Rikubetsu (陸別町, Rikubetsu-chō) is a town located in Tokachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is located on the edge of the Tokachi Plain at an altitude of 207 metres (679 ft) above sea level.

Rikubetsu
陸別町
リクン・ペッ
Town
Rikubetsu town hall
Rikubetsu town hall
Flag of Rikubetsu
Official seal of Rikubetsu
Location of Rikubetsu in Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture)
Location of Rikubetsu in Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture)
Rikubetsu is located in Japan
Rikubetsu
Rikubetsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°28′N 143°45′E / 43.467°N 143.750°E / 43.467; 143.750
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture)
DistrictAshoro
Area
 • Total608.81 km2 (235.06 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2016)
 • Total2,528
 • Density4.2/km2 (11/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.rikubetsu.jp

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 2,528 and a density of 4.2 persons per km². The total area is 608.81 km².

Climate

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Rikubetsu is ranked as Japan's coldest area. Daily mean temperature in January is −11.4 °C (11.5 °F), the average low temperature in the end of January and beginning of February are below −20 °C (−4.0 °F), which are the coldest in Japan.

Climate data for Rikubetsu, Hokkaido (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.6
(43.9)
13.9
(57.0)
17.4
(63.3)
29.3
(84.7)
37.8
(100.0)
35.5
(95.9)
35.9
(96.6)
35.1
(95.2)
32.8
(91.0)
27.8
(82.0)
20.0
(68.0)
12.9
(55.2)
37.8
(100.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.5
(27.5)
−1.4
(29.5)
3.2
(37.8)
10.5
(50.9)
17.1
(62.8)
20.6
(69.1)
23.7
(74.7)
24.4
(75.9)
20.8
(69.4)
14.7
(58.5)
7.1
(44.8)
−0.2
(31.6)
11.5
(52.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −11.1
(12.0)
−9.6
(14.7)
−3.1
(26.4)
4.0
(39.2)
10.1
(50.2)
14.4
(57.9)
18.3
(64.9)
19.1
(66.4)
14.9
(58.8)
7.9
(46.2)
0.7
(33.3)
−7.7
(18.1)
4.8
(40.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −19.6
(−3.3)
−18.8
(−1.8)
−10.6
(12.9)
−2.5
(27.5)
3.4
(38.1)
9.1
(48.4)
14.0
(57.2)
15.0
(59.0)
9.8
(49.6)
1.8
(35.2)
−5.3
(22.5)
−14.9
(5.2)
−1.6
(29.2)
Record low °C (°F) −33.2
(−27.8)
−33.1
(−27.6)
−27.6
(−17.7)
−19.1
(−2.4)
−7.2
(19.0)
−2.1
(28.2)
2.1
(35.8)
4.2
(39.6)
−2.4
(27.7)
−9.2
(15.4)
−20.9
(−5.6)
−27.6
(−17.7)
−33.2
(−27.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33.7
(1.33)
20.1
(0.79)
38.4
(1.51)
54.2
(2.13)
71.5
(2.81)
67.6
(2.66)
106.0
(4.17)
137.0
(5.39)
121.5
(4.78)
83.4
(3.28)
47.7
(1.88)
42.8
(1.69)
831.8
(32.75)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 97
(38)
74
(29)
80
(31)
25
(9.8)
2
(0.8)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1
(0.4)
20
(7.9)
86
(34)
386
(152)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.0 5.7 8.6 9.8 9.9 9.0 10.0 11.1 10.6 9.1 7.9 7.8 107.1
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 10.9 9.5 11.0 3.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 2.4 9.2 46.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 151.2 150.2 172.5 168.8 170.8 144.5 128.1 121.6 136.8 157.9 144.1 145.6 1,792
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[1][2]

Mascots

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Shibare-kun and Tsurara-chan, the town's mascots

Rikubetsu's mascots are Shibare-kun (しばれ君) and Tsurara-chan (つららちゃん).[3]

  • Shibare-kun is a Siberian boy from the Amur River area. He sailed to Japan through the trails of drift ice. He carries a thermometer to remind everyone that Rikubetsu is Japan's coldest place.
  • Tsurara-chan is a Canadian girl. She flew to Japan through the path of the aurora borealis. Her goal is to prevent climate change.

References

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  1. ^ "平年値(年・月ごとの値)". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  2. ^ "観測史上1~10位の値(年間を通じての値)". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "しばれ君・つららちゃん". Rikubetsu.
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