Hamatonbetsu
浜頓別町
Town
Hamatonbetsu town hall
Hamatonbetsu town hall
Flag of Hamatonbetsu
Official seal of Hamatonbetsu
Location of Hamatonbetsu in Hokkaido (Sōya Subprefecture)
Location of Hamatonbetsu in Hokkaido (Sōya Subprefecture)
Hamatonbetsu is located in Japan
Hamatonbetsu
Hamatonbetsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 45°7′N 142°22′E / 45.117°N 142.367°E / 45.117; 142.367
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Sōya Subprefecture)
DistrictEsashi
Area
  Total401.56 km2 (155.04 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2016)
  Total3,841
  Density9.6/km2 (25/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.town.hamatonbetsu.hokkaido.jp

Hamatonbetsu (浜頓別町, Hamatonbetsu-chō) is a town located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 3,841, an area of 401.56 square kilometres (155.04 sq mi),[1] and a density of 9.6 persons per km². The town is in a long period of sustained population loss.[2] It is the location of Lake Kutcharo, a freshwater wetlands area used by thousands of swans making their winter migration from northern Siberia to Japan.

Geography

Climate

Climate data for Hamatonbetsu (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 rainy days 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[3]
Source 2: JMA[4]

Education

Hamatonbetsu has one local high school and a junior high school, as well as a kindergarten and nursery school within the town limits. The Hamatonbetsu Board of Education also oversees four additional elementary schools and another junior high school. Shanai Elementary School, Toyokanbetsu Elementary School, Usotan Elementary School, Shimotombetsu Elementary School, and Shimotombetsu Junior High School are all included.

The town of Hamatonbetsu participates in the JET Programme.

Economy

Hamatonbetsu's local economy depends mainly on dairy farming and harvesting salmon, scallops, and crabs.

Within the town there is a park golf course and an onsen on the edge of Lake Kutcharo.

Transportation

Hamatonbetsu has a bus terminal. It was previously serviced by Hama-Tombetsu railway station on the Tempoku Line until the line and station were abandoned on 1 May 1989. The nearest railway station is now Otoineppu Station to the south, a 1.5 hour bus ride away.

Mascot

Swatton, the town's mascot

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.[5]

References

  1. "浜頓別(町)" [Hamatonbetsu]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  2. 人口推移 [Population Change] (in Japanese). Hamatonbetsu, Hokkaido: Town of Hamatonbetsu. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  3. 観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値). JMA. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  4. 気象庁 / 平年値(年・月ごとの値). JMA. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  5. "浜頓別町公式マスコットキャラクター「スワットン」公式プロフィール". Hamatonbetsu.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.