Mashike, Hokkaido
Mashike is a town located in Rumoi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan., the town had an estimated population of 3,495 in 1,954 households, and a population density of 9.5 people per km2. The total area of the town is.
Geography
Mashike is located in the southern part of the Rumoi sub-prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It has a rugged terrain sandwiched between the ocean to the west and the mountains to the east, and most settlements are concentrated on the coast. However, the coast west of Beskari is lined with steep cliffs, and until the opening of Japan National Route 231 in 1981, it was an "island on land" with almost no means of transportation other than by boat. Parts of the town are within the borders of Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park.Neighbouring municipalities
Climate
Mashike has a Humid continental climate characterized by cold summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mashike is 5.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1330 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.5 °C, and lowest in January, at around -7.4 °C.Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Mashike is as shown below. The town is in a long period of sustained population loss.History
Mashike began as a settlement by Matsumae Domain for herring and salmon fishing in 1706. The area come under the control of Kubota Domain in 1856. In November 1897, Mashike sub-prefecture was established. On July 1, 1900 Mashike was established under the first-class municipal system. The sub-prefecture office relocated to Rumoi in 1914.Government
Mashike has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of eight members. Mashike, as part of Rumoi sub-prefecture, contributes one member to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 10th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.Economy
The main economic activities of Mashike are commercial fishing and food processing.Education
Mashike has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.Transportation
Railways
Mashike was the terminus of the JR Hokkaido Rumoi Main Line which ran from, but the section of the line between and was closed on 4 December 2016, owing to declining passenger use, and the town no longer has any passenger rail service.Highways
*Local attractions
- Shokanbetsu-Teuri-Yagishiri Quasi-National Park and Mt. Shokanbetsu. Camping facilities are available in the park.
- Mashike's main distinction is the sake brewery Kunimare, which is well known throughout Hokkaido.
- Mashike has a small ski resort with only two lifts, although it is the biggest one in Rumoi District.