Nichinan (日南町, Nichinan-chō) is a town located in Hino District, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2021[update], the town had an estimated population of 4,144 in 1903 households and a population density of 12 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 340.962 square kilometres (131.646 sq mi), representing 10% of the total area of Tottori Prefecture.Over 90% of the town is covered by mountains and forest,[2] and 5% of the land is arable.[3] Areas of Nichinan are part of Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park.
Geography
Nichinan is a landlocked town located at the south-western tip of Hino District in the southwestern corner of Tottori Prefecture. The town is mountainous and located on the backbone of the Chūgoku Mountains.
Nichinan has a Humid climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm, wet summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nichinan is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F). The average annual rainfall is 1,894.1 mm (74.57 in) with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 23.4 °C (74.1 °F), and lowest in January, at around −0.2 °C (31.6 °F).[7] Its record high is 34.9 °C (94.8 °F), reached on 19 August 2020, and its record low is −17.7 °C (0.1 °F), reached on 16 February 2011.[8]
Climate data for Nichinan (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1978−present)
Per Japanese census data,[9] the population of Nichinan has been as follows. The town has been suffering from rural depopulation, and the population has been rapidly decreasing since the 1960s.
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1920
13,080
—
1930
13,779
+5.3%
1940
13,829
+0.4%
1950
16,045
+16.0%
1960
15,286
−4.7%
1970
11,051
−27.7%
1980
8,889
−19.6%
1990
7,974
−10.3%
2000
6,696
−16.0%
2010
5,458
−18.5%
History
The area of Nichinan was part of ancient Hōki Province. During the Edo Period, it was part of the holdings of the Ikeda clan of Tottori Domain. Following the Meiji restoration. the area was divided into villages within Hino District, Tottori on October 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. The town of Hokunan (伯南町) was created by the merger of the villages of Hinoue and Yamagami on May 2, 1955. It merged with the villages of Takamiya, Tari, Iwami and Fukue to form the town of Nichinan on April 1, 1959.
Government
Nichinan has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of ten members. Nichinan, collectively with the other municipalities of Hino District, contributes one member to the Tottori Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Tottori 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
The economy of Nichinan is based agriculture, forestry, and seasonal tourism to its ski resorts.
Education
Nichinan has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.
The Nichinan Cultural Center (785 Kasumi, Nichinan, Tottori), located next to the Nichinan Town Hall, houses the town's three main cultural facilities in one building.[16] The Cultural Center is accessible by bus, or a 30-minute walk, from the JR WestHakubi LineShōyama Station.
^ abc"Inga-gawa". Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系 "Compendium of Japanese Historical Place Names") (in Japanese). Tokyo: Netto Adobansusha. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
^"Sekka-kei". Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) "Large Encyclopedia of Japan (Nipponika)") (in Japanese). Tokyo: Netto Adobansusha. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
^"Gedatsu-ji". Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (日本歴史地名大系 "Compendium of Japanese Historical Place Names") (in Japanese). Tokyo: Netto Adobansusha. 2012. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
Nichinan, Miyazaki Nichinan Nichinan, Tottori Nichinan Station Obi, Nichinan Nichinan Dam Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park List of Cultural Properties of Nichinan, Tottori JS Nichinan Nichinan Line