Hamatonbetsu, Hokkaido
Hamatonbetsu
浜頓別町 | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Hamatonbetsu town hall Hamatonbetsu town hall | |
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Official seal of Hamatonbetsu Chapter seal | |
| Lua error in Module:Mapframe at line 703: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Location of Hamatonbetsu in Hokkaido (Sōya Subprefecture) | |
| Location of Hamatonbetsu | |
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| Country | Japan |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Sōya Subprefecture) |
| District | Esashi |
| Area | |
• Total | 401.59 km2 (155.05 sq mi) |
| Population (July 1, 2024) | |
• Total | 3,263 |
| • Density | 8.125/km2 (21.04/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | Chūō-Minami 1-ban, Hamatonbetsu-chō, Esashi-gun, Hokkaidō 098-5792 |
| Climate | Dfb |
| Website | Official website |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Tundra swan |
| Flower | Caltha |
| Tree | Sakhalin Spruce |
Hamatonbetsu (浜頓別町, Hamatonbetsu-chō) is a town located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.[1] As of 1 July 2024[update], the town had an estimated population of 3,263 in 1841 households, and a population density of 8.1 people per km2.[2] The total area of the town is 401.59 km2 (155.05 sq mi).
Geography
[edit | edit source]Hamatonbetsu is located in northeast Hokkaido; it faces the Sea of Okhotsk to the east where, during the winter, there is drift ice. Coastal areas of the town are marshy, and mountains spread out in the western and southern parts of the town. Lake Kutcharo designated a Ramsar site in July 1989, and host nearly 300 bird species either year round or as part of the avians' migratory pattern.[3] Parts of the town are within the borders of the North Okhotsk Prefectural Natural Park.[4]
- Mountains: Mount Jumon (761m)
- Rivers: Tonbetsu River, Toyosambe River
- Lakes: Lake Kutcharo
Neighbouring municipalities
[edit | edit source]Climate
[edit | edit source]Hamatonbetsu has cold and temperate climate considered to be Dfb according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. There is a considerable amount of rainfall even during months that typically experience dry weather. The average annual temperature in Hamatonbetsu is 5.9 °C. Each year, there is an approximate 1112 mm of precipitation. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.1 °C, and lowest in January, at around -6.6 °C.[5]
| Climate data for Hamatonbetsu, elevation 18 m (59 ft), (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
9.3 (48.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
23.6 (74.5) |
29.7 (85.5) |
30.6 (87.1) |
33.6 (92.5) |
33.4 (92.1) |
30.9 (87.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
10.2 (50.4) |
33.6 (92.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.3 (26.1) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
1.4 (34.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
13.7 (56.7) |
16.9 (62.4) |
20.7 (69.3) |
22.8 (73.0) |
20.3 (68.5) |
14.1 (57.4) |
5.6 (42.1) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
9.7 (49.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.3 (20.7) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
4.0 (39.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
12.8 (55.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
19.0 (66.2) |
15.8 (60.4) |
9.6 (49.3) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−3.8 (25.2) |
5.9 (42.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.3 (13.5) |
−11.1 (12.0) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
0.1 (32.2) |
4.9 (40.8) |
9.0 (48.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.7 (53.1) |
5.3 (41.5) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
2.1 (35.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −27.4 (−17.3) |
−27.4 (−17.3) |
−24.6 (−12.3) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
1.0 (33.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
1.9 (35.4) |
−4.1 (24.6) |
−16.8 (1.8) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
−27.4 (−17.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 62.1 (2.44) |
46.7 (1.84) |
50.2 (1.98) |
47.6 (1.87) |
61.0 (2.40) |
65.0 (2.56) |
116.9 (4.60) |
118.9 (4.68) |
121.4 (4.78) |
106.4 (4.19) |
101.9 (4.01) |
83.3 (3.28) |
997.0 (39.25) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 17.5 | 15.1 | 13.5 | 10.6 | 10.8 | 10.2 | 11.3 | 11.7 | 13.1 | 14.5 | 17.7 | 19.2 | 165.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 59.7 | 82.3 | 132.2 | 166.3 | 174.0 | 148.2 | 132.9 | 143.1 | 165.3 | 135.7 | 71.9 | 56.6 | 1,470.1 |
| Source 1: JMA[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: JMA[7] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
[edit | edit source]Per Japanese census data, the population of Hamatonbetsu is as shown below. The town is in a long period of sustained population loss.[8]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 5,529 | — |
| 1950 | 7,543 | +36.4% |
| 1960 | 8,074 | +7.0% |
| 1970 | 7,130 | −11.7% |
| 1980 | 6,503 | −8.8% |
| 1990 | 5,573 | −14.3% |
| 2000 | 4,957 | −11.1% |
| 2010 | 4,172 | −15.8% |
| 2020 | 3,448 | −17.4% |
History
[edit | edit source]The name of "Tonbetsu" derives from the Ainu language word to-un-pet, which translates "river entering lake", and which referred to the Tonbetsu River which enters Lake Kutcharo. In 1878, the villages of Esashi, Tonbetsu, Utanobetsu, and Rebun were established in Esashi District, Kitami Province. In 1909 the four villages merged to form the village of Esashi; however, Tonbetsu was separated out in April 1916. In April 1921, Tonbestu was divided into Tonbetsu and Nakatonbetsu villages. Tonbetsu was raised to town status on November 1, 1951 and was renamed Hamatonbetsu due to its coastal location.
Government
[edit | edit source]Hamatonbetsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of ten members. Hamatonbetsu, as part of Soya sub-prefecture, contributes one member to the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaido 12th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Economy
[edit | edit source]The local economy of Hamatonbetsu is centered on commercial fishing and dairy farming. In particular, Hamatonbetsu is noted for its scallops, salmon and crabs.
Education
[edit | edit source]Hamatonbetsu has four public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town has one public high school operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education.
Transportation
[edit | edit source]Railways
[edit | edit source]Hamatonbetsu has not had any passenger railway services since the closing of the JR Hokkaido Tempoku Line in 1989. The nearest railway station is Minami-Wakkanai Station or Otoineppu Station on the Sōya Main Line, a 1.5 hour bus ride away.
Highways
[edit | edit source]- File:Japanese National Route Sign 0238.svg National Route 238
- File:Japanese National Route Sign 0275.svg National Route 275
Local attractions
[edit | edit source]- Hamatonbetsu onsen
- Kitami Kamuimisaki
- Lake Kutcharo
Notable people from Hamatonbetsu
[edit | edit source]- Masato Hatanaka, musician
Mascot
[edit | edit source]
Hamatonbetsu's mascot is Swatton (スワットン) who is a gentle yet clumsy pig dressed as a tundra swan. He lives in areas surrounding Lake Kutcharo. His birthday is August 21. According to Ainu legend, he first appeared during the Jomon period to bring food and medical needs for good health and protection from crimes and natural disasters. Nowadays, he is no longer a god anymore. Instead, he is now a ballet dancer (who is auditioning for Swan Lake) and the assistant to the mayor. He still helps the town to children and adults around the world and brings happiness during difficult times by his dance moves while promoting the town. He knows laughter is the best medicine.[9]
References
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- ^ Hamatonbetsu climate: Average Temperature, weather by month
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)
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