Hidakagawa, Wakayama
Geography. Hidakagawa is located in central Wakayama Prefecture. It is about 35 km east-west and about 10 km north-south. The Hidaka River runs through the central part, and about 90% of the total area is forest. It occupies about 7% of the total area of Wakayama Prefecture and is the third largest municipality in terms of area in the prefecture. Neighboring municipalities. Wakayama Prefecture Climate. Hidakagawa has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen "Cfa") characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hidakagawa is . The average annual rainfall  is with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The area is subject to typhoons in summer. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Hidakagawa has been decreasing over the past 60 years. History. The area of the modern town of Hidakagawa was within ancient Kii Province, and was the location of Tedori Castle during the Sengoku period. The villages of Hayaso, Nyu and Yata were established with the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889. These villages merged on January 1 , 1955 to form the town of Kawabe. Kawabe merged on May 1, 2005 with the villages of Nakatsu and Miyama to form the town of Hidakagawa. Government. Hidakagawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 12 members. Hidakagawa collectively with the other municipalities of Hidaka District, contributes three members to the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Wakayama 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy. The economy of Hidakagawa is centered on horticulture and agriculture. The town  is noted for its mandarin orangess, and for the production of "binchōtan" charcoal. Education. Hidakagawa has nine public elementary schools and four public middle schools operated by the town government, and two public high schools operated by the Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education. Transportation. Railway. JR West – Kisei Main Line