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City in Hokkaido, Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Utashinai (歌志内市, Utashinai-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is Japan's smallest city by population.
Utashinai
歌志内市 | |
|---|---|
Utashinai city hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Utashinai in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) | |
  Utashinai Location in Japan | |
| Coordinates: 43°31′N 142°2′E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Takaoki Murakami |
| Area | |
• Total | 55.99 km2 (21.62 sq mi) |
| Population (January 31, 2024) | |
• Total | 2,662 |
| • Density | 48/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 5, Aza Honchō, Utashinai-shi, Hokkaidō 073-0492 |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Japanese bush-warbler |
| Flower | Azalea |
| Mascot | Horun-kun (ホルンくん) |
| Tree | Japanese rowan |
Utashinai was formerly a prosperous coal mining city, but its fortunes has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population peaked at 46,000 in 1948, and has been decreasing every year since.
Efforts to transform Utashinai from a gritty coal mining town to an alpine tourist destination have met with mixed success. The town has adopted a Swiss theme as part of its tourist-oriented strategy and many new buildings are built in the Swiss chalet style. A medium-sized ski hill, Kamoidake, attracts a decent crowd of locals and hosts frequent ski meets, while a hot spring resort called Tyrol, after the Austrian region, is known throughout Hokkaido for the quality of its water. However, despite these new projects, Utashinai continues to experience population decline and economic stagnation. The local high school closed in 2007, with students now traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education.
Penkeutashunai River, a tributary of Ishikari River, flows through Utashinai. There is Mount Kamoi on the northwest of the city.
The name is derived from the Ainu ota-us-nay (オタウㇱナイ) meaning "River connected to a sandy beach".[1]
As of December 31, 2020, the city had a population of 3,019, with 1,788 households, and a density of 62 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 55.99 km2. The population of Utashinai has been declining very rapidly for the past 80 years.[2]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40,954 | — |
| 1960 | 38,002 | −7.2% |
| 1970 | 19,334 | −49.1% |
| 1980 | 10,178 | −47.4% |
| 1990 | 8,279 | −18.7% |
| 2000 | 5,941 | −28.2% |
| 2010 | 4,387 | −26.2% |
| 2020 | 3,019 | −31.2% |
Utashinai's mascot is Horun-kun (ホルンくん), unveiled in 1998. He is a sheep carrying an alphorn, who moved from Switzerland to Japan.[3]
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