Utashinai Explained

Utashinai
Native Name Lang:ja
Settlement Type:City
Pushpin Map:Japan
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Japan
Coordinates:43.5167°N 144°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Japan
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Hokkaido
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Subdivision Type3:District
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Takaoki Murakami
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:55.99
Population Total:2,662
Population As Of:January 31, 2024
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone1:JST
Utc Offset1:+09:00
Blank Name Sec1:City hall address
Blank Info Sec1:5, Aza Honchō, Utashinai-shi, Hokkaidō
073-0492
Module:
Embedded:yes
Mascot:Horun-kun (ホルンくん)

is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is Japan's smallest city by population.

History

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, 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 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 high school closed in 2007, with students now traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education.

Timeline

Geography

Penkeutashunai River, a tributary of Ishikari River, flows through Utashinai. There is Mount Kamoi on the northwest of the city.

Name

The name is derived from the Ainu ota-us-nay (Ainu: オタウㇱナイ) meaning "River connected to a sandy beach".[1]

Demographics

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]

Culture

Mascot

Utashinai's mascot is . He is a sheep who moved from Switzerland to Japan. He carries an alphorn. He was unveiled in 1998.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/ks/ass/grp/1120P.pdf . ja:アイヌ語地名リスト . Ainu Language Place Name List . Office of Ainu Measures Promotion, Department of Environment and Lifestyle, Hokkaido Government . ja . January 29, 2015.
  2. Web site: Utashinai City Population Statistics. Utashinai City Local Government. ja. 14 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115141531/https://www.city.utashinai.hokkaido.jp/hotnews/category/115.html . 15 January 2021.
  3. Web site: プロフィール. Utashinai.