Shibetsu, Hokkaido
# Shibetsu, Hokkaido

Shibetsu (士別市, Shibetsu-shi, Ainu: シペㇳ Sipet) is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population of 19,794 and the density of 18 persons per $km^2.$ The total area is 1119.29 $km^2.$

On September 1, 2005, the town of Asahi was merged into Shibetsu.

## History

* 1899: The last tondenhei village was founded in Shibetsu.
* 1902: Shibetsu village became a second class village.
* 1915: The village became Shibetsu town.
* 1954: Shibetsu town, Kamishibetsu village, Tayoro village, and Onneppu village were merged to form Shibetsu city.
* 2005: Asahi town was merged into Shibetsu city.

## Geography

Shibetsu is located N of Asahikawa and NNE of Sapporo. It is situated by the Shibetsu River in the north and its valley. The name comes from the Ainu word for "great river".

### Climate

Climate data for Shibetsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present) :

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) | 11.0 (51.8) | 13.6 (56.5) | 25.8 (78.4) | 32.8 (91.0) | 36.3 (97.3) | 36.2 (97.2) | 37.0 (98.6) | 31.8 (89.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 19.9 (67.8) | 11.1 (52.0) | 37.0 (98.6) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −4.3 (24.3) | −2.8 (27.0) | 1.9 (35.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 17.5 (63.5) | 22.0 (71.6) | 25.4 (77.7) | 25.6 (78.1) | 21.2 (70.2) | 14.1 (57.4) | 5.4 (41.7) | −1.8 (28.8) | 11.1 (52.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −8.5 (16.7) | −7.7 (18.1) | −2.8 (27.0) | 4.2 (39.6) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.8 (60.4) | 19.7 (67.5) | 20.1 (68.2) | 15.5 (59.9) | 8.8 (47.8) | 1.7 (35.1) | −5.2 (22.6) | 6.1 (42.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −14.5 (5.9) | −14.2 (6.4) | −8.5 (16.7) | −0.9 (30.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 10.5 (50.9) | 15.0 (59.0) | 15.7 (60.3) | 10.6 (51.1) | 4.0 (39.2) | −1.9 (28.6) | −9.9 (14.2) | 0.9 (33.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −35.1 (−31.2) | −34.2 (−29.6) | −28.9 (−20.0) | −13.0 (8.6) | −5.0 (23.0) | 0.4 (32.7) | 4.6 (40.3) | 4.5 (40.1) | 0.2 (32.4) | −6.4 (20.5) | −20.4 (−4.7) | −29.0 (−20.2) | −35.1 (−31.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 64.2 (2.53) | 49.2 (1.94) | 52.2 (2.06) | 46.7 (1.84) | 62.9 (2.48) | 66.3 (2.61) | 130.5 (5.14) | 152.3 (6.00) | 148.8 (5.86) | 116.0 (4.57) | 125.7 (4.95) | 102.3 (4.03) | 1,117.6 (44.00) |
| Average rainy days | 17.4 | 14.6 | 14.7 | 10.8 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 12.3 | 13.9 | 15.8 | 19.7 | 21.5 | 173.1 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 47.6 | 75.0 | 117.2 | 159.3 | 189.8 | 168.4 | 162.6 | 152.2 | 147.2 | 114.6 | 48.0 | 31.8 | 1,410.1 |
| Source 1: JMA ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: JMA ||||||||||||||

## Transportation

### Rail

* Sōya Main Line: Shibetsu - Tayoro - Mizuho

### Road

Shibetsu is accessed by the Hokkaidō Expressway. The Shibetsu-Kenbuchi Interchange opened on October 4, 2003, connecting the expressway with Route 40. The bypass is not yet planned.

## Culture

### Mascots

Shibetsu's mascots are Sahocchi (さほっち), Mei-chan (メイちゃん), Mi-chan (みーちゃん) and Janpun (ジャンプん).

* Sahocchi, whose real name is Kurosuke Hitsujida (羊田 黒助), is a cheerful and friendly ram. His birthday is July 1. On 24 August 2014, he married Mei-chan at Tsukumosuigo Park.
* Mei-chan, whose real name is Mei Hitsujida (羊田 メイ), is a shy yet kind, kind, cheerful and energetic ewe. Her birthday is May 5.
* Mi-chan, whose real name is Miu Hitsujida (羊田 未生), is a lamb who is the daughter of Sahocchi and Mei-chan. She was born on 1 January 2015. Her checks are her mark point.
* Janpun is a farmer boy from Asahi who loves to ski jump. He assists the Asahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Club. Sahocchi, Mei-chan and Mi-chan depends on him for any advice.

## Education

### High schools

* Hokkaido Shibetsu Shoun High School
* Hokkaido Shibetsu Higashi High School

## Sister city and friendship city

### Sister city

* Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

### Friendship city

* Miyoshi, Aichi Prefecture
