Shimotsuke (下野市, Shimotsuke-shi) is a city located in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2020, the city had an estimated population of 60,274 in 24,654 households,[1] and a population density of 810 persons per km². The total area of the city is 74.59 square kilometres (28.80 sq mi).

Shimotsuke
下野市
Shimotsuke City Hall
Shimotsuke City Hall
Flag of Shimotsuke
Official seal of Shimotsuke
Location of Shimotsuke in Tochigi Prefecture
Location of Shimotsuke in Tochigi Prefecture
Shimotsuke is located in Japan
Shimotsuke
Shimotsuke
 
Coordinates: 36°23′13.9″N 139°50′31.4″E / 36.387194°N 139.842056°E / 36.387194; 139.842056
CountryJapan
RegionKantō
PrefectureTochigi
Government
 • MayorToshio Hirose <広瀬寿雄> (from August 2006)
Area
 • Total74.59 km2 (28.80 sq mi)
Population
 (August 2020)
 • Total60,274
 • Density810/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- TreeZelkova serrata
- FlowerCalabash
- BirdJapanese bush warbler
Phone number0285-40-5551
Address1127 Koganei, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi-ken 329-0492
WebsiteOfficial website
Reconstructed portion of Shimotsuke Kokubun-ji

Geography

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Shimotsuke is located in southern Tochigi Prefecture.

Surrounding municipalities

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Tochigi Prefecture

Climate

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Shimotsuke has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Shimotsuke is 13.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1373 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.4 °C.[2]

Demographics

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Per Japanese census data,[3] the population of Shimotsuke has recently plateaued after a long period of growth.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 20,526—    
1930 23,069+12.4%
1940 24,691+7.0%
1950 33,491+35.6%
1960 32,401−3.3%
1970 36,471+12.6%
1980 43,641+19.7%
1990 46,673+6.9%
2000 57,447+23.1%
2010 59,464+3.5%
2020 59,507+0.1%

History

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The city of Shimotsuke was established on January 10, 2006, from the merger of the towns of Minamikawachi (from Kawachi District), and the towns of Kokubunji and Ishibashi (both from Shimotsuga District).

Government

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Shimotsuke has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city legislature council of 18 members. Shimotsuke contributes one member to the Tochigi Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Tochigi 1st district and the Tochigi 4th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

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Agriculture and light manufacturing are mainstays of the local economy, with production of Kanpyō, turmeric and spinach being prominent local crops. The city is increasingly a bedroom community for neighboring Utsunomiya.

Education

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Transportation

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Railway

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  JR EastTōhoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line)

Highway

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Local attractions

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International relations

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Noted people from Shimotsuke

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References

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  1. ^ "Shimotsuke City official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Shimotsuke climate data
  3. ^ Shimotsuke population statistics
  4. ^ [1] Germany Embassy in Japan
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  Media related to Shimotsuke, Tochigi at Wikimedia Commons