This article is about the city in Kamikawa Subprefecture. For the town in Nemuro Subprefecture, see Shibetsu, Hokkaido (Nemuro).
"Sipet" redirects here. For the Romanian village of Şipet, see Șipet.

Shibetsu (士別市, Shibetsu-shi, Ainu: シペㇳ Sipet) is a city located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population of 19,794 and the density of 18 persons per km2. The total area is 1119.29 km2.

On September 1, 2005, the town of Asahi was merged into Shibetsu.

History

  • 1899: The last tondenhei village was founded in Shibetsu.
  • 1902: Shibetsu village became a second class village.
  • 1915: The village became Shibetsu town.
  • 1954: Shibetsu town, Kamishibetsu village, Tayoro village, and Onneppu village were merged to form Shibetsu city.
  • 2005: Asahi town was merged into Shibetsu city.

Geography

Shibetsu is located N of Asahikawa and NNE of Sapporo. It is situated by the Shibetsu River in the north and its valley. The name comes from the Ainu word for "great river".

Climate

Climate data for Shibetsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1976−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.8
(44.2) 		11.0
(51.8) 		13.6
(56.5) 		25.8
(78.4) 		32.8
(91.0) 		36.3
(97.3) 		36.2
(97.2) 		37.0
(98.6) 		31.8
(89.2) 		25.6
(78.1) 		19.9
(67.8) 		11.1
(52.0) 		37.0
(98.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −4.3
(24.3) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		1.9
(35.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		17.5
(63.5) 		22.0
(71.6) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.6
(78.1) 		21.2
(70.2) 		14.1
(57.4) 		5.4
(41.7) 		−1.8
(28.8) 		11.1
(52.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −8.5
(16.7) 		−7.7
(18.1) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		4.2
(39.6) 		11.2
(52.2) 		15.8
(60.4) 		19.7
(67.5) 		20.1
(68.2) 		15.5
(59.9) 		8.8
(47.8) 		1.7
(35.1) 		−5.2
(22.6) 		6.1
(42.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −14.5
(5.9) 		−14.2
(6.4) 		−8.5
(16.7) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		5.2
(41.4) 		10.5
(50.9) 		15.0
(59.0) 		15.7
(60.3) 		10.6
(51.1) 		4.0
(39.2) 		−1.9
(28.6) 		−9.9
(14.2) 		0.9
(33.7)
Record low °C (°F) −35.1
(−31.2) 		−34.2
(−29.6) 		−28.9
(−20.0) 		−13.0
(8.6) 		−5.0
(23.0) 		0.4
(32.7) 		4.6
(40.3) 		4.5
(40.1) 		0.2
(32.4) 		−6.4
(20.5) 		−20.4
(−4.7) 		−29.0
(−20.2) 		−35.1
(−31.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 64.2
(2.53) 		49.2
(1.94) 		52.2
(2.06) 		46.7
(1.84) 		62.9
(2.48) 		66.3
(2.61) 		130.5
(5.14) 		152.3
(6.00) 		148.8
(5.86) 		116.0
(4.57) 		125.7
(4.95) 		102.3
(4.03) 		1,117.6
(44.00)
Average rainy days 17.4 14.6 14.7 10.8 10.7 10.0 11.7 12.3 13.9 15.8 19.7 21.5 173.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 47.6 75.0 117.2 159.3 189.8 168.4 162.6 152.2 147.2 114.6 48.0 31.8 1,410.1
Source 1: JMA[1]
Source 2: JMA[2]

Transportation

Rail

Road

Shibetsu is accessed by the Hokkaidō Expressway. The Shibetsu-Kenbuchi Interchange opened on October 4, 2003, connecting the expressway with Route 40. The bypass is not yet planned.

Culture

Mascots

Sahocchi, Mei-chan, Mi-chan and Janpun, the city's mascots

Shibetsu's mascots are Sahocchi (さほっち), Mei-chan (メイちゃん), Mi-chan (みーちゃん) and Janpun (ジャンプん).

  • Sahocchi, whose real name is Kurosuke Hitsujida (羊田 黒助), is a cheerful and friendly ram. His birthday is July 1. On 24 August 2014, he married Mei-chan at Tsukumosuigo Park.[3]
  • Mei-chan, whose real name is Mei Hitsujida (羊田 メイ), is a shy yet kind, kind, cheerful and energetic ewe. Her birthday is May 5.[4]
  • Mi-chan, whose real name is Miu Hitsujida (羊田 未生), is a lamb who is the daughter of Sahocchi and Mei-chan. She was born on 1 January 2015. Her checks are her mark point.[5]
  • Janpun is a farmer boy from Asahi who loves to ski jump. He assists the Asahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Club. Sahocchi, Mei-chan and Mi-chan depends on him for any advice.[6]

Education

High schools

  • Hokkaido Shibetsu Shoun High School
  • Hokkaido Shibetsu Higashi High School

Sister city and friendship city

Sister city

Friendship city

References

  1. ^ 観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）. JMA. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  2. ^ 気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）. JMA. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "メイちゃん". Shibetsu.
  4. ^ "メイちゃん". Shibetsu.
  5. ^ "みーちゃん". Shibetsu.
  6. ^ "ジャンプん". Shibetsu.

External links