Aibetsu, Hokkaido


Aibetsu is a town in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 2,571 in 1353 households, and a population density of 10 people per km2. The total area of the town is.
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Geography

Aibetsu is located at the confluence of the Ishikari River and the Aibetsu River at the northeastern end of the Kamikawa Basin.

Neighbouring municipalities

Climate

Aibetsu has a Humid continental climate characterized by cold summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Aibetsu is 5.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1387 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around −9.1 °C.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Aibetsu is as shown below. The town is in a long period of sustained population loss.

History

The area of Aibetsu was part of Matsumae Domain in the Edo period. In 1895, 179 households of settlers from Wakayama, Gifu and Aichi settled in the Aibetsu area. In 1906 the second-class village of Aibetsu was established. In 1924 Kamikawa Village, Kamikawa District separated from Aibetsu. Aibetsu became a first-class village in 1937 and was raised to town status in 1961.

Government

Aibetsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of nine members. Aibetsu, collectively with the other municipalities of Kawakami sub-prefecture, contributes three members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Rice farming is the main industry, but mushroom cultivation, which began in 1972, is also a pillar of Aibetsu's agriculture, and the town is known as one of the leading "mushroom villages" in Hokkaido.
Approximately 80% of the town area is forest, and forestry and woodworking are also thriving.

Education

Aibetsu has one public combined elementary/junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railways

JR Hokkaido - Sekihoku Main Line

Highways

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Culture

Mascot

Aibetsu's mascots are Ai-chanman and Lovely-chan.
  • Ai-chanman is a superhero mushroom. He was unveiled in 1985.
  • Lovely-chan, like Ai-chanman, is also a superhero mushroom. She is also Ai-chanman's lover.