Wakkanai, Hokkaido

Wakkanai 稚内市
City
View of Wakkanai from Wakkanai Park
Flag Seal
Location of Wakkanai in Hokkaido Prefecture, highlighted in pink
Wakkanai
Coordinates: 45°24′56.4″N 141°40′23″E / 45.415667°N 141.67306°E / 45.415667; 141.67306Coordinates: 45°24′56.4″N 141°40′23″E / 45.415667°N 141.67306°E / 45.415667; 141.67306
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido
Government
• Mayor	Hiroshi Kudo (since May 2011)
Area
• Total	760.80 km2 (293.75 sq mi)
Population (September 30, 2016)
• Total	35,675
• Density	48.65/km2 (126.0/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Sakura, rowan
- Flower	Rosa rugosa
Phone number	0162-23-6161
Address	3-13-15 Chūō, Wakkanai-shi, Hokkaido 097-8686
Website	www.city.wakkanai.hokkaido.jp

Wakkanai (稚内市, Wakkanai-shi, Ainu: ヤㇺワッカナイ Yam-wakka-nay meaning "cold water river")^[1] is a city located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sōya Subprefecture, and the northernmost city in Japan. It contains Japan's northernmost point, Cape Soya, from which the Russian island of Sakhalin can be seen.

As of October 2013, the city has an estimated population of 37,011 and a population density of 48.65 persons per km² (126 persons per mi²). The total area is 760.80 km² (293.75 sq mi).^[2][3]

History

Wakkanai was originally home to an Ainu population. The first Japanese settlement was established in 1685.^[4]

• 1879: The village of Wakkanai was founded.
• 1897: Sōya Subprefecture established.
• 1901: Wakkanai village became Wakkanai town.
• 1949: Wakkanai town became Wakkanai city.
• 1955: Soya village was merged into Wakkanai city.
• 1959: Wakkanai Airport opened.

During WWII: The Imperial Japanese Navy used the harbor and port as a submarine base. Wakkanai was far enough north to be outside the range of American heavy bombers and was safe from air attack. Until the early to mid-1960s, the northern portion of the harbor remained divided by concrete sub-mooring pens. The large breakwater structure (which still exists) was actually a sub-repair facility. At the shore end there was a huge winching mechanism capable of hauling subs up into the partially enclosed structure where they could be repaired while completely out of the water. Built into the hills above the city there were several reinforced concrete bunker-type caves where (anecdotally) they were used either to store ammunition and armament, or as air raid shelters for the civilian populace. History would suggest the former use, rather than the latter. During a re-build/renovation of the harbor sometime during the 1960s or 1970s, the harbor was cleared of the concrete pens and the machinery was removed from the breakwater structure which was reconfigured.

Geography

Japan's northernmost point, Cape Soya is located near Wakkanai, which is on a peninsula jutting towards Sakhalin Island in Russia, of which it is 43 kilometres (27 miles) away from; on a clear day, the Russian island can be easily seen. There is also Benten-jima located northwest of Cape Soya.

• Rivers: Koetoi River
• Lakes: Ōnuma

Climate

Wakkanai has the typical humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) of Hokkaido, with cold winters, warm summers and generally heavy precipitation from the Aleutian Low, whose winds hit the city direct from the Sea of Japan. but with strong oceanic influence (46 ° C). The winter is cold enough not to fall in a "Cfb" climate and the summers although very mild for typical climate "b" is warm enough to fall into a "Dfc", both in the classification of Koppen.^[5] The mean annual temperature, at 6.8 °C (44.2 °F), is the second lowest for a significant population centre in Japan after Nemuro. Snowfall at 6.6 metres (260 in), the third highest for a big city in Japan after Asahikawa and Aomori and one of the highest anywhere in the world. For comparison, Nain in Canada receives 194 inches (4.9 m) of snow.

The Aleutian Low also makes the sunshine hours the lowest of Japan's major population centres and in the winter the wind speeds are the highest in Japan with an average of 20.2 km/h (12.6 mph), which adds to the −4.7 °C (23.5 °F) cold of a typical winter day. The city's port is usually usable throughout the year, but does occasionally freeze in cold winters.

Transportation

Sea

Chihaku ferry "Aniwamaru" of Japanese Governmental Railway, touching down the north pier of Wakkanai port. Chihaku ferry had connected Wakkanai in Hokkaido and Odomari in Sakhalin, until the ferry ceased its operation in 1945.

Heartland Ferry operates seasonal ferry service to Rebun Island and Rishiri Island. Ferry service to Korsakov on Sakhalin Island was terminated on September 18, 2015. Wakkanai governor KUDO Hiroshi pledged to restore ferry service to Sakhalin and in 2016, the route resumed operation between the months of June and September of each year and is commercially operated by the Commonwealth of Dominica flagged vessel Penguin 33, which is a High-speed craft owned by Penguin International Limited and operated by Sakhalin Shipping Company.^[6][7]

Education

Tourist attractions

Shore of Wakkanai

Wakkanai lighthouse in 2006

The Daisuke Matsuzaka Museum, dedicated to the baseball pitcher "Dice-K" and opened in 2008, is located in Wakkanai, which is his father's hometown.^[8]

Sister cities and friendship cities

References

External links

• Wakkanai travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Media related to Wakkanai, Hokkaido at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Website (in Japanese)