Utashinai, Hokkaido
Encyclopedia
is a city
located in Sorachi Subprefecture
, Hokkaidō
, Japan
. It is Japan's smallest city by population. It was formerly a prosperous coal mining
city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948.
The name is derived from the Ainu
Uta Ushi Nai meaning "River connected to a sandy beach"
As of 2008, the city has an estimated population
of 4,845 and a density
of 86.5 persons per km². The total area is 55.99 km².
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 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 Hokkaidō for the quality of its water. However, despite these new projects, Utashinai continues to experience population decline and economic stagnation. The high school closed in 2007, with students now traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education.
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
located in Sorachi Subprefecture
Sorachi Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 2004, its estimated population is 373,736 and its area is 6,558.26 km².-Cities:* Akabira* Ashibetsu* Bibai* Fukagawa* Iwamizawa * Mikasa* Sunagawa* Takikawa* Utashinai* Yūbari...
, 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...
. It is Japan's smallest city by population. It was formerly a prosperous coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948.
The name is derived from the Ainu
Ainu language
Ainu is one of the Ainu languages, spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō....
Uta Ushi Nai meaning "River connected to a sandy beach"
As of 2008, the city has an estimated 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 4,845 and a density
Population 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 86.5 persons per km². The total area is 55.99 km².
Efforts to transform Utashinai from a gritty coal mining town to an alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
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 Swiss chalet
Chalet
A chalet , also called Swiss chalet, is a type of building or house, native to the Alpine region, made of wood, with a heavy, gently sloping roof with wide, well-supported eaves set at right angles to the front of the house.-Definition and origin:...
style. A medium sized ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
hill, Kamoidake, attracts a decent crowd of locals and hosts frequent ski meets, while a hot spring
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
resort called Tyrol, after the Austrian region
Tyrol (state)
Tyrol is a state or Bundesland, located in the west of Austria. It comprises the Austrian part of the historical region of Tyrol.The state is split into two parts–called North Tyrol and East Tyrol–by a -wide strip of land where the state of Salzburg borders directly on the Italian province of...
, is known throughout Hokkaidō for the quality of its water. However, despite these new projects, Utashinai continues to experience population decline and economic stagnation. The high school closed in 2007, with students now traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education.
History
- 1890 Sorachi Coal Mine opened, founding of Utashinai.
- 1897 Utashinai VillageVillages of JapanA is a local administrative unit in Japan.It is a local public body along with , , and . Geographically, a village's extent is contained within a prefecture....
split away from Nae Village (now the city of SunagawaSunagawa, Hokkaidois a city located in Sorachi, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 19,556 and the density of 249 persons per km². The total area is 78.69 km².The city was founded on July 1, 1958.- History :*1890 Nae Village founded...
) - 1900 AshibetsuAshibetsu, Hokkaidois a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 17,984 and a density of 20.8 persons per km². The total area is 865.02 km²...
Village splits off - 1906 Utashinai becomes a Second Class Municipality
- 1919 Utashinai becomes a First Class Municipality
- 1922 AkabiraAkabira, Hokkaidois a city located in central Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. The name is Ainu for Mountain Ridge.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 13,597 and the density of 105 persons per km². The total area is 129.88 km². The city was once a prosperous coal-mining city, its...
Village split off - 1940 Utashinai becomes a townTowns of JapanA town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
. - 1949 Part of the town splits off into KamisunagawaKamisunagawa, Hokkaidois a town located in Sorachi District, Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 4,282 and a density of 117.49 persons per km². The total area is 39.91 km².- History :...
Town. - July 1, 1958 Utashinai becomes a city.
- 1971 Sumitomo closes Utashinai Mine
- 1988 Kamiutashinai mine closed
- 1995 Sorachi Mine closed
- 2003 Mid-Sorachi Merger Conference established
- 2004 Merger Conference disbanded.