Hodatsushimizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan

🇯🇵 Hōdatsushimizu (宝達志水町, Hōdatsushimizu-chō) is a town located in Hakui District, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 January 2018, the town had an estimated population density of 84 persons per km². The total area of the town was 111.52 square km (43.06 sq mi). In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization recognised Hōdatsushimizu under its Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme as a sustainable agricultural model.

Geography Hōdatsushimizu occupies the southern neck of Noto Peninsula, facing the Sea of Japan to the west and Toyama Prefecture to the east. It is one hour from Kanazawa by train. Mount Hōdatsu, the highest mountain in the Noto Peninsula, is in Hōdatsushimizu.

Neighbouring municipalities Ishikawa Prefecture ◦ Kahoku; ◦ Hakui; ◦ Tsubata; Toyama Prefecture ◦ Himi; ◦ Takaoka.

Demographics Per Japanese census data, the population of Hōdatsushimizu has declined over the past 40 years.

History The area around Hōdatsushimizu has been settled since the Japanese Paleolithic period, and remnants of Jōmon period and Yayoi period settlements have been found in many areas. The area was part of ancient Noto Province from the Nara period. During the Sengoku Period, the area was contested between the Hatakeyama clan, Uesugi clan and Maeda clan. The Siege of Suemori (1584) occurred in what is now part of the town. The area became part of Kaga Domain under the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate, and was noted for its gold mine Following the Meiji restoration, the area was organised into Hakui District, Ishikawa.

The modern town of Hōdatsushimizu was formed March 1, 2005 from the merger of the towns of Oshimizu and Shio, and its name is a compound of these former names (Shio + Oshimizu).

Economy Agriculture is important to the local economy.

Education Hōdatsushimizu has five public elementary schools and one public middle school operated by the town government, and one public high school operated by the Ishikawa Prefectural Board of Education.

Transport: Rail West Japan Railway Company - Nanao Line • Menden - Hōdatsu - Shikinami.

Transport: Road National Route 159; National Route 249; National Route 415; National Route 470; National Route 471.

Local attractions • Mount Hōdatsu, Hōdatsu • Chirihama Nagisa Driveway • Sandenkanaya Kofun, National Historic Site.