Noboribetsu, Hokkaido

Noboribetsu
登別市
City
View of Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, with aquarium

Flag
Chapter

Location of Noboribetsu in Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Noboribetsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°25′N 141°6′E / 42.417°N 141.100°E / 42.417; 141.100Coordinates: 42°25′N 141°6′E / 42.417°N 141.100°E / 42.417; 141.100
Country Japan
Region Hokkaido
Prefecture Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Government
 • Mayor Haruichi Ogasawara
Area
 • Total 212.11 km2 (81.90 sq mi)
Population (30 September 2016)
 • Total 49,523
 • Density 230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Platanus
 • Flower Chrysanthemum
 • Flowering tree Azalea
Time zone UTC+9 (JST)
City hall address 6-11 Chūōchō, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaidō
059-8701
Website www.city.noboribetsu.lg.jp

Noboribetsu (登別市, Noboribetsu-shi, Ainu: nupur-pet) is a city in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is southwest of Sapporo, west of Tomakomai and northeast of Hakodate.

As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population of 49,523, and a population density of 230 persons per km². The total area is 212.11 km². The city office is in Horobetsu. The town of Noboribetsu is at the mouth of the Noboribetsu river and is therefore a much narrower area.

Geography

The mountains dominate the west and north while the plains dominate around five km within the coastline. There are three towns along the Pacific Ocean: from northeast to southwest, Noboribetsu, Horobetsu and Washibetsu. These betsu are derived from "river" in the Ainu language. Noboribetsu is on the Noboribetsu River. Horobetsu and Washibetsu are on the Iburi-horobetsu River and the Washibetsu River respectively.

Origin of Name

The name, Noboribetsu, derives from an Ainu word, nupur-pet, which means dark-colored river; the kanji 登別, meaning "climbing different", are used for their phonetic value only, and have no relation to the original meaning.

History

  • 1919: Horobetsu village was founded.[1]
  • 1951: Horobetsu village became Horobetsu town.
  • 1961: Horobetsu town renamed to Noboribetsu town.
  • 1970: Noboribetsu town became Noboribetsu city.

Education

High school

  • Hokkaido Noboribetsu Seiryo High School

Secondary school

  • Hokkaido Noboribetsu Akebi Secondary School

Transportation

Sightseeing

Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, the main source of the Noboribetsu onsen

6 km inland from Noboribetsu City in the river valley is the smaller town of Noboribetsu-onsen (登別温泉). The town has a range of onsen for bathing as well as other hot springs formed from different minerals for scenic viewing, and is also known for its bear park. Noboribetsu-onsen is one of many well-known resorts in Japan, with many hotels and ryokan, and is the largest "hot spring town" in Hokkaido.

Noboribetsu Bear Park

Twin cities

International

Domestic

References

  1. ↑ History of Noboribetsu
  2. ↑ Friendship cities of Noboribetsu
  3. ↑ Sister cities of Noboribetsu
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.