Akaigawa, Hokkaido

Akaigawa (赤井川村, Akaigawa-mura) is a village located in Shiribeshi, Hokkaido, Japan.

Akaigawa 赤井川村
Village
Akaigawa Village hall
Flag Emblem
Location of Akaigawa in Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
Akaigawa Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°5′N 140°49′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
District	Yoichi
Government
• Mayor	Motomu Baba
Area
• Total	280.11 km2 (108.15 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2020)
• Total	1,165
• Density	4.2/km2 (11/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	74-2 Akaigawa, Akaigawa, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido 046-0592
Website	www.akaigawa.com
Symbols
Flower	Murasaki-yashio
Mascot	Akarin (あかりん)
Tree	Betula pendula

As of October 2020, the village has an estimated population of 1,165.^[1] The total area is 280.11 km².

History

The name derives from Ainu word "hure-pet", meaning "red river".^[2]

• 1899: Akaigawa Village split off from Ōe Village (now Niki Town).
• 1906: Akaigawa became a Second Class Village.
• 1991: Kiroro Resort opened.

Geography

The center of Akaigawa is in the Akaigawa Caldera and surrounded by mountains on every side.^[3]

Kiroro Resort is on the eastern side of the village.^[4]

• Mountains: Mount Yoichi, Mount Ponkuto
• Rivers: Yoichi River, Shiroigawa River, Akaigawa River

Neighboring cities and towns

• Kutchan
• Kyōgoku
• Minami-ku, Sapporo
• Niki
• Otaru
• Yoichi

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[1] the population of Akaigawa has declined in recent decades.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
2000	1,512	—
2010	1,262	−16.5%
2020	1,165	−7.7%

Education

• Akaigawa Elementary School
• Akaigawa Junior High School
• Miyako Elementary School

Culture

Mascot

Akarin, the village's mascot

Akaigawa's mascot is Akarin (あかりん), a 10-year-old farmer girl who is active day and night either through sports or farming. Her favourite food is a mixture of fresh produce and rice. She usually ends her sentences with "desu no" (ですの) which, along with her eyes, are her charm points. She became the mascot on 18 July 2014.^[5]