Population －人口―

The present population of Hino Town is

approximately 23,300 which is distributed

over 7,300 residences.

Area －面積―

Hino is located in the southeast of Shiga

Prefecture, spread out at the western foot of

the Suzuka Sanmyaku mountain range. The town

is roughly diamond-shaped, measuring 14.5 ㎞

east-west and 12.3 ㎢ north-south, with a

total area of 117.62 ㎢.

The locality has a predominance of hills and

mountains, with 52% of the land being

forested. Population

centers are scattered over the broad strip of

pastoral land bordering the Sakuragawa river

basin.

Nature －自然－

Hino’s official flower is the

Rhododendron.

Hino’s official tree is the Cypress.

The climate is mild, belonging to the Setouchi

type, but the average temperature is slightly

lower in comparison to the shores of Lake

Biwa, and is somewhat inland in character.

Snowfall does occur in

winter. The elevation is 190m at the center,

with the highest point (1,110m) being Mt.

Watamuki in the Suzuka Sanmyaku range. The

Suzuka mountains, which adjoin the east part

of the town, are designated as the Suzuka

Quasi-National Park. It is here that the

scenic monument known as the “Clusters of

Rhododendron (Shakunage) of Kaigake Vale” is

located. These flowers also cluster in a

natural setting around the summit of Mt.

Watamuki. The area is blessed by a richness of

natural beauty in all seasons.

Transport －交通―

The main roads are National Route 307 and the

Hino-Minakuchi Green Bypass, providing access

to National Route 1 and the Meishin

Expressway. A local railway, the Omi Tetsudo,

established in 1900, links Hino with the

nearby centers of Yokaichi and Minakuchi.

In old times Hino lay along the route taken by

pilgrims to Ise from the Hokuriku area and was

bustling with traffic. The major cities of the

Hokuriku, Kansai and Chubu areas are within

reasonable distance of Hino, with Kyoto,

Yokkaichi and Ogaki within a 50km radius and

Osaka, Gifu, Nagoya, Tsuruga, Maizuru, Ise and

Hashima within a 100km radius.

History －歴史―

From the Heian to the early Muromachi periods,

Hino was known as “Hino-maki”, or “Hino

pasture”. This ancient name, which is the

origin of the present-day one, conveys a

vision of the pastoral scenes of that long-ago

Hino, with its rich, spreading green meadows.

From the Kamakura period, the Gamo Clan

ascended the stage of history as the feudal

rulers of Hino, controlling this area for

nearly 400 years, spanning 17 generations. The

central streets of present-day Hino were

maintained as the castle town of the Gamo Clan

in the early 16th century. Thanks to the

support of trade and industry and growth

planning of this clan, the town prospered

greatly, and became known throughout the

country for its specialty: munitions,

including rifles.

Eventually, during the time of Gamo Ujisato,

a hero of the Sengoku period, the clan was

transferred out of the area, which caused a

temporary fall in the town fortunes. But the

townsfolk brought vigor back to Hino by

practicing itinerant trade. In the Edo period,

travelling merchants known as Hino shonin set

out to all parts of the country selling wooden

bowls and medicines, and Hino entered into a

new phase of development as a merchant town.

In March 1955, seven villages united to form

the present Hino Town.

Specialities －特産―

Long a center of commerce and industry, and

blessed with an abundance of nature, Hino

boasts a great variety of products. Local

sake, Japanese sweets, a pickle made

From the vegetable called Hino-na, tea, beef,

bamboo shoots, rice, and apples all await you.

Industries －産業―

The primary industries in Hino are proud of

the high level of production making use of

resources from the broad fields and hills

and the rich forests. In particular, the

dairy industry has the highest yield of

fresh milk products in Shiga Prefecture. As

well, the fertile paddies produce a large

amount of delicious Hino-mai rice.

In recent years, many different quality

industries from all over Japan have moved

to the Hino industrial parks. High-tech

machinery and appliances are shipped from

this area. Medicine making, taking over a

long tradition from the Hino shonin, has

been reborn as a modern pharmaceutical

company serving public health.

It may be said that Hino is a town with a

good balance of agriculture and industry.

Tourism －観光

TEMPLES-SHRINES

－寺社―

Shomyoji【Temple】―正明寺―

This famous temple of the Obaku zen sect, is

said to have been built by the 7th century

prince Shotoku Taishi. The temple was burned

during the wars of the Sengoku Period, and

reconstructed in the early Edo Period, by the

Emperor Go-Mizuno-o. The main hall,

designated as an Important Cultural Property,

is a building from the Kyoto Imperial Palace,

donated by the Emperor and moved to the site.

The main and subsidiary deities are also

designated as Important Cultural Properties.

Saimyozenji【Temple】―西明禅寺―

Said to have been constructed by Prince

Shotoku Taishi at the time of Empress Suiko,

Saimyozenji is Located on a high spot halfway

up Mt. Ryuo with a view of Lake Biwa. It

features many stone Buddhas carved in the

Middle Ages, lined up in front of the gate. The

main deity is the Eleven-headed Kannon

(Juichimen Kannon), an old wooden statue

dating from the Heian Period, and designated

as an Important Cultural Property.

Kongojoji【Temple】―金剛定寺― Kongojoji is one of 48 temples constructed in

the time of Empress Suiko (the same period as

Saimyozenji) by Prince Shotoku Taishi. The

deity is an eleven-headed Kannon. Three

statues, believed to date from the early Heian

period, are among the treasures of the temple.

(Important Cultural Property)

Umamioka Watamuki Shrine

―馬見岡綿向神社―

This shrine gained prominence as the shrine of

the upper (northern) part of the Gamo fiefdom,

and was the deity of the Gamo Clan. It was the

object of veneration of many Hino merchants in

the early Edo period. This deep faith is

continued by the people of Hino to this day.

Shingyoin【Temple】―信楽院― Site of the graves of the Gamo Family while

they were lords of the area from the Kamakura

to the Azuchi-Momoyama periods, within the

grounds is a plum tree boasting an age of 300

years. On the ceiling of the main hall is a

remarkable dragon painted by the Hino-born

artist Takada Keiho.

Gamo Ujisato ―蒲生氏郷― A hero of the Sengoku Period, Gamo Ujisato

served both Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi

Hideyoshi. He was the son of Gamo Katahide, who

built the Nakano (Hino) Castle. He was highly

trained in both literature and military arts,

and also protected trade and industry

providing the basis for the later success of

the Hino merchants.

FESTIVALS

－祭―

Minami Sanno Festival

(April 4) ―南山王祭― Otherwise known as Minami Sanno this is the

spring festival of Hieda Shrine in Okubo Seon.

It is a festival filled with the mood of

spring, as more than ten large streamers

unique to the Hino area called Hoinobori are

offered to the shrine.

Hino Festival (May 2-3)

―日野祭― Hino Matsuri, the annual spring festival of

Umamioka Watamuki Shrine carries on ancient

ceremonies and customs dating back more than

800 years; it is the largest matsuri in the

Koto Region. The festival is registered as an

Intangible Cultural Asset of Shiga

Prefecture.

Each year, May 2nd marks festival eve; with the

main festival featuring a colorful procession

led by sacred children (kamiko), shrine

guardians (shinchosha) and three portable

shrines (mikoshi) being held on May 3rd. Not

to be missed are the ten or more fantastically

decorated floats playing festival music

(hayashi) that are central to the event.

Festival Eve

At dusk, each festival float is displayed in

front of its storehouse (yamagura) or at a

nearby street corner. Illuminated by paper

lanterns and flowing with festival music late

into the night, the air is filled with

excitement.

Festival Day

Three sacred children (kamiko) together with

the retinue of shrine guardians (shinchosha)

from Hino’s Kozukeda district form an

entourage known as Shibadengaku. Some 100

men in formal kamishimo ceremonial dress lead

the festival proceedings.

At about 8:30 a.m., the Shibadengaku entourage

arrives at Umamioka Watamuki Shrine; groups of

youth charged with carrying the portable

shrines (mikoshi) follow. Then, the floats

(hikiyama) head for the shrine, arriving one

by one until by noon there are ten odd floats

arrayed inside the shrine precincts.

At the shrine, in front of the mikoshi, the

shrine priest and three kamiko perform a

ritual exchange of sacred rice wine, at which

point each hikiyama simultaneously begins

playing festival music and, led by the three

kamiko, the mikoshi depart from the shrine.

This is the highlight of the festival.

At nightfall, the hikiyama with their

lanterns lit, return to their respective

storehouses (yamagura), thus bringing to a

close the dazzling

splendor of the festival.

Edo period, these floats are between 150 and

200 years old, but due to the careful

preservation efforts of the neighborhood

associations, they continue to add splendor to

the annual event.

Hikiyama (Festival Floats)

―曳山― The floats making their appearance during

the Hino Festival represent 16 of the town’s

neighborhoods. Built during the mid to late

the streets toward Umamioka Watamuki Shrine,

where they are put on display for much of the

day. From year to year, the number of floats

participating in the main event varies

slightly. Adding to the event’s excitement,

atop each float unique displays are created by

each neighborhood and inside drums and flutes

play special festival music.

Each of the floats differ in size and design,

but the trailing tapestries and minute wood

carvings are truly.

Sajiki-mado (Gallery Windows)

― 桟敷窓 ―

Used just once a year, these windows are for

viewing the Hino Festival procession. Houses

along the street serving as the main route to

Umamioka Watamuki Shrine incorporated the

windows into their board fences.

On the day of the festival, the windows are

opened and a bright red carpet is draped over

the sill. From inside, friends and family

view the festival floats and accompanying

procession, as if it were a small painting cut

from a much larger mural.

The scenery of festival viewing through

gallery windows is peculiar to Hino.

Hifuri Festival (August1 4-15)

― 火ふり祭 ― This poetic summer festival adds color to the

night sky of the 0-Bon season (when Japanese

remember their dead). It is held in Hibarino

grove in Kozukeda. Hundreds of pine torches

are thrown up into the trees. It is said that

if many of them get lodged there, a good

harvest is assured for that year. It is a

festival of heroic mood, which predicts good

fortune.

Imo-kurabe Festival

(September 1) ― 芋くらべ祭 ― In this humorous festival, the stems of

carefully cultivated taro plants are measured

in a competition for length. Known in the

vicinity since the Heian Period, it is an

unusual festival and is designated as an

Intangible Cultural Asset of the nation. It

has long been said that the harvest will be

good if the West wins, and poor if the East

wins.

ＮＡＴＵＲＥ

－自然― Vale of Rhododendrons(Shakunage)

― しゃくなげ渓 ― This valley, is at a 300-400m elevation and is

also called Kaigake Vale. Along the slope,

over an area of about 40,000 ㎡ wild rhodo-

dendrons grow in profusion, forming a monument

of scenic beauty. From late April to early May,

the vale blushes pale pink from top to bottom.

This is the largest concentration of

rhododendrons in western Japan.

Wisteria (Shohoji Temple)

―正法寺― Close to the temple’s main hall, there are

three remarkable wisteria trellises. At

blossom time these 300-year-old trees bring

forth tassels up to a meter in length,

delighting visitors from early to mid-May.

Azaleas (Unkoji Temple)

―さつき(雲迎寺)― From the temple gate to the inner garden,

300-year-old azalea plants stand in an

unbroken line. The only temple garden

exclusively planted with azalea, it provides

a spectacular vista of shades of pink at

blossom time.

Shiga Prefectural Livestock

Technological Research Center

―滋賀県畜産技術センター― Within the Center’s 42 hectare property is a

space for the public to enjoy contact with

animals (including ponies, sheep, goats,

rabbits, and deer) in a picnic setting. It is

loved as a place of learning for school

children and as a relaxation spot for families

and tourists. Open 8:30am-4pm.

Mt.Watamuki and Hinogawa Dam

―綿向山と日野川ダム― Mt. Watamuki is one of the peaks in the Suzuka

National Park. It was worshipped as a sacred

mountain from ancient times. At a height of

1,110m, it is comparatively easy to climb and

preferred by beginners. From the summit, Ise

Bay, Lake Biwa and Mt. Hiei may be viewed all

at once. The climb takes three hours one way

from Kitabata and two hours from Saimyoji. The

Hinogawa Dam, built to stem the Hino River, is

about 2 ㎞ in circumference. Small yet rich in

moods, it is a favorite place for family

fishing outings.

MUSEUMS

－博物館― Omi-Hino Merchants Museum

―近江日野商人館― In 1981, this home was donated to the town

of Hino by the owner and Hino merchant

Yamanaka Hyouemon. It was restored in 1936

retaining the original typical features of

a Hino merchant’s dwelling.

The facade is not designed to show off

wealth, but reflects the occupants’ austere

attitude toward life. Inside are displayed

the goods traditionally sold, objects used

on their trips, and written rules of family

behavior. This is a precious museum where we

can learn of the history, trading methods and

lifestyle of the Hino merchants.

TENBIN－BOUYA（Hino shonin）

INTERNATIONAL SISTER CITIES OF HINO

― 国際交流 日野の姉妹都市 ―

EMBU, Brazil

Street in Embu

EUNSAN, Korea

From the point of view of Hino, Embu is on

exactly the opposite side of the globe. It is

a quiet and beautiful town filled with greenery

and cobbled streets that became a municipality

in 1959. Approximately 1,200 people of Japanese

ancestry live there. As it is close to the

capital São Paolo, suburban agriculture

predominates, with an emphasis on flowers and

vegetables. In fact it is called the “Town of

Flowers.” Because of the large numbers of

artists living there, it has another name – the

“Town of Art.” Exchange with Hino began when

a group of Brazilian competitors came for the

1980 National Athletic Meet Practice Meet and

the All-Japan Teachers’ Sumo Meet. As a result

of the warm relations formed at that time, the

two towns formed a sister-city agreement in

1984.

Eunsan is a town in the Republic of Korea, the

neighbor country with which Hino has had deep

ties since ancient times. About 3 hours south

of the capital, Seoul, by car, it is a tranquil

spot with more than 70% mountainous land, and

is famous as an area for chestnuts and shiitake

mushrooms.

The Kishitsu Shrine, in Hino’s Ono district,

venerates the Korean scholar Kishitsu Shushi

who visited 1300 years ago. In Eunsan is the

Eunsan Besshindo, which venerates Shushi’s

father, General Fukushin. From this

relationship, our friendship has deepened with

the signing of a sister-city agreement in 1990.

Eunsan Besshindo