Kamikawa, Hokkaido

Geography

Climate

|Jan record high C = 8.2 |Feb record high C = 12.8 |Mar record high C = 14.8 |Apr record high C = 27.1 |May record high C = 33.3 |Jun record high C = 33.7 |Jul record high C = 34.3 |Aug record high C = 35.1 |Sep record high C = 31.2 |Oct record high C = 25.5 |Nov record high C = 19.2 |Dec record high C = 11.7 |Jan record low C = -27.7 |Feb record low C = -28.6 |Mar record low C = -25.8 |Apr record low C = -13.6 |May record low C = -4.9 |Jun record low C = -2.0 |Jul record low C = 2.3 |Aug record low C = 3.0 |Sep record low C = -1.3 |Oct record low C = -6.4 |Nov record low C = -17.7 |Dec record low C = -25.2 | Jan snow depth cm = 80 | Feb snow depth cm = 89 | Mar snow depth cm = 86 | Apr snow depth cm = 47 | May snow depth cm = 0 | Jun snow depth cm = 0 | Jul snow depth cm = 0 | Aug snow depth cm = 0 | Sep snow depth cm = 0 | Oct snow depth cm = 2 | Nov snow depth cm = 27 | Dec snow depth cm = 62 | year snow depth cm = 95 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | access-date = February 28, 2022}}{{cite web |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | access-date = February 28, 2022}}}}

Economy

Many years ago, Kamikawa's primary industry was coal mining. Since then, Japan has adopted higher environmental standards and coal production is no longer economically sound, the townspeople like those in Kamikawa have had to find other means of employment. Beef and other types of farming are common ("Black Angus" cattle were originally imported here from Alberta, Canada in the 1980s), as well as "Purin" (pudding) producers and "Ramen" producers and shops. Kamikawa also capitalizes on its proximity to Daisetsuzan National Park as many of its townspeople work with Road Construction and Transportation through the Town Municipal Government, and others work in the tourist haven/onsen heaven that is Sōunkyō Gorge (modeled after Whistler, British Columbia, Canada - site of the 2010 Winter Olympics).

Asiana Airlines operates a sales office in Kamikawa, near the Asahigawa Airport grounds.

Culture

Specialties

Kamikawa has many izakaya and snack bars. Kamikawa's speciality is "karai ramen" or spicy noodles.

Mascot

Kamikawa's mascot is Kamikki. He is a brown bear. He wears a helmet which resembles a bell. His favourite food is karai ramen served with rainbow trout sashimi. He loves hot springs and drawing nature. He usually ends his sentences with "powa-ru" (ぽわ～る) and "powan" (ぽわん). He was unveiled in 2014.

Internationalization

Kamikawa broadened its international horizons in 1984 by becoming a Sister City with Rocky Mountain House in Alberta, Canada and participating in the JET Programme. Kamikawa boasts a Rotary club (started in the 1980s) with some members that have been to Canada several times. The resident Assistant Language Teacher of Kamikawa is often invited to join the Rotary Club dinner meetings (a.k.a. enkai) where both sides can practice their command of a foreign language.

In 2018, the town is expected to hire a second JET Programme Assistant Language Teacher, bringing the total up to two. This is in response to changes to the English education in Japan taking place between 2018 and 2020.

Transportation

Air

The town has no airport. The nearest international airport is the New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, and the nearest domestic airport is in Asahikawa.

Rail

Kamikawa is one of the last stops on the main JR line running east from Sapporo, therefore a wide range of rail services are available.

Bus

Kamikawa's bus service is excellent, but limited, so it is wise to check a local schedule. The bus service to Sounkyo Gorge is approximately 1000 yen one way, and the service to Asahikawa is approximately 2100 yen one way (2019 prices).

National road

Kokudou (Route) 39 leaves Asahikawa east to Kamikawa, and Kokudou (Route) 40 leaves from Asahikawa and goes as far east as Aibetsu-chou, going south through Aibetsu-chou will meet up with Kokudou 39 again.

Municipal transit

Kamikawa is very small and almost everything is within walking or bicycle distance. The Dohoku Bus company offers transport in and around Kamikawa's main spots, such as the high school and train station.

Notable people

• Sara Takanashi, ski jumper

References

References

1. [http://www2b.biglobe.ne.jp/~massa/ramen.html ラーメン日本一の町　上川町] {{webarchive. link. (2012-12-19)
2. link. (2012-05-30 ." ''[[Asiana Airlines]]''. Retrieved on January 19, 2009.)
3. "上川町マスコットキャラクター「かみっきー」".
4. "Rocky Mountain House". Alberta/Japan Twinned Municipalities Association.