Otofuke, Hokkaido

Geography

Otofuke is located in southeastern Hokkaido almost in the center of the Tokachi Plain, it borders Obihiro and Makubetsu across the Tokachi River to the south. The town is mostly flat except for the Nagareshimanai Hills running north and south in the eastern part of the town, with the Otofuke River at its center and the Shihoro River and Shikaribetsu River flowing from north to south, both of which empty into the Tokachi River.

Neighboring municipalities

• Obihiro
• Urahoro
• Shikaori
• Memuro
• Makubetsu
• Ikeda

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Otofuke has a humid continental climate. It has large temperature differences, including large annual and daily temperature ranges. It receives a lot of snow, and is designated as a heavy snow area. In winter, temperatures below -25°C are not uncommon, making it extremely cold.

|Jan record high C = 6.6 |Feb record high C = 11.0 |Mar record high C = 16.7 |Apr record high C = 29.8 |May record high C = 37.7 |Jun record high C = 37.8 |Jul record high C = 38.2 |Aug record high C = 36.2 |Sep record high C = 33.1 |Oct record high C = 28.9 |Nov record high C = 20.8 |Dec record high C = 13.1 |year record high C = 38.2

|Jan record low C = -32.1 |Feb record low C = -30.9 |Mar record low C = -26.9 |Apr record low C = -14.7 |May record low C = -5.5 |Jun record low C = -1.0 |Jul record low C = 1.9 |Aug record low C = 3.7 |Sep record low C = -0.8 |Oct record low C = -5.7 |Nov record low C = -18.1 |Dec record low C = -25.9 |year record low C = -32.1

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, Otofuke's population has been growing since the late 1960s. It is now a commuter town for Obihiro.

| 1970 | 24,118 | 1980 | 31,134 | 1990 | 33,977 | 2000 | 39,201 | 2010 | 45,104 | 2020 | 43,576

History

The village of Otafuke was established in 1905. It was raised to town status in 1953

Government

Otofuke has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 10 members. Otofuke, as part of Tokachi Subprefecture, contributes four members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Although increasing a commuter town for Obihiro, the local economy of Otofuke is still agricultural. Otofuke Town's main industry is agriculture. The main crops are wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, beans, and vegetables, and dairy farming.

Education

Otofuke has 11 public elementary schools and five public middle schools operated by the town. The town has one public high school operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education. A private junior college, the Obihiro Otani Junior College is located in Otofuke.

Transportation

Railways

Since the abolition of the JR Hokkaido Shihoro Line in 1987, Ofofuke has not had any passenger railway services. The nearest train staton is Obihiro Station on the Nemuro Main Line.

Highways

• [[File:JP Expressway E38.svg|30px|link=|alt=]] Dōtō Expressway

Local attractions

• Tokachigawa Onsen

Michinoeki Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Appearance.jpg|Michinoeki Garden Spa Tokachigawa Onsen Tokachigaoka park hanack.jpg|Tokachigaoka park マッサン 白樺並木2014.jpg|Road in Otofuke View from Tokachi-gaoka.JPG|View from Tokachi-gaoka Straw bales on a stubble field in Otofuke, Hokkaido(6008297127).jpg|Rural panorama in Otofuke

Notable people from Otofuke

• Akira Ifukube, composer
• Takahiro Nishikawa, musician
• Fujinokawa Takeo, sumo wrestler

References

References

1. "Otofuke Town official statistics".
2. [https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/index.php Japan Meteorological Agency ]. JMA]]
3. "Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register".
4. "Otofuke Town Assembly home page".
5. "Otofuke Town Board of Education".