Higashishirakawa, Gifu
Geography. Higashishirakawa is located in the Mino-Mikawa Plateau of central Gifu Prefecture, surrounded by 1000-meter class mountains. Over 90% of the village area is forested. The town village has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and mild winters (Köppen climate classification "Cfa"). The average annual temperature in Higashishirakawa is 12.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2038 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.4 °C. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population  of Higashishirakawa has declined steadily over the past 40 years. History. The area around Higashishirakawa was part of traditional Mino Province. During the Edo period, it was part of the territory controlled by Naegi Domain. During the post-Meiji restoration cadastral reforms, the area was organised into Kamo District, Gifu Prefecture. The village of Higashishirawa was formed on July 1, 1889 with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The early Meiji period "Haibutsu kishaku" movement was especially strong in this area, and to this day, Higashishirakawa is the only municipality in Japan without a single Buddhist temple. Plans to  merge the village with the neighbouring city of Gifu were rejected by a referendum in June 2004. Economy. The mainstay of the local economy is agriculture and forestry. Education. Higashishirakawa has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the village government. The village does not have a high school. Transportation. Railway. The village does not have any passenger train service.