Hidaka, Hokkaido

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Hidaka 日高町
Town
Flag Emblem
Location of Hidaka in Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
Hidaka Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°29′N 142°4′E / 42.483°N 142.067°E / 42.483; 142.067
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
District	Saru
Government
• Mayor	Shigeru Miwa (三輪 茂)
Area
• Total	992.67 km2 (383.27 sq mi)
Population  (September 30, 2016)
• Total	12,596
• Density	13/km2 (33/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	210-1 Monbetsu Honchō, Hidaka-chō, Saru-gun, Hokkaidō 059-2192
Climate	Dfb
Website	www.town.hidaka.hokkaido.jp

Hidaka (日高町, Hidaka-chō) is a town located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Hidaka Town is divided into two exclaves, which coincide with the former towns of Hidaka and Monbetsu. The town of Biratori lies between the two wards separating them. Hidaka Ward (Hidaka-ku) lies in the Hidaka Mountains at a cross road leading to Sapporo, Furano, Obihiro, and Biratori. These crossroads lead to Hidaka and Nisshō passes. Monbetsu Ward (Monbetsu-ku) lies on the coast of the Pacific Ocean at the outlet of the Saru River.

A train line used to run up to Hidaka along the Saru River. The train carried lumber from the logging camps down to the coast. The train line is no longer used.

The entire town has an area of 992.67 square kilometres (383.27 sq mi). Hidaka ward has an area of 563.94 square kilometres (217.74 sq mi) and Monbetsu ward has an area of 428.73 square kilometres (165.53 sq mi).^[1]

Hidaka was served by the JR Hokkaido Hidaka Main Line. However, no services have operated between Mukawa and Samani 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.

Stations in Hidaka: Tomikawa - Hidaka-Mombetsu - Toyosato - Kiyohata - Atsuga

As of September 2016, Hidaka had a population of 12,596.

On March 1, 2006, the town of Monbetsu was merged into Hidaka.

Hidaka also has a ski slope called the Hidaka Skijo, which has 4 chairlifts and an onsen called Kogenso.

There is also a Shonen Shizen no Ie Boys' Nature House.

Kurumi-chan and Tonekko-kun,
the town's mascots

Hidaka's mascot is Kurumi-chan (クルミちゃん). Her name means "walnut". She is a squirrel who loves walnuts grown in the town.^[4] Her companion is Tonekko-kun (とねっこクン) who is a horse from Monbetsu. Tonekko-kun's designer is Hiroshi Kurogane.^[5]

• Media related to Hidaka, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)

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