Kitami, Hokkaido
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Okhotsk Subprefecture
, Hokkaido
, Japan. It is the most populous city and the commercial center in the subprefecture, although the subprefectural capital is Abashiri
.
Kitami is in central Okhotsk Subprefecture
. The Kitami Mountains
are nearby.
As of December 31, 2009, the city has a population of 126,075 and a population density
of 88.3 persons per km². The total area is 1427.56 square kilometres (551.2 sq mi).
Kitami at one time exported mint
(known as hakka locally) to 70% of the world's mint consumption.
, an engineering university that originally opened in 1960, and the Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing
, established in 1999 by the Japanese Red Cross
through consolidation of several other institutions.
with cold winters and relatively warm summers. The coldest month is January, with an average high of -3.5 C. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 25 °C (77 °F) and a record high of 37 °C (98.6 °F). Kitami's inland location creates a larger temperature range than some coastal cities. Due to the mountains nearby, the Foehn wind effect occurs in summer.
passes through Kitami. The Hokkaido Kitami Bus Company has a number of inter-city as well as out-of-city routes. The Hokkaido Railway Company
Sekihoku Main Line that passes through Kitami reached the city on October 19, 1910 when the town was still called Notsukeushi. The largest station is Kitami Station
, with Nishi-Kitami Station
, Hakuyo Station
and Itoshino Station
in Kitami.
The city is served by Memanbetsu Airport
in neighboring Ōzora Town
.
, NJ, USA. Signed on June 12, 1969. Poronaysk
, Sakhalin Oblast
, Russia. Signed on August 13, 1972. Jinju
, South Korea
. Barrhead
, Canada
. Barrhead Town had a relationship with the former town of Tokoro
. However Tokoro
merged into Kitami city
so the official status of the relationship is unknown.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in Okhotsk Subprefecture
Okhotsk Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. It was renamed from the earlier Abashiri Subprefecture on April 1, 2010. Abashiri Subprefecture was established in 1897.-Naming:Abashiri Prefecture was named after the subprefectural office in Abashiri...
, Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan. It is the most populous city and the commercial center in the subprefecture, although the subprefectural capital is Abashiri
Abashiri, Hokkaido
is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.Abashiri is known as the site of the Abashiri Prison, a Meiji-era facility used for the incarceration of political prisoners...
.
Kitami is in central Okhotsk Subprefecture
Okhotsk Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaido, Japan. It was renamed from the earlier Abashiri Subprefecture on April 1, 2010. Abashiri Subprefecture was established in 1897.-Naming:Abashiri Prefecture was named after the subprefectural office in Abashiri...
. The Kitami Mountains
Kitami Mountains
is a mountain range of Hokkaidō, Japan. Unlike much of the rest of Japan, the Kitami Mountains are not very seismically active.The Kitami Mountains are north of the Ishikari Mountains and east of the Teshio Mountains. A depression separates the Kitami Mountains from the Yubari Mountains. The...
are nearby.
As of December 31, 2009, the city has a population of 126,075 and a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 88.3 persons per km². The total area is 1427.56 square kilometres (551.2 sq mi).
Kitami at one time exported mint
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
(known as hakka locally) to 70% of the world's mint consumption.
History
- 1872 The village of Notsukeushi-mura (ノツケウシ村) founded
- 1875 Notsukeushi-mura given the kanjiKanjiKanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
野付牛村. - 1910 Train service arrives (then called the Ikeda Railway Line), connecting the village to Sapporo.
- 1915 The villages of RubeshibeRubeshibe, Hokkaidooriginally was a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan. Since March 5th, 2006 Rubeshibe, along with the towns of Tanno and Tokoro, all from Tokoro District, were merged into the expanded city of Kitami....
and OketoOketo, Hokkaidois a town located in Tokoro District, Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 3,527 and a population density of 7.27 persons per km². The total area is 527.54 km²....
were split off. - 1916 Became Notsukeushi Town.
- 1921 The villages of TannoTanno, Hokkaidowas a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2005, the town had an estimated population of 5,425 and a density of 33 persons per km². The total area was 163.50 km²...
and Ainonai were split off. - June 10, 1942 Kitami becomes a city.
- September, 1956 The village of Ainonai was merged into Kitami.
- April, 1971 The population exceeded 100,000.
- On March 5, 2006, the towns of TannoTanno, Hokkaidowas a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2005, the town had an estimated population of 5,425 and a density of 33 persons per km². The total area was 163.50 km²...
, RubeshibeRubeshibe, Hokkaidooriginally was a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan. Since March 5th, 2006 Rubeshibe, along with the towns of Tanno and Tokoro, all from Tokoro District, were merged into the expanded city of Kitami....
and TokoroTokoro, Hokkaidowas a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 4,885 and a density of 17.55 persons per km². The total area was 278.29 km²....
(all from Tokoro DistrictTokoro District, Hokkaidois a district located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.As of 2005, the district has an estimated population of 16,291 and a population density of 15 persons per km²...
) merged with the city of Kitami to form the new city of Kitami.
Education
Kitami is home to the Kitami Institute of TechnologyKitami Institute of Technology
is a national university in Kitami, Hokkaidō, Japan. Founded as the Kitami Junior College of Technology on 1 April 1960, it was chartered as a university on 1 April 1966. In 2004, it became part of the National University Corporation....
, an engineering university that originally opened in 1960, and the Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing
Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing
-External links:*...
, established in 1999 by the Japanese Red Cross
Japanese Red Cross
The ' is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.The Imperial Family of Japan traditionally has supported the society, with Empress as Honorary President and other royal family members as vice-presidents. Its headquarters is located in Tokyo and local chapters are set up in all 47...
through consolidation of several other institutions.
Festivals
- The Kitami WInter Festival, held annually during the 2nd week of February.
- The Kitami Bonchi Festival (Summer Festival) in early July.
- The Kitami Chrysanthemum festival in Mid October–early November.
Climate
Kitami has a humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
with cold winters and relatively warm summers. The coldest month is January, with an average high of -3.5 C. The warmest month is August, with an average high of 25 °C (77 °F) and a record high of 37 °C (98.6 °F). Kitami's inland location creates a larger temperature range than some coastal cities. Due to the mountains nearby, the Foehn wind effect occurs in summer.
Transportation
National Route 39Japan National Route 39
National Route 39 is a national highway connecting Asahikawa and Abashiri in Hokkaidō, Japan. It passes through Kitami and Engaru.-Route Data:*Length: 215.2 km...
passes through Kitami. The Hokkaido Kitami Bus Company has a number of inter-city as well as out-of-city routes. The Hokkaido Railway Company
Hokkaido Railway Company
The is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....
Sekihoku Main Line that passes through Kitami reached the city on October 19, 1910 when the town was still called Notsukeushi. The largest station is Kitami Station
Kitami Station
Kitami Station may refer to:* Kitami Station , station on the Odakyu Odawara Line, in Tokyo, Japan* Kitami Station , JR Hokkaido station on the Sekihoku Line, in Kitami, Hokkaido, Japan...
, with Nishi-Kitami Station
Nishi-Kitami Station
is a train station in Kitami, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan. Its station number is A59.-Adjacent stations:...
, Hakuyo Station
Hakuyo Station
is located in the neighborhood of Namiki in Kitami city in Hokkaidō, Japan, and is located on the JR Sekihoku Main Line operated by JR Hokkaidō.-Station structure:...
and Itoshino Station
Itoshino Station
is located in the third ward of Tanno, a suburb of Kitami city in Hokkaidō, Japan, and services the Sekihoku Main Line operated by JR Hokkaidō.-Station structure:...
in Kitami.
The city is served by Memanbetsu Airport
Memanbetsu Airport
is an airport in the Memanbetsu section of Ōzora, a town in Hokkaidō, Japan. The current airfield was opened in April 1985, replacing the original Memanbetsu Airport nearer to the city centre...
in neighboring Ōzora Town
Ozora
Ozora is a village in , Hungary. It has been a notable historic site since the Middle Ages. Pipo of Ozora built his castle here in the 15th century by permission of Sigismund of Hungary in 1416...
.
Sister cities
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, NJ, USA. Signed on June 12, 1969. Poronaysk
Poronaysk
Poronaysk is a town in Sakhalin Oblast, Russia, located on the Poronay River some 288 km north of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. It is the administrative center of Poronaysky District. Population: 17,400 ; 17,954 ; 25,971 ....
, Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin Oblast
Sakhalin Oblast is a federal subject of Russia comprising the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.The oblast has an area of 87,100 km² and a population of 546,695...
, Russia. Signed on August 13, 1972. Jinju
Jinju
Jinju is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It was the location of the first and second Sieges of Jinju by Japanese forces during the Imjin War...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Barrhead
Barrhead, Alberta
Barrhead is a town in central Alberta, Canada, within the County of Barrhead No. 11. It is located along the Paddle River and at the intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 18, approximately northwest of the City of Edmonton...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Barrhead Town had a relationship with the former town of Tokoro
Tokoro, Hokkaido
was a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 4,885 and a density of 17.55 persons per km². The total area was 278.29 km²....
. However Tokoro
Tokoro, Hokkaido
was a town located in Tokoro District, Abashiri, Hokkaidō, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 4,885 and a density of 17.55 persons per km². The total area was 278.29 km²....
merged into Kitami city
Kitami, Hokkaido
is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the most populous city and the commercial center in the subprefecture, although the subprefectural capital is Abashiri.Kitami is in central Okhotsk Subprefecture. The Kitami Mountains are nearby....
so the official status of the relationship is unknown.