Ebetsu


Ebetsu is a city in Ishikari Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

History

Ebetsu was settled originally by Japanese people in 1871, who came from the Miyagi Prefecture on Honshu. In 1878, tondenhei began moving into the area. When the Meiji Government, in 1878, designated Hokkaido as part of Japan, settlers began to flood the area. Ebetsu earned township status in 1916 and city status in 1954. During the 1960s and 1970s, a burgeoning population in Sapporo caused the population in Ebetsu to concurrently boom. In 1991, the city reached 100,000 people.
The name Ebetsu is derived from the Ainu name of the Chitose River which flows into the Ishikari River in the city. According to John Batchelor in his "An Ainu-English Dictionary" the Ainu language name was E-pet or "humour river" based on its murky colour.

Demographics

As of July 31, 2023, the city had an estimated population of 118,764, with 56,325 households, and a population density of 634 persons per km². The total area is 187.38 km².

Geography and transportation

The majority of commercial Ebetsu is on or immediately surrounding Route 12. The northern limits of town are delineated by the Ishikari River, the southern sub-city of Oasa by Ebetsu's boundary with Sapporo. It bounds the city limits of Kitahiroshima, Iwamizawa, Nanporo, Tōbetsu, and Shinshinotsu.
Ebetsu is about 16 km from downtown Sapporo. It is accessed by the Dō-Ō Expressway, by Chūō or JR Hokkaidō bus lines, or by the Asahikawa-Hakodate train line that approximately follows Route 12 through town, joining with the northwest-southeast running main line that extends from Chitose Airport to Sapporo Station in Shinsapporo.
The extensive Nopporo Forest State Park is behind Ebetsu's Rakunō Gakuen University, encompassing 2015 hectares of preserved forest. Because of Ebetsu's location approximately in the middle of the Ishikari Plain, it is known for having wind year-round.

Climate

The 10-year average temperature for Ebetsu is 7.1 degrees Celsius. The hottest and coldest temperatures, respectively, ever recorded are and.

Sister cities

Sister city

Universities

Public

  • Hokkaido Ebetsu High School
  • Hokkaido Nopporo High School
  • Hokkaido Ooasa High School

    Private

  • Ritsumeikan keisho High School
  • Towanomori San-ai High School

    Mascot

Ebetsu's mascot is Ebechun. He is a yellow flightless bird that resembled a young rooster who loves to be petted. His head is unusually square. Because of this, he is nicknamed Renga tori. He may looked sad because of his tears, he is actually happy. Whenever something wonderful happens, he will shed tears for joy. He is known for carrying a grain ear. He likes locally grown wheat. When he was first revealed back in 2011, he was genderless. He is originally an unofficial mascot until it is chosen by the local tourism association to represent the city.