0 . 4 8   km ². ▁ ▁On ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁K aw ane ▁was ▁merged ▁into ▁the ▁expanded ▁city ▁of ▁Sh im ada ▁and ▁thus ▁no ▁longer ▁exists ▁as ▁an ▁independent ▁municipality . ▁ ▁Geography ▁There ▁are ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁surrounding ▁municipal ities , ▁including : ▁ ▁A oi - ku , ▁Sh iz u oka ▁city ▁Ten ry ū - ku , ▁Ham am ats u ▁Sh im ada ▁F uj ied a ▁K aw ane hon , ▁Ha ib ara ▁District ▁Mor i , ▁Sh uch i ▁District ▁ ▁History ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 8 9 ▁- ▁" Sh im ok aw ane ▁Village " ▁founded ▁from ▁the ▁mer ger ▁of ▁three ▁pre - Me iji ▁villages . ▁January ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁- ▁Mer ged ▁part ▁of ▁I k umi ▁Village ▁in ▁Sh ida ▁District . ▁February ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁- ▁Mer ged ▁S as ama ▁Village ▁in ▁Sh ida ▁District . ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁- ▁Sh im ok aw ane ▁Village ▁was ▁rec lass ified ▁as ▁K aw ane ▁Town . ▁April ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁- ▁K aw ane ▁Town ▁was ▁merged ▁into ▁Sh im ada ▁City . ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁ ▁Sh im ada ▁official ▁website ▁▁ ▁Category : Pop ulated ▁places ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 8 8 9 ▁Category : Pop ulated ▁places ▁dis