Map showing original extent of Shimohei District in Iwate Prefecture
colored area=original extent in Meiji period; green=present area
Shimohei (下閉伊郡, Shimohei-gun) is a
rural district in
Iwate Prefecture, in the
Tōhoku region of northern Japan. As of 1 June 2019[update], the district has an estimated population of 29,559 and a population density of 20 persons per km2. The total area is 1,481.02 km2.
Much of the city of Miyako was formerly within the district. There are two towns and two villages within the district.
On January 4, 1879, Hei District was divided into five districts (Kitahei, Higashihei, Nishihei, Nakahei and Minamihei. However, on April 1, 1897, the three districts of Kitahei, Higashihei and Nakahei were merged to form Shimohei District, which was then reorganized into three towns (Miyako, Kuwagasaki and Yamada) and 25 villages.[citation needed]