Nishinoshima, Shimane
Nishinoshima
西ノ島町 | |
---|---|
Town | |
![]() Kuniga shore | |
![]() Flag Seal | |
![]() Location of Nishinoshima in Shimane Prefecture | |
![]() ![]() Nishinoshima | |
Coordinates: 36°5′N 133°0′E / 36.083°N 133.000°ECoordinates: 36°5′N 133°0′E / 36.083°N 133.000°E | |
Country | Japan |
Region | Chūgoku San'in |
Prefecture | Shimane Prefecture |
District | Oki |
Area | |
• Total | 55.98 km2 (21.61 sq mi) |
Population (March 1, 2017) | |
• Total | 2,923 |
• Density | 52/km2 (140/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time) |
Phone number | 08514-6-0101 |
Address | 534 Urago, Nishinoshima-cho, Oki-gun, Shimane-ken 684-0211 |
Website | www |
Nishinoshima (西ノ島町, Nishinoshima-chō) is a town located on the island of Nishinoshima, in Oki District, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. As of June 2013, the town had an estimated population of 2,923 and a population density of 52 persons per km². The total area was 55.98 km2 (22 sq mi).
Geography[]
Nishinoshima occupies all of the island of Nishinoshima, in the Oki Islands archipelago in the Sea of Japan, along with a number of offshore uninhabited islands and rocks. Much of the town is within the borders of Daisen-Oki National Park.
Climate[]
Nishinoshima has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with very warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year.
History[]
Nishinoshima was part of ancient Oki Province, and is the location of a number of Shinto shrines dating to the early Heian period.[1] Nishinoshima, along with Ama and Okinoshima Town claim to be the location of the home-in-exile for ex-emperors Go-Toba and Go-Daigo.
After the Meiji restoration, the Oki Islands became part of Tottori Prefecture in 1871, but were transferred to Shimane Prefecture in 1881.[2] The island was divided between Urago Village in the west and Kuroki Village in the east in 1904. The two municipalities were divided by a canal in 1915, which cut the island into two parts. Urago became a town in November 1946 and merged with Kuroki in 1957 to form Nishinoshima Town. The two portions of the island were joined together by a bridge in 2005.
Culture[]
Nishinoshima's traditional performance art Shūhairā was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Japanese government.[3]
Economy[]
The town economy is primarily based on agriculture and commercial fishing.
References[]
- ^ Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan - A Story of Oki Islands
- ^ Shimane Prefecture - History Archived 2009-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "島根県:隠岐世界ジオパーク(oki islands global geopark)". 島根県庁. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
External links[]
Media related to Nishinoshima, Shimane at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Towns in Shimane Prefecture
- Populated coastal places in Japan
- Islands of Shimane Prefecture
- Global Geoparks Network members
- Geoparks in Japan
- Islands of the Sea of Japan
- Islands of Asia