Hiji (日出町, Hiji-machi) is a town located in Hayami District, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 November 2023, the town had an estimated population of 28,025 in 12811 households, and a population density of 380 persons per km2. [1] The total area of the town is 73.32 km2 (28.31 sq mi).

Hiji
日出町
Hiji Town Center
Hiji Town Center
Flag of Hiji
Official seal of Hiji
Map
Location of Hiji in Ōita Prefecture
Location of Hiji
Hiji is located in Japan
Hiji
Hiji
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 33°22′10″N 131°31′56″E / 33.36944°N 131.53222°E / 33.36944; 131.53222
CountryJapan
RegionKyushu
Prefecture Ōita
DistrictHayami
Area
 • Total73.32 km2 (28.31 sq mi)
Population
 (November 30, 2023)
 • Total28,025
 • Density380/km2 (990/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2974-1 Hijichō, Hayami-gun, Ōita-ken 879-1506
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
FlowerCamellia sasanqua
TreeCamellia sasanqua
Hiji Town Hall
Hiji Castle ruins

Geography

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Hiji is located in central Ōita Prefecture, at the southern tip of the Kunisaki Peninsula, about 25 kilometers north of the prefectural capital at Ōita City. It occupies the northern shore of Beppu Bay.

Neighbouring municipalities

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Ōita Prefecture

Climate

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Hiji has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hiji is 16.0 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1623 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around 5.6 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data, the population of Hiji is as shown below

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1960 21,494—    
1970 20,207−6.0%
1980 21,464+6.2%
1990 24,433+13.8%
2000 27,640+13.1%
2010 28,058+1.5%
2020  27,723—    

History

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The area of Hiji was part of ancient Bungo Province. During the Edo period it was mostly under control of Hiji Domain and was ruled by the Kinoshita clan, relatives of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The town of Hiji within Hayami District, Ōita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. on March 31, 1954 Hiji expanded through a merger with the town of Toyookaand villages of Ogami, Kawasaki, and Fujiwara in Hayami District.

Government

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Hiji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 16 members. Hiji contributes one member to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Ōita 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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The economy of Hiji has traditionally been centered on agriculture and commercial fishing, with flounder from Beppu Bay a notable local speciality. The area has been designated as a new industrial urban development area in the Ōita area and as a technopolis in the northern Kunisaki area of the prefecture, and many companies are moving into the area. The population has increased significantly as a commuter town for Ōita City and Beppu City.

Education

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Hiji has five public elementary schools and two public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education. The prefecture operates one special education school for the handicapped.

Transportation

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Railways

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  JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line

Highways

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Places of interests

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The town has a trappist monastery and is also the home of Sanrio's Harmonyland theme park.

Noted people from Hiji

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References

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  1. ^ "Hiji Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Hiji climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
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