Rikubetsu, Hokkaido

Geography

Rikubetsu is located in southeastern Hokkaido in the northeastern part of the Tokachi Subprefecture. Rikubetsu is divided into two topographical zones by the Tobetsu River, which flows north-south through the center of the region. The western part is a highland plateau and is a center of dairy farming, while the eastern part is a plateau area with an elevation of approximately 500 meters. The town is located between 143°57' and 143°27' east longitude and 43°38' and 43°20' north latitude. The town hall is located at 143°45'8" east longitude and 43°28'1" north latitude, with an elevation of 205.8 meters. Mount Kitoushi at 1,321 meters is the highest point in town.

Neighboring municipalities

• Ashoro
• Oketo
• Kunneppu
• Tsubetsu

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Rikubetsu has a humid continental/humid subarctic climate(Dfb). It receives a lot of snow and is designated a heavy snow zone. The average annual temperature is 4.8°C. The average daily temperature is below freezing from December to March. Rikubetsu is ranked as Japan's coldest area. Daily mean temperature in January is -11.4 C, the average low temperature in the end of January and beginning of February are below -20 C, which are the coldest in Japan

|Jan record high C = 6.6 |Feb record high C = 13.9 |Mar record high C = 17.4 |Apr record high C = 29.3 |May record high C = 37.8 |Jun record high C = 35.5 |Jul record high C = 36.6 |Aug record high C = 35.1 |Sep record high C = 32.8 |Oct record high C = 27.8 |Nov record high C = 20.0 |Dec record high C = 12.9 |year record high C = 37.8

|Jan record low C = -33.2 |Feb record low C = -33.1 |Mar record low C = -27.6 |Apr record low C = -19.1 |May record low C = -7.2 |Jun record low C = -2.1 |Jul record low C = 2.1 |Aug record low C = 4.2 |Sep record low C = -2.4 |Oct record low C = -9.2 |Nov record low C = -20.9 |Dec record low C = -27.6 |year record low C = -33.2

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Rikubetsu has declined in recent decades.

| 1970 | 6,839 | 1980 | 5,002 | 1990 | 3,902 | 2000 | 3,228 | 2010 | 2,650 | 2020 | 2,264

History

The first Japanese settlers arrived in the area in 1901. Tomamu was established as a second-class village in April 1923. It was renamed Rikubetsu in August 1949. It was raised to town status in September 1953.

Government

Rikubetsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of eight members. Rikubetsu, 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

Agriculture, forestry, and dairy farming are the main pillars of the local economy. Nissan Motors operates the Hokkaido Rikubetsu Proving Ground in the town.

Education

Rikubetsu has one public elementary school and one public middle school operated by the town. The town does not have a high school. The Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University is located in Rikubetsu.

Transportation

Railways

Rikubetsu has not had any passenger railway services since the closure of the Furusato Ginga Line in April 2006.

Highways

• [[File:JP Expressway E39.svg|30px|link=|alt=]] Tokachi-Okhotsk Expressway

Sister city relations

• CAN Lacombe, Alberta, Canada

Local attractions

• Yukuepira Chashi Ruins, National Historic Site
• Rikubetsu Earth and Space Science Museum

Rikubetsu - panoramio.jpg|Rikubetsu - panorama Mt. Higashimikuni.jpg|Mt. Higashimikuni

Mascots

Rikubetsu's mascots are Shibare-kun and Tsurara-chan.

• Shibare-kun is a Siberian boy from the Amur River area. He sailed to Japan through the trails of drift ice. He carries a thermometer to remind everyone that Rikubetsu is Japan's coldest place.
• Tsurara-chan is a Canadian girl. She flew to Japan through the path of the aurora borealis. Her goal is to prevent climate change.

References

References

1. "Rikubetsu 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. "Rikubetsu Town Assembly home page".
5. "Rikubetsu Town Board of Education".
6. link. [[Agency for Cultural Affairs]]
7. "しばれ君・つららちゃん".