Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido
Nakasatsunai
中札内村 Nakasatsuna-mura | |
|---|---|
Nakasatsunai village office | |
|
Flag Emblem | |
Location of Nakasatsunai in Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture) | |
Interactive map of Nakasatsunai | |
Nakasatsunai | |
| Coordinates: 42°41′53″N 143°08′03″E / 42.69806°N 143.13417°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture) |
| District | Kasai |
| Area | |
• Total | 292.58 km2 (112.97 sq mi) |
| Population (November 30, 2025) | |
• Total | 3,828 |
| • Density | 13.08/km2 (33.89/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 2-1, Higashi 1-jo Minami 1-chome, Nakasatsunai Village, Kasai District, Hokkaido 089-1392 |
| Climate | Dfb |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Eurasian skylark |
| Flower | Lily of the valley |
| Tree | Daimyo oak |
Nakasatsunai (中札内村, Nakasatsunai-mura) is a village located in Tokachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 30 November 2025, the village had an estimated population of 3,828 in 1937 households, and a population density of 13 people per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 536.71 km2 (207.22 sq mi).
Geography
Nakasatsunai is located in southeastern Hokkaido in the southwestern Tokachi Plain. The village stretches across the Satsunai River basin, which originates in the central Hidaka Mountains. The western part of the village is part of the Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park. Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi, at 1979 meters, is the highest point in the village.
Neighboring municipalities
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Nakasatsunai 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 of around -25 °C are not uncommon, making it extremely cold.
| Climate data for Nakasatsunai Averages:1991 - 2020、Peaks:1977 - present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) |
14.8 (58.6) |
15.3 (59.5) |
28.2 (82.8) |
36.7 (98.1) |
33.5 (92.3) |
35.1 (95.2) |
34.6 (94.3) |
31.5 (88.7) |
28.2 (82.8) |
20.8 (69.4) |
14.0 (57.2) |
36.7 (98.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
2.2 (36.0) |
9.4 (48.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
23.2 (73.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
14.2 (57.6) |
7.0 (44.6) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.5 (16.7) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.4 (63.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −15.5 (4.1) |
−15.2 (4.6) |
−9.0 (15.8) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
4.3 (39.7) |
9.1 (48.4) |
13.6 (56.5) |
14.7 (58.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
3.3 (37.9) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −29.4 (−20.9) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
−12.9 (8.8) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
4.2 (39.6) |
5.2 (41.4) |
0.1 (32.2) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−15.3 (4.5) |
−23.7 (−10.7) |
−29.4 (−20.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 52.2 (2.06) |
41.1 (1.62) |
62.1 (2.44) |
78.9 (3.11) |
102.8 (4.05) |
96.4 (3.80) |
126.5 (4.98) |
179.0 (7.05) |
194.4 (7.65) |
127.5 (5.02) |
86.1 (3.39) |
67.3 (2.65) |
1,216.6 (47.90) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 144 (57) |
116 (46) |
117 (46) |
43 (17) |
4 (1.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
31 (12) |
130 (51) |
588 (231) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 144.6 | 145.4 | 186.1 | 185.4 | 183.0 | 148.7 | 124.1 | 126.9 | 136.9 | 162.8 | 149.7 | 137.2 | 1,834.1 |
| Source: [2][3] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Nakasatsunai has declined in recent decades.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,231 | — |
| 1980 | 3,785 | −10.5% |
| 1990 | 4,277 | +13.0% |
| 2000 | 4,116 | −3.8% |
| 2010 | 4,007 | −2.6% |
| 2020 | 3,884 | −3.1% |
History
Nakatasunai was settled from around 1905. It was raised to village status in 1947.
Government
Nakatasunai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Nakatasunai, as part of Tokachi Subprefecture, contributes four members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Hokkaidō 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.[5]
Economy
The main industry is agriculture.
Education
Nakasatsunai has two public elementary school sand one public middle school operated by the village. The village has one public high school operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education.[6]
Transportation
Railways
Nakasatsunai has not had passenger railway service since the discontinuation of the JR Hokkaido Hiroo Line in 1987. The nearest train station is Obihiro Station on the Nemuro Main Line
Highways
Local attractions
-
Ben Museum
-
Pioneer Museum
-
Rokka-no-Mori Park
-
Tomohiro Momose Art Gallery, Sanban River, and Naoyuki Sakamoto Memorial Museum
-
Kita no Daichi Art Museum
-
Aihara Kyuichiro Art Museum
-
Koizumi Junsaku Art Museum
-
Hanabatake Farms
Notable people from Nakasatsunai
- Shiho Ishizawa, speed skater
- Misaki Oshigiri, speed skater
Mascot
Nakasatsunai's mascot is Pi-tan (ピータン). He is a baby chick. His face looks like an egg, his eyes are like beans, and his shoes are made of potatoes (these agricultural products are products of the town). Although he usually wears a top hat and carries a lily of the valley, he can change into other clothes. His favorite hobbies are climbing mountains, farming, judo and attending festivals. He was unveiled in March 1991.[7]
References
- ^ "Nakasatsunai Village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ Japan Meteorological Agency |source 2= JMA
- ^ "平年値(年・月ごとの値)". JMA. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Prefecture home page.
- ^ "Nakatasunai Town Assembly home page".
- ^ "Nakasatsunai Town Board of Education".
- ^ "シンボルマーク「ピータン」". Nakasatsunai.
External links
- Media related to Nakasatsunai, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website (in Japanese)