Shitara, Aichi

Shitara (設楽町, Shitara-chō) is a town located in Kitashitara District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2019, the town had an estimated population of 4,531 in 2,133 households,[1] and a population density of 16.5 persons per km². The total area of the town was 273.94 square kilometres (105.77 sq mi).

Shitara

設楽町
Town
Shitara Town Hall and Library
Flag
Emblem
Location of Shitara in Aichi Prefecture
Shitara
 
Coordinates: 35°6′N 137°34′E
CountryJapan
RegionChūbu region
Tōkai region
PrefectureAichi
DistrictKitashitara
Government
 • -MayorKazutoshi Kato
Area
 • Total273.94 km2 (105.77 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2019)
 • Total4,531
 • Density17/km2 (43/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeJapanese beech
- FlowerRhododendron
Phone number0536-62-0511
Address2 Idate, Taguti, Shitara-chō, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi-ken 441-2301
WebsiteOfficial website
Shimotsugu, Shitara

Geography

Shitara is located in the extreme northeast corner of Aichi Prefecture. Much of the town’s area is covered by mountains and forest, and portions of the town are within the borders of the Tenryū-Okumikawa Quasi-National Park.

Neighboring municipalities

Aichi Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[2] the population of Shitara has decreased drastically and is only a third of what it was 60 years ago.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 14,975—    
1970 10,732−28.3%
1980 9,321−13.1%
1990 8,225−11.8%
2000 6,959−15.4%
2010 5,767−17.1%

Climate

The town has a climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and relatively mild winters (Köppen climate classification Cfa). The average annual temperature in Shitara is 11.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 2310 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 0.3 °C.[3]

History

During the Edo period, most of present Shitara was tenryō territory under direct control of the Tokugawa shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration, the area was organized into several villages within Kitashitara District with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. Taguchi Village, the site of the district administrative office, was elevated to town status on October 10, 1900. The town of Shitara was established on September 30, 1956 through the merger of Taguchi with the neighboring villages of Damine, Nagura and Furikusa. The village of Tsugu was also formed on the same day through the merger of Kamitsugu and Shimotsugu villages. Shitara and Tsugu merged on October 1, 2005.

Economy

The primary industry of Shitara is agriculture, with rice, tomatoes, cabbage and daikon as the main crops. Production of hydroelectric power generation is also a major contributor to the local economy.

Education

Shitara has five public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the city government, and one public high school operated by the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education.

Primary schools
  • Taguchi Primary School
  • Seirei Primary School
  • Damine Primary School
  • Nagura Primary School
  • Tsugu Primary School

Junior High schools
  • Shitara Junior High School
  • Tsugu Junior High School

High schools
  • Taguchi High School

Foreign Exchange Program
  • Thomas Middle School (Arlington Heights, IL, USA)
  • South Middle School (Arlington Heights, IL, USA)

Transportation

Railway

Shitara does not have any passenger railway services.

Highway

Local attractions
  • Kurabune Ruins (鞍船遺跡) – Jōmon period archaeological site excavated in 1922
  • Damine Castle (田峯城) – ruins of a Sengoku period castle
  • Soezawa Onsen - hot spring resort

Notable people from Shitara

References
  1. Shitara Town official statistics (in Japanese)
  2. Shitara population statistics
  3. Shitara climate data

Media related to Shitara, Aichi at Wikimedia Commons

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