}}</ref>
==Economy== The main industries are dairy farming and fishing (kelp), as well as the breeding and production of racehorses, fishing, forestry, rice farming, field crops, and livestock farming.
==Education== Shinhidaka has four public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town. The town has two public high schools and one special education school for the handicapped operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education.<ref name="Shinhidaka ed-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.town.urakawa.hokkaido.jp/gyosei/education/?content=220|title= Shinhidaka Town Board of Education}}</ref> The town also has one vocational training school for nursing.
==Transportation==
===Railways=== Shinhidaka was served by the JR Hokkaido Hidaka Main Line. However, no trains have operated between {{STN|Mukawa|x}} and {{STN|Samani|x}} since January 2015, due to storm damage. Plans to restore this section of the line have been abandoned, due to declining passenger numbers and very high maintenance costs, and the section was officially closed on 1 April 2021, and replaced by a bus service.
Defunct railway stations in Shinhidaka: {{STN|Shizunai|x}} - {{STN|Higashi-Shizunai|x}} - {{STN|Harutachi|x}} - {{STN|Hidaka-Tōbetsu|x}} - {{STN|Hidaka-Mitsuishi|x}} - {{STN|Hōei|x}} - {{STN|Honkiri|x}}
===Highways=== *30px|link=|alt= Hidaka Expressway * {{jct|country=JPN|Route|235}}
==Sister cities== *{{flagicon|US}} Lexington, Kentucky (United States)<ref>[http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=1410 Lexington Sister Cities Commission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020001842/http://www.lexingtonky.gov/index.aspx?page=1410 |date=October 20, 2014 }}, last access October 20, 2014</ref> *{{flagicon|JPN}} Minamiawaji, Hyōgo Prefecture (Japan)<ref name="Shinhidaka - Overview of the Town"/> *{{flagicon|JPN}} Mima, Tokushima Prefecture (Japan)<ref name="Shinhidaka - Overview of the Town"/> *{{flagicon|JPN}} Sumoto, Hyōgo Prefecture (Japan)<ref name="Shinhidaka - Overview of the Town">[http://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00000121.html Shinhidaka - Overview of the Town], last access May 6, 2016</ref>
==Local attractions== *{{Nihongo|Nijikken-dōro|二十間道路}}, literally, ''road 20 ken ({{convert|36|m|ft}}) in width'', is an avenue lined with {{Nihongo|Ezo mountain cherry ''Prunus sargentii'',|エゾヤマザクラ|Ezo-yamazakura}} trees and a major tourist attraction of the town. The {{convert|8|km|mi}} 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.<ref>{{in lang|ja}} [http://shinhidaka.hokkai.jp/ezoyama08/ezoyama08.htm Ezo-zakura Call] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420212955/http://shinhidaka.hokkai.jp/ezoyama08/ezoyama08.htm |date=April 20, 2008 }}, last access May 30, 2008</ref> *Chasi Ruins in the Shibechari River Basin and Appetsu Chasi Ruins, National Historic Site *Shizunai Gotenyama Tombs - Designated by Hokkaido Cultural Property *Shizunai Local Museum
<gallery> 二十間道路櫻並木.jpg|Nijikken-dōro JR Hidaka-Main-Line Shizunai Station building.jpg|former Shizunai Station Hidaka Line mountain side.jpg|Mitsuishi River 01新ひだかアイヌ資料館IMG 6310.jpg|Shinhidaka Ainu Museum 01シャクシャイン像（斜め）IMG 6337.jpg|Monument to Shakushain's revolt </gallery>
===Mascots=== {{multiple image | align = right | direction = horizontal | total_width = 240 | footer = Konbuman and Kobune-chan, the town's mascots | footer_align = center | image1 = Konbuman.png | image2 = Kobune-chan.png }} Shinhidaka's mascots are {{Nihongo|'''Konbuman'''|こんぶマン}} and {{Nihongo|'''Kobune-chan'''|こぶねちゃん}}. They are superhero siblings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00000168.html |title=みついし昆布 |website=Shinhidaka}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp/hotnews/detail/00000863.html |title=新ひだか町ふるさと大使・サポート大使 |website=Shinhidaka}}</ref>
*Kobuman is from Mitsuishi. He is usually active in events. He became mascot on February 2, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kawaii.hokkaido.jp/character/konbuman/ |title=昆布マンのプロフィール（新ひだか町） |website=Kawaii Hokkaido}}</ref> *Kobune-chan became mascot on August 10, 2017. Like her brother, she is also usually active in events.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.shinhidaka-hokkaido.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Hokkaido}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Shinhidaka, Hokkaido Category:Towns in Hokkaido Category:Populated coastal places in Japan