Kimobetsu, Hokkaido

Kimobetsu (喜茂別町) is a town located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 2,286 and a population density of 12 persons per km2. The total area is 189.51 km2.

Geography
Route 230 and Route 276 cross each other in Kimobetsu. Nakayama Pass is on the eastern of the town.

The name derived from Ainu word "kim-o-pet", meaning "The river in the mountain".
 * Mountains: Mount Yōtei, Mount Shiribetsu
 * Rivers: Shiribetsu River, Kimobetsu River

Neighboring municipalities

 * Shiribeshi Subprefecture
 * Kyogoku
 * Rusutsu
 * Makkari
 * Ishikari Subprefecture
 * Minami-ku, Sapporo
 * Iburi Subprefecture
 * Date

Climate
Due to its mountainous location, Kimobetsu has a humid continental climate (Koppen Dfb). Summers are generally warm and wet, while winters are cold and extremely snowy.

History

 * 1897: Makkari Village split off from Abuta Village (now Toyako Town).
 * 1901: Kaributo Village (now Niseko Town) was split off from Makkari Village.
 * 1906: Makkari Village became a Second Class Village.
 * 1910: Makkari Village was transferred from Muroran Subprefecture (now Iburi Subprefecture) to Shiribeshi Subprefecture.
 * 1917: Kimobetsu Village (now town) was split off from Makkari Village.
 * 1946: Kimobetsu Village became a First Class Village.
 * 1952: Kimobetsu Village became Kimobetsu Town.

Education

 * Junior high school
 * Kimobetsu Junior High School
 * Elementary school
 * Kimobetsu Elementary School
 * Suzukawa Elementary School