Nakasatsunai, Hokkaido

Nakasatsunai
中札内村
Nakasatsuna-mura
Nakasatsunai village office
Nakasatsunai village office
Flag of Nakasatsunai
Official seal of Nakasatsunai
Location of Nakasatsunai in Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture)
Location of Nakasatsunai in Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture)
Interactive map of Nakasatsunai
Nakasatsunai is located in Japan
Nakasatsunai
Nakasatsunai
 
Coordinates: 42°41′53″N 143°08′03″E / 42.69806°N 143.13417°E / 42.69806; 143.13417
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture)
DistrictKasai
Area
 • Total
292.58 km2 (112.97 sq mi)
Population
 (November 30, 2025)
 • Total
3,828
 • Density13.08/km2 (33.89/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address2-1, Higashi 1-jo Minami 1-chome, Nakasatsunai Village, Kasai District, Hokkaido 089-1392
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.toyokoro.jp
Symbols
BirdEurasian skylark
FlowerLily of the valley
TreeDaimyo oak
Rokka-no-mori Park

Nakasatsunai (中札内村, Nakasatsunai-mura) is a village located in Tokachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 30 November 2025, the village had an estimated population of 3,828 in 1937 households, and a population density of 13 people per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 536.71 km2 (207.22 sq mi).

Geography

Nakasatsunai is located in southeastern Hokkaido in the southwestern Tokachi Plain. The village stretches across the Satsunai River basin, which originates in the central Hidaka Mountains. The western part of the village is part of the Hidakasanmyaku-Erimo-Tokachi National Park. Mount Kamuiekuuchikaushi, at 1979 meters, is the highest point in the village.

Neighboring municipalities

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification, Nakasatsunai has a humid continental climate. It has large temperature differences, including large annual and daily temperature ranges. It receives a lot of snow, and is designated as a heavy snow area. In winter, temperatures of around -25°C are not uncommon, making it extremely cold.

Climate data for Nakasatsunai Averages:1991 - 2020、Peaks:1977 - present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)
14.8
(58.6)
15.3
(59.5)
28.2
(82.8)
36.7
(98.1)
33.5
(92.3)
35.1
(95.2)
34.6
(94.3)
31.5
(88.7)
28.2
(82.8)
20.8
(69.4)
14.0
(57.2)
36.7
(98.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.9
(26.8)
−2.1
(28.2)
2.2
(36.0)
9.4
(48.9)
15.8
(60.4)
19.0
(66.2)
22.2
(72.0)
23.2
(73.8)
20.1
(68.2)
14.2
(57.6)
7.0
(44.6)
−0.3
(31.5)
10.6
(51.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −8.5
(16.7)
−7.7
(18.1)
−2.7
(27.1)
4.1
(39.4)
10.0
(50.0)
13.7
(56.7)
17.4
(63.3)
18.5
(65.3)
15.0
(59.0)
8.7
(47.7)
2.0
(35.6)
−5.4
(22.3)
5.4
(41.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −15.5
(4.1)
−15.2
(4.6)
−9.0
(15.8)
−1.3
(29.7)
4.3
(39.7)
9.1
(48.4)
13.6
(56.5)
14.7
(58.5)
10.4
(50.7)
3.3
(37.9)
−3.1
(26.4)
−11.5
(11.3)
−0.1
(31.8)
Record low °C (°F) −29.4
(−20.9)
−27.2
(−17.0)
−24.7
(−12.5)
−12.9
(8.8)
−5.0
(23.0)
−0.3
(31.5)
4.2
(39.6)
5.2
(41.4)
0.1
(32.2)
−4.7
(23.5)
−15.3
(4.5)
−23.7
(−10.7)
−29.4
(−20.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 52.2
(2.06)
41.1
(1.62)
62.1
(2.44)
78.9
(3.11)
102.8
(4.05)
96.4
(3.80)
126.5
(4.98)
179.0
(7.05)
194.4
(7.65)
127.5
(5.02)
86.1
(3.39)
67.3
(2.65)
1,216.6
(47.90)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 144
(57)
116
(46)
117
(46)
43
(17)
4
(1.6)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.4)
31
(12)
130
(51)
588
(231)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 144.6 145.4 186.1 185.4 183.0 148.7 124.1 126.9 136.9 162.8 149.7 137.2 1,834.1
Source: [2][3]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Nakasatsunai has declined in recent decades.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 4,231—    
1980 3,785−10.5%
1990 4,277+13.0%
2000 4,116−3.8%
2010 4,007−2.6%
2020 3,884−3.1%

History

Nakatasunai was settled from around 1905. It was raised to village status in 1947.

Government

Nakatasunai has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of eight members. Nakatasunai, as part of Tokachi Subprefecture, contributes four members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the village is part of the Hokkaidō 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.[5]

Economy

The main industry is agriculture.

Education

Nakasatsunai has two public elementary school sand one public middle school operated by the village. The village has one public high school operated by the Hokkaido Board of Education.[6]

Transportation

Railways

Nakasatsunai has not had passenger railway service since the discontinuation of the JR Hokkaido Hiroo Line in 1987. The nearest train station is Obihiro Station on the Nemuro Main Line

Highways

Local attractions

Notable people from Nakasatsunai

Mascot

Pi-tan, the town's mascot

Nakasatsunai's mascot is Pi-tan (ピータン). He is a baby chick. His face looks like an egg, his eyes are like beans, and his shoes are made of potatoes (these agricultural products are products of the town). Although he usually wears a top hat and carries a lily of the valley, he can change into other clothes. His favorite hobbies are climbing mountains, farming, judo and attending festivals. He was unveiled in March 1991.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Nakasatsunai Village official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ Japan Meteorological Agency |source 2= JMA
  3. ^ "平年値(年・月ごとの値)". JMA. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Prefecture home page.
  5. ^ "Nakatasunai Town Assembly home page".
  6. ^ "Nakasatsunai Town Board of Education".
  7. ^ "シンボルマーク「ピータン」". Nakasatsunai.
  • Media related to Nakasatsunai, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official Website (in Japanese)