Okushiri, Hokkaido


Okushiri is a town on Okushiri Island, located in Hiyama Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
WWW town.okushiri.lg.jp

Etymology

The name Okushiri comes from the Ainu name Ikusyun-shiri. Iku means other side and shiri means island. However, the Japanese meaning of the two kanji used for the name mean "deep inside/innermost" and "buttocks/hips".

Geography

Hiyama Prefectural Natural Park encompasses the entire island and town.

Population

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 2,812, and a density of 20 persons per km2. The total area is 142.98 km2.

History

On July 12, 1993, the Southwest Hokkaido Open Sea earthquake of magnitude 7.8 in the Sea of Japan off southwest Hokkaido created a devastating tsunami. This tsunami killed 198 people in the town, despite a tsunami warning system and a seawall, and also caused landslides on the hills above. Another 32 people were missing, including 3 in Russia and 129 were injured. The subsequent fire burned down much of what remained. The island was reshaped by the tsunami, which was 10 meters high in town. The tsunami struck within five minutes of the earthquake, leaving residents absolutely no warning.

Climate

Okushiri has a humid continental climate closely bordering on a humid subtropical climate. The average annual temperature in Okushiri is. The average annual rainfall is with August as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around, and lowest in January, at around. The highest temperature ever recorded in Okushiri was on 10 August 1999; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 2 February 1996.

Transportation

Okushiri Island is accessible by air or sea. Okushiri Airport serves the island with daily flights to and from Hakodate Airport. Regular ferry services to and from Esashi and Setana are provided by Heartland Ferry, and time timetable changes seasonally.
A local bus service operates year-round.

Education

Sister city