council of 12 members. In terms of national politics, the town is represented in the Diet of Japan's House of Representatives as a part of the Aomori 1st district. Economy The economy of Hiranai is heavily dependent on commercial fishing. Some of the locally caught seafood include sea urchin roe, sea cucumber, scallops, abalone and squid. Tourism also plays a role in the economy, with beaches in close proximity to the city of Aomori in summer, ski resorts in winter, and onsen all year drawing tourists. Education Hiranai has three public elementary schools and three public middle schools operated by the town government. Hiranai formerly had one public high school, the Hiranai branch of Aomori-Higashi High School, operated by the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education, but it was closed in 2021. Following the high school's closure it was designated as a public venue for the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines beginning in April 2021. The town is also home to Shofujuku High School, a privately-run school established in 1974 that follows a curriculum based on the beliefs of Shōroku Shintō Yamatoyama. The private school gained national attention for its use of the deprecated Imperial Rescript on Education in its curriculum. Transportation Railway Aoimori Railway Company - Aoimori Railway Line - - - Highway (unsigned) Aomori Prefecture Route 9 Aomori Prefecture Route 123 Aomori Prefecture Route 206 Aomori Prefecture Route 207 Aomori Prefecture Route 209 Aomori Prefecture Route 210 Aomori Prefecture Route 215 Aomori Prefecture Route 269 Bus Shimokita Kōtsū Kōnan Bus Company (seasonal) Aomori City Bus (transferred services to Shimokita Kōtsū in 2004) Local attractions Yogoshiyama Forest Park is run by the town featuring multiple attractions, with more than 3,000 kinds of succulent plants grouped in a large greenhouse of 990 square meters from different parts of the world, including the Americas and Africa. Cacti and flowers of tropical origin bloom year-round. The park also has ski and snowboarding facilities, including a ski lift. Asadokoro is the only designated natural monument in Japan for the observation of swans. Tundra swan from Siberia come to the region during the winter. A local legend says that the Tsugaru clan was at risk of losing what would become Hiranai to the Nanbu clan. After the Tsugaru forces prayed for help against the Nanbu, a massive flock of swans appeared. The Nanbu couldn't see the swans, but they mistook their honking for the sound of