Hino (日野町) is a town located in Gamō District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 21,149 in 8467 households and a population density of 180 persons per km2. The total area of the town is 117.60 sqkm.

Geography

Hino is located in east-central Shiga Prefecture in a large isolated rural area nestled beside the Suzuka Mountains with the town's tallest peak being Mt. Watamuki (1110m).

Surrounding municipalities

Shiga Prefecture

Climate

Hino has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hino is 13.1 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1673 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 24.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around 1.6 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Hino has remained relatively steady over the past 60 years.

History

The area of Hino was part of ancient Ōmi Province. The name "Hino" appears in Heian period documents in connection with handicraft made from thin strips of wood called "Hinomono", which remain a local speciality. During the Muromachi period, the area was dominated by the Gamō clan who ruled from Hino Castle, and it was also the origin of many traveling merchants, known as "Ōmi shonin". During the Edo period, much of the town was part of the domain of Nisshōji Domain, a 20,000 koku holding under the Tokugawa shogunate. With the creation of the modern municipalities system on April 1, 1889, the town of Hino was established. Hino expanded by annexing the neighboring villages of Higashi-Sakuradani, Nishi-Sakuradani, Nishioji, Kaige, Minamihizusa, and Kitahizusa on March 16, 1955.

Government

Hino has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 14 members. Hino, together with the town of Ryūō contributes one member to the Shiga Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of Shiga 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Agriculture has dominated the local economy since ancient times. Manufacturing includes a number of pharmaceutical factories, including Hino Pharmaceutical Company.

Education

Hino has six public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Shiga Prefectural Board of Education.

Transportation

Rural Hino offers less options for public transportation than most areas in Shiga. The private Ohmi Railway company services the one and only train station in Hino, Hino Station, with trains running on average twice every hour, with slightly more frequency during common commuting times and with less during mid afternoon. However, the station was built roughly 3 km away from the town center. Bicycles can be rented near the station and can be taken on and off the Ohmi Train during certain times. The Ohmi Train offers a "Free Ticket" which allows a rider to get on and off anywhere along the train line for the whole day at one set price on weekends and holidays. Ohmi Railway also runs buses which pick up and drop off at multiple points throughout Hino. The main bus connects Kitabata-guchi, Hino Station, and Ōmi-Hachiman Station as well as many rural points in between. The bus takes about 50 minutes from Hino to Ōmihachiman. Smaller inner-town buses also operate, but taking into consideration their infrequency, time and cost when compared to the overall size and points of interest of Hino, it is usually best to either walk, ride a bicycle or scooter, or drive a car if visiting multiple destinations.

Railway

Ohmi Railway – Main Line

Highway

Sister cities

Local attractions

Notable people from Hino