Iwamizawa, Hokkaido

Iwamizawa (岩見沢市, Iwamizawa-shi) is a city in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sorachi Subprefecture.

Iwamizawa

岩見沢市
City
Panorama view of downtown Iwamizawa urban area
Flag
Emblem
Location of Iwamizawa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Iwamizawa
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°12′N 141°47′E
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
 • MayorSatoru Matsuno
Area
 • Total481.10 km2 (185.75 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2016)
 • Total84,127
 • Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Symbols
 • TreeKobushi Magnolia
 • FlowerRose
 • BirdPigeon
Time zoneUTC+9 (JST)
City hall address1-1-1, Hatogaoka, Iwamizawa-shi, Hokkaido
068-8686
Websitewww.city.iwamizawa.hokkaido.jp

As of September 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 84,127 and the density of 170 persons per km².[1] The total area is 481.10 km2 (186 sq mi).

On March 27, 2006, the town of Kurisawa, and the village of Kita (both from Sorachi District, Sorachi Subprefecture) merged into Iwamizawa.[2]

History

The name of "Iwamizawa" is derived from Japanese word "Yuamisawa" (浴澤).Yuami (浴) and sawa (澤) means "Bathing" and "A swamp".[3]

Iwamizawa was developed as a hub of land transportation around Iwamizawa Station.[2]

  • 1906 - Iwamizawa village became Iwamizawa town.
  • 1943 - Iwamizawa town became Iwamizawa city.
  • 2006 - Kurisawa town and Kita village were merged into Iwamizawa city.

Climate

Iwamizawa has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October.

Climate data for Iwamizawa, Hokkaido
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −2.6
(27.3)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 2.5
(36.5)		 10.5
(50.9)		 17.3
(63.1)		 21.2
(70.2)		 24.7
(76.5)		 25.9
(78.6)		 21.6
(70.9)		 15.0
(59.0)		 7.1
(44.8)		 0.6
(33.1)		 11.8
(53.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.2
(20.8)		 −5.8
(21.6)		 −1.5
(29.3)		 5.5
(41.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 15.7
(60.3)		 19.7
(67.5)		 21.1
(70.0)		 16.3
(61.3)		 9.8
(49.6)		 3.2
(37.8)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 7.2
(45.0)
Average low °C (°F) −10.6
(12.9)		 −10.4
(13.3)		 −5.8
(21.6)		 0.8
(33.4)		 6.2
(43.2)		 11.3
(52.3)		 16.0
(60.8)		 17.2
(63.0)		 11.6
(52.9)		 5.0
(41.0)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 −6.5
(20.3)		 2.8
(37.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 111.5
(4.39)		 86.8
(3.42)		 59.0
(2.32)		 63.4
(2.50)		 70.3
(2.77)		 76.0
(2.99)		 95.3
(3.75)		 156.4
(6.16)		 131.4
(5.17)		 110.2
(4.34)		 116.6
(4.59)		 127.4
(5.02)		 1,204.3
(47.42)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 221
(87)		 162
(64)		 72
(28)		 8
(3.1)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 2
(0.8)		 81
(32)		 211
(83)		 757
(297.9)
Average relative humidity (%) 80 78 75 70 71 78 81 81 78 76 77 80 77
Mean monthly sunshine hours 93.0 117.0 168.4 178.4 203.0 189.0 173.5 169.5 169.3 150.3 84.0 69.7 1,765.1
Source: NOAA (1961-1990) [4]

Transportation

Rail

In the past, Horonai Line and Manji Line ran from Iwamizawa.

Road
  • Hokkaidō Expressway : Iwamizawa IC
  • Route 12

Education

Universities

High schools
  • Hokkaido Iwamizawa Higashi High School
  • Hokkaido Iwamizawa Nishi High School
  • Hokkaido Iwamizawa Agricultural High School
  • Hokkaido Iwamizawa Ryokuryo High School

Sister cities

References
  1. "Official website of Iwamizawa City" (in Japanese). Japan: Iwamizawa City. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. The history of Iwamizawa
  3. The origin of the name
  4. "Iwamizawa Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  5. "Pocatello, Idaho". Sister Cities International. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  6. Fostering International Exchange in Iwamizawa
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