Shiraoi, Hokkaido
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in Shiraoi District
, Iburi
, Hokkaidō
, Japan
. As of 31 May 2008, the town had a population
of 20,371 The town was established in 1867 by the feudal lords of Sendai
. Most of the area of the town is forested and parts lie within the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park
.
. According to the town's official website, the name, Shiraoi, means Rainbow
s are frequent here in the Ainu language
. Other sources state that the name comes from Shiraunai meaning Horse-flies
are common here.
In 1867 the Sendai domain established a fort in Shiraoi and work began on . The following year the Boshin War
caused Sendai to retreat from Shiraoi and return to Sendai proper. After the revolt was put down the government dismantled the fort in 1870.
The end of the 19th century saw expansion of the town. A road was established connecting Shiraoi with Muroran, Sapporo, and Hakodate in 1873. 19 years later the first railroad station was established. The villages of Shadai and Shikiu are established. Two events interrupt this expansion: in 1874 Mount Tarumae
erupts and in 1881 Emperor Meiji
visits.
Shiraoi is crossed by a number of rivers running from the mountains like Mount Horohoro
to the Pacific Ocean
. These include:
Mount Horohoro and Lake Kuttara
are part of Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. Lake Poroto is also a place of natural beauty.
of 47.86 persons per km².
, and cod roe at Kojohama. Shiraoi imported the knowledge of cod roe production from Iwanai, Hokkaidō
.
Shiraoi has been involved in the harvest of marine products such as the Horsehair crab
and konbu. Because of dwindling resources harvesting of hair crab has been reduced to a test operation from middle of July until middle of August.
Shiraoi introduced the raising of beef cattle from Shimane Prefecture
in 1954. In 1966 Shiraoi began with the production of chicken eggs. Shiraoi boasts 550,000 chickens and a business worth ¥2.8 billion.
:
Shiraoi is served by the following bus companies:
Shiraoi is served by the following roads and highways:
since 1981 Sendai, Japan since 1981 Morita (now part of Tsugaru), Japan
since 1991
is located here. Shadai Stallion Station has bought high-profile thoroughbreds for their breeding program, such as Kentucky Derby
winner War Emblem
.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in Shiraoi District
Shiraoi District, Hokkaido
is a district located in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 20,866 and a density of 49.01 persons per km². The total area is 425.75 km².-Towns and villages:*Shiraoi...
, Iburi
Iburi Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan.- Geography :Located in south-central Hokkaido, Iburi stretches East-West and North-South. Iburi covers an area of . Iburi borders Oshima subprefecture to the West, Shiribeshi, Ishikari, and Sorachi subprefectures to the North, and Hidaka subprefecture to the...
, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As of 31 May 2008, the town had a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 20,371 The town was established in 1867 by the feudal lords of Sendai
Sendai Domain
was a Japanese domain of the Edo period. Most of its holdings were contiguous, covering all of modern-day Miyagi Prefecture, small portions of southern Iwate Prefecture, and a portion of northeastern Fukushima Prefecture. The domain's capital, and the ruling family's castle, were located in what...
. Most of the area of the town is forested and parts lie within the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park
Shikotsu-Toya National Park
is a national park in the central part of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. Named after the volcanic caldera lakes of Lake Shikotsu and Lake Tōya, it has a total area of 993.02 square kilometers...
.
History
Shiraoi like the rest of Hokkaidō was populated by the AinuAinu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
. According to the town's official website, the name, Shiraoi, means Rainbow
Rainbow
A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc...
s are frequent here in the Ainu language
Ainu language
Ainu is one of the Ainu languages, spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō....
. Other sources state that the name comes from Shiraunai meaning Horse-flies
Horse-fly
Insects in the order Diptera, family Tabanidae, are commonly called horse flies. Often considered pests for the bites that many inflict, they are among the world's largest true flies. They are known to be extremely noisy during flight. They are also important pollinators of flowers, especially in...
are common here.
In 1867 the Sendai domain established a fort in Shiraoi and work began on . The following year the Boshin War
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
caused Sendai to retreat from Shiraoi and return to Sendai proper. After the revolt was put down the government dismantled the fort in 1870.
The end of the 19th century saw expansion of the town. A road was established connecting Shiraoi with Muroran, Sapporo, and Hakodate in 1873. 19 years later the first railroad station was established. The villages of Shadai and Shikiu are established. Two events interrupt this expansion: in 1874 Mount Tarumae
Mount Tarumae
is located in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is located near both Tomakomai and Chitose towns and can be seen clearly from both. It is on the shores of Lake Shikotsu, a caldera lake. Tarumae is a 1,041 metre active andesitic stratovolcano, with a lava dome.-Eruptions:The...
erupts and in 1881 Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
visits.
Geography
The total area is 425.72 square kilometres (164.4 sq mi). The town is 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) East to West and 26.4 kilometres (16.4 mi) North to South. 82% of this area is forested.| Use | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mountains and forest | 74 |
| Other | 9 |
| Plains and moor | 6 |
| Ranchland | 4 |
| Farmland | 2 |
| Housing | 2 |
| Mixed use | 2 |
| Wet lands | 1 |
Shiraoi is crossed by a number of rivers running from the mountains like Mount Horohoro
Mount Horohoro
is a mountain in Hokkaidō. It is located on the border between Date and Shiraoi in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the tallest mountain in the Iburi subprefecture. From the top you can see Lake Tōya, Lake Shikotsu, Mount Yōtei, Mount Eniwa, and even the outskirts of Sapporo....
to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. These include:
- Shadai River
- Shiraoi River
- Shikyu River
- Betsubetsu River
Mount Horohoro and Lake Kuttara
Lake Kuttara
is a near circular caldera lake in Shiraoi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is part of Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. The lake is recognized as having the best water quality in all of Japan. With a transparency of , the lake ranks second only to Lake Mashū according to the Ministry of the Environment.Resident...
are part of Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. Lake Poroto is also a place of natural beauty.
Climate
Shiraoi has an oceanic climate, mild when compared to the rest of Hokkaidō. The annual temperature ranges between the extremes of 27.8 °C (82 °F) and -20.8 C. The average annual temperature is 7.2 °C (45 °F). Shiraoi receives 1660 millimetres (65.4 in) of precipitation annually. This only results in 103 centimetres (40.6 in) of snow annually. In a typical year, the snow lingers for 80 days. Accumulated snow rarely exceeding 44 centimetres (17.3 in). Wind velocity averages merely 1.6 metres per second (3.6 mph), that is less than half of the neighboring Tomakomai and Muroran.Demographics
Shiraoi has a densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 47.86 persons per km².
| Year | Households | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | 848 | 3659 |
| 1919 | 988 | 4906 |
| 1920 | 1906 | 6312 |
| 1925 | 1348 | 6849 |
Economy
In the 1930s Shiraoi began the cultivation of mushrooms, such as ShiitakeShiitake
The Shiitake is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries, as well as being dried and exported to many countries around the world. It is a feature of many Asian cuisines including Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Thai...
, and cod roe at Kojohama. Shiraoi imported the knowledge of cod roe production from Iwanai, Hokkaidō
Iwanai, Hokkaido
is a town located in Iwanai District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 15,700 and a density of 225.78 persons per km². The total area is 70.64 km².Iwanai is one of the oldest towns in the region...
.
Shiraoi has been involved in the harvest of marine products such as the Horsehair crab
Horsehair crab
The horsehair crab, Erimacrus isenbeckii, , is a species of crab which is found in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean and is frequently used in Japanese cuisine.-References:*...
and konbu. Because of dwindling resources harvesting of hair crab has been reduced to a test operation from middle of July until middle of August.
Shiraoi introduced the raising of beef cattle from Shimane Prefecture
Shimane Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to...
in 1954. In 1966 Shiraoi began with the production of chicken eggs. Shiraoi boasts 550,000 chickens and a business worth ¥2.8 billion.
Annual cultural events
Shiraoi has four annual festivals:- Shiraoi Dosanko Winter Festival — early February
- Shiraoi Beef Festival — early June
- Shiraoi Port Festival — early August
- Shiraoi Cheipu Festival — early September
Museums and other points of interest
- The Ainu Museum, commonly known as Poroto Kotan – Poroto Kotan is a natural history museum depicting a traditional Ainu village. Performers show traditional crafts and dances like the yomante rimuse.
- Lake KuttaraLake Kuttarais a near circular caldera lake in Shiraoi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is part of Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. The lake is recognized as having the best water quality in all of Japan. With a transparency of , the lake ranks second only to Lake Mashū according to the Ministry of the Environment.Resident...
- Inkura Falls
- Mount Horohoro
- Ayoro Beach
- Kojohama hotsprings
Transportation
Shiraoi has several stations on the Muroran Main LineMuroran Main Line
The is a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by Hokkaido Railway Company , between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, running through the coast of Iburi Subprefecture...
:
- Kojōhama
- Takeura
- Kita-yoshihara
- Hagino
- Shiraoi
- Shadai
Shiraoi is served by the following bus companies:
- Donan bus Co.,Ltd
- Hokkaido Chuo Bus Co., ltd.
Shiraoi is served by the following roads and highways:
- Hokkaidō Expressway
- Interchange at Siraoi
- Parking area at Hagino
- National highwaysNational highways of JapanJapan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
:- Japan National Route 36Japan National Route 36National Route 36 is a national highway connecting Sapporo and Muroran in Hokkaidō, Japan.-Route Data:*Length: 133.0 km *Origin: Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Sapporo *Terminus: Muroran, Hokkaido...
- Japan National Route 36
- Prefectural roads:
- Hokkaidō Highway 86
- Hokkaidō Highway 350
- Hokkaidō Highway 388
- Hokkaidō Highway 701
- Hokkaidō Highway 1045
Sister cities
Shiraoi has the following twin city relationships: Quesnel, CanadaQuesnel, British Columbia
-Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....
since 1981 Sendai, Japan since 1981 Morita (now part of Tsugaru), Japan
Tsugaru, Aomori
is a city located in northeastern Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 37,957 and a density of 150 persons per km². Its total area was 253.85 km²...
since 1991
Sports
The Shadai Stallion StationShadai Stallion Station
is a thoroughbred breeding facility located in Abira on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. The farm was begun in the late 1970s, early 1980s by the late Zenya Yoshida and is now run jointly by his sons , known collectively as the Shadai Group. As of 2006, the brothers own 3,000 horses worldwide...
is located here. Shadai Stallion Station has bought high-profile thoroughbreds for their breeding program, such as Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winner War Emblem
War Emblem
War Emblem was the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2002. His Derby time was 2:01.13. Victor Espinoza was his jockey for the Derby, never having seen the horse until the morning of the race. War Emblem, who went off at 21-to-1 odds, gave trainer Bob Baffert his third Derby...
.