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.
During the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate, the district was within Mutsu Province and was under the control of the Nanbu clan of Morioka Domain. In 1869, following the Meiji restoration, Mutsu Province was divided, with the area of Hei District becoming part of Rikuchū Province, and from 1872, part of Iwate Prefecture.[citation needed]
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]
39°52′N 141°47′E / 39.867°N 141.783°E