Hinamizawa

Hinamizawa is the name of the village where Higurashi no Naku Koro ni takes place. It is home to several members of The Club and their friends. The village is known for carrying an unusual disease called the Hinamizawa Syndrome and is often the victim of the Great Hinamizawa Disaster during several timelines. Currently, Hinamizawa is at peace thanks to the work of the Club in thwarting the plans of Tokyo.

Onigafuchi Village
The name of the village was changed from "Onigafuchi" to "Hinamizawa" in Meiji era. The Onigafuchi Swamp retains the name, however, which translates to "Demon Possessing". The 沢 part of Hinamizawa's full kanji name literally means "swamp", which is most likely a reference to/preservation of Hinamizawa's strong historical connection to the Onigafuchi Swamp.

Oyashiro-sama's Curse
Oyashiro-sama's curse, or the Shrine God's Curse, is an old superstition believed in by some of the villagers. The belief is that anyone who angers the local god Oyashiro-sama will be cursed. What is exactly intended by the curse is unknown, but it usually seems that the cursed either die or disappear. One way to be cursed appears to be to leave the village with no intent to return.

It is later revealed that there was never actually a curse; it was invented long ago to discourage people from leaving the village and spreading the Hinamizawa Syndrome.

Shirakawa-go, Gifu
Hinamizawa is based on the real world village of Shirakawa-go. Shirakawa-go's population is actually smaller than Hinamizawa's, having only 1,864 people (as of 2009) compared to Hinamizawa's 2000. Also, there is no "Shirakawa-go Syndrome". Shirakawa-go is located in Gifu Prefecture, high in the mountains. Like Hinamizawa, most of it is dense forest.