Shintoku, Hokkaido

Geography

Shintoku is located in southeastern Hokkaido in the northwestern part of the Tokachi Subprefecture. Approximately 90% of the total area is forest, and approximately 70% of the northern area is national forest in Daisetsuzan National Park. Mount Tomuraushi at 2141 meters is the highest point.

Neighboring municipalities

• Shimizu
• Kamishihoro
• Shikaoi
• Minamifurano
• Kamifurano
• Biei
• Kamikawa

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Shintoku has a humid continental climate. Its temperature ranges are large, with large annual and daily temperature differences. In winter, temperatures of around -20°C are not uncommon, making it a bitterly cold area; however, the average minimum temperature in January is -11.1°C, making it one of the towns in Tokachi that experiences relatively mild temperatures. The town is designated as a "specially heavy snow area."

|Jan record high C = 8.7 |Feb record high C = 15.9 |Mar record high C = 16.6 |Apr record high C = 28.3 |May record high C = 35.4 |Jun record high C = 35.9 |Jul record high C = 37.3 |Aug record high C = 36.2 |Sep record high C = 32.7 |Oct record high C = 27.9 |Nov record high C = 20.9 |Dec record high C = 15.1 |year record high C = 37.3 |Jan record low C = -25.7 |Feb record low C = -28.3 |Mar record low C = -22.6 |Apr record low C = -11.6 |May record low C = -4.5 |Jun record low C = 0.3 |Jul record low C = 4.9 |Aug record low C = 6.7 |Sep record low C = -0.2 |Oct record low C = -5.2 |Nov record low C = -12.4 |Dec record low C = -20.7 |year record low C = -28.3

Demographics

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

| 1970 | 11,089 | 1980 | 9,502 | 1990 | 8,412 | 2000 | 7,657 | 2010 | 6,642 | 2020 | 5,817

History

Jomon period ruins remain on the eastern slope of the Sahoro Plateau and along the Tokachi River. The Shinnai Chashi, located near the confluence of the Pitaraushi and Sahoro Rivers, dates back to the Ainu culture period. Shintoku, located inland in the Tokachi region, was nominally part of Matsumae Domain, but was only settled by Japanese during the late Bakumatsu period. In the Meiji period, colonization efforts increased, with groups of settlers arriving from various parts of Japan. The village of Kuttori was established in 1915 under Hokkaido second-class town and village system. In 1923, it became a first-class village and was renamed Shintoku. It was raised to town status in 1933.

Government

Shintoku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Shintoku, 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

The Shintoku area is known for its large-scale agriculture, including field crops, livestock, and dairy farming. Forestry is also a major industy, with the area boasting one of the largest lumber shipment volumes in the Tokachi region.Tourism takes advantage of the area's natural resources, including numerous hot springs and ski resorts.

Education

Shintoku has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools, and one combined elementary/middle operated by the town. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railways

:

Highways

Sister city relations

• JPN Higashine, Yamagata, Japan

Local attractions

• Karikachi Pass Observatory
• Karikachi Kogen Park
• Lake Sahoro
• Tokachi Dam
• Tomuraushi Natural Recreation Forest

SAHORO Ski Area.jpg|Sahoro ski resort JR Hokkaido Shintoku Station.jpg|Shintoku Station 白樺並木（White birch avenue） - panoramio.jpg|Panorama of Shintoku 十勝ダム - panoramio.jpg|Lake Tokachi

Sports

While Japan Bandy Federation was founded in 2011, there has not been any full-sized bandy field in the country. So domestically only the variety rink bandy has been played. However, in the summer of 2017 an association for bandy was founded in Shintoku and it was announced that a full-sized field will open in the 2017-2018 winter season. It became a reality in December 2017 and the first Japanese championship took place there in January 2018, with the home teams capturing the titles.

Mascots

Shintoku's mascots are the Kankou Sentai Shintokuranger. They are based on toku heroes such as Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and Ultraman. The team consists of three members.

• SobaRed is the leader of the team who is from Shintoku. His motif is a soba. His job is to make sure all of the food (especially soba) had the best quality and cooked safe to prevent foodborne illnesses. His birthday is August 17.
• YamaGreen is the second in command of the team who is from Mount Tomuraushi in the Shintoku Mountains. His motif is mountains such as Mount Tomuraushi and Mount Sahoro. His job is to protect nature and the environment from pollution. His birthday is on October 12.
• OnsenPink. She is the only female of the team who is from Shintoku but raised in the United States. Her motif is the onsen. His job is to heal people from diseases or injury while maintaining beauty and health. Her birthday is February 19.

In 2014, four more members were added as a result of a design competition.

• SobaRainbow who is a soba (like SobaRed but in colours of a rainbow)
• JidoriBrown who is a brown chicken.
• Chocoranger who is a princess of chocolate.
• Kuroranger who is cat-like shadow figure that represents the night sky.

References

References

1. "Shintoku 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. "Shintoku Town Assembly home page".
5. "Shintoku Town Board of Education".
6. "一般社団法人新得バンディ連盟の情報 - 2460105002125｜法人バンク".
7. (January 2025)
8. (21 April 2017). "アイスホッケーのルーツ 「バンディ」 新得町にリンク".
9. "北海道ニュースリンク | 北海道の情報配信サイト".
10. "Japan held their historic championship on a new full size bandy arena!".
11. (5 November 2020). "観光宣隊しんとくレンジャー そばレッド".
12. (5 November 2020). "観光宣隊しんとくレンジャー 山グリーン".
13. (5 November 2020). "観光宣隊しんとくレンジャー 温泉ピンク".
14. (19 September 2023). "第13回しんとく新そば祭り「お絵かきレンジャー」結果発表！".