Demography

Per Japanese census data, 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.

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.

Transportation

Railway

frameless|20x20px JR West - Hakubi Line

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Highways

Sister cities

  • Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
  • Scotts Valley, California, United States

Local attractions

  • Sekka Gorge
  • Nichinan Historic Village
  • Nichinan Apple Village
  • Hanamiyama Ski Resort
  • Sasaraku-jinja
  • Gedatsu-ji

Cultural institutions

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. The Cultural Center is accessible by bus, or a 30-minute walk, from the JR West Hakubi Line Shōyama Station.

  • Satsuki Hall—a 502-seat performance hall
  • Nichinan Library
  • Nichinan Art Museum

References

  • Nichinan official website