Monbetsu, Hokkaido facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monbetsu
紋別市
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The city viewed from Mount Monbetsu
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Location of Monbetsu in Hokkaido (Okhotsk Subprefecture)
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 Monbetsu
Location in Japan
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| Country | Japan | ||||||||||
| Region | Hokkaido | ||||||||||
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Okhotsk Subprefecture) | ||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||
| • Total | 830.70 km2 (320.74 sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Population
(September 30, 2016)
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| • Total | 22,983 | ||||||||||
| • Density | 27.67/km2 (71.7/sq mi) | ||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) | ||||||||||
| City hall address | 2-1-18, Saiwaichō, Mombetsu-shi, Hokkaidō 094-8707 |
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| Climate | Dfb | ||||||||||
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Monbetsu (紋別市, Monbetsu-shi) is a city in Hokkaido, Japan. It's located on the coast, right next to the Sea of Okhotsk. Its name comes from the Ainu language, meaning 'Quiet River'.
As of September 2016, about 22,983 people lived in Monbetsu. The city covers an area of about 830.70 square kilometers (320.73 sq mi).
Most of Monbetsu's economy relies on fishing. They catch cold-water species like crab. People say the crab from Monbetsu is the best in Japan! The city is so proud of its crab that there's a huge sculpture of a crab claw, almost 10 meters (33 ft) tall, right by the water.
Contents
History of Monbetsu City
Monbetsu has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it became the city it is today:
- 1889: A village office was first set up in Monbetsu.
- 1909: Two villages, Mobetsu and Monbetsu, joined together to form a larger Monbetsu Village.
- 1919: Monbetsu Village officially became Monbetsu Town.
- July 1, 1954: Shokotsu Village and Kamishokotsu Village merged with Monbetsu. This is when Monbetsu officially became a city!
Geography and Climate
Monbetsu is a coastal city with interesting natural features and weather.
Rivers and Waterways
The Shokotsu River flows right through the city of Monbetsu. Rivers are important for cities, often providing water and sometimes helping with transportation or fishing.
Monbetsu's Climate: Warm Summers, Cold Winters
Monbetsu has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. It rains or snows throughout the year, but the most precipitation (rain or snow) falls from July to September.
| Climate data for Monbetsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1956−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) |
12.6 (54.7) |
18.7 (65.7) |
30.8 (87.4) |
37.0 (98.6) |
32.7 (90.9) |
36.3 (97.3) |
35.2 (95.4) |
34.2 (93.6) |
27.9 (82.2) |
22.4 (72.3) |
16.5 (61.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
2.3 (36.1) |
9.0 (48.2) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
20.6 (69.1) |
22.9 (73.2) |
20.7 (69.3) |
14.9 (58.8) |
7.2 (45.0) |
0.3 (32.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −5.2 (22.6) |
−5.3 (22.5) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
4.6 (40.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.0 (55.4) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.3 (66.7) |
16.6 (61.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
3.6 (38.5) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
6.7 (44.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.7 (16.3) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
0.7 (33.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
9.9 (49.8) |
14.4 (57.9) |
16.4 (61.5) |
12.8 (55.0) |
6.2 (43.2) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
3.1 (37.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −21.8 (−7.2) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
−22.7 (−8.9) |
−11.2 (11.8) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
4.3 (39.7) |
5.6 (42.1) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 44.4 (1.75) |
33.2 (1.31) |
35.4 (1.39) |
45.7 (1.80) |
58.4 (2.30) |
69.8 (2.75) |
108.6 (4.28) |
122.0 (4.80) |
127.6 (5.02) |
88.1 (3.47) |
64.6 (2.54) |
59.3 (2.33) |
860.8 (33.89) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 87 (34) |
77 (30) |
62 (24) |
16 (6.3) |
1 (0.4) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
21 (8.3) |
75 (30) |
338 (133) |
| Average rainy days | 11.1 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 9.4 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 10.8 | 9.9 | 11.1 | 11.6 | 119.5 |
| Average snowy days | 18.7 | 16.3 | 14.5 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 5.3 | 15.8 | 74.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 73 | 73 | 70 | 67 | 73 | 83 | 85 | 83 | 77 | 71 | 70 | 71 | 75 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 98.7 | 114.2 | 160.1 | 174.7 | 179.3 | 154.7 | 143.2 | 145.0 | 157.3 | 149.3 | 103.5 | 95.2 | 1,675.2 |
| Source 1: JMA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: JMA | |||||||||||||
Getting Around Monbetsu
Monbetsu has several ways to travel, but it does not have passenger train service.
Travel by Bus and Air
You can take buses from Monbetsu to larger cities like Sapporo and Asahikawa. There's also a daily flight from Monbetsu Airport to Tokyo, making it easy to reach the capital.
Past Train Lines
In the past, the Shokotsu Line and Nayoro Main Line used to run through Monbetsu. These train lines are no longer in service for passengers.
Education in Monbetsu
Monbetsu has schools to help its young people learn and grow.
High School
- Hokkaido Monbetsu High School is the main high school in the city.
Fun Things to See and Do in Monbetsu
Monbetsu is famous for its unique natural wonders and exciting festivals!
Drift Ice: A Winter Wonderland
Monbetsu is well-known for its drift ice. This amazing natural event happens every January or February when large sheets of ice float down from the northern Sea of Okhotsk and reach the city's coast.
- Research and Festivals: Because of the drift ice, Monbetsu has become a center for studying sea ice. An international conference is held here every February, when the ice is usually at its peak.
- Drift Ice Festival: There's also a yearly Drift Ice Festival. It happens at the same time as the famous Sapporo Snow Festival. At this festival, you can see amazing sculptures made from drift ice and even explore a large ice maze!
- Okhotsk Tower: This special building lets you see the sea ice from high above and even from below the ocean! It has an information center and an aquarium.
- Garinko II Icebreaker: You can take a sightseeing cruise on the Garinko II, an icebreaker ship. It sails through the drift ice during the winter, giving you an up-close look.
- Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum: This museum in Hokkaido teaches you all about sea ice. It has a special sub-zero room and a "frozen aquarium" where you can see different fish preserved in ice.
Summer Visitors
During the summer, when the sea ice melts, sailors from Russia often visit Monbetsu. These visits bring a mix of cultures to the city.
Meet Monta: Monbetsu's Friendly Mascot!
Monbetsu's official mascot is Monta (紋太). He's a curious, fun-loving, and exciting harbor seal who is 53 years old!
- His Look: Monta usually wears a special Japanese coat called a happi, which has an iceberg design. He also wears a belly band, which is his special charm. It keeps him warm in winter and cool in summer! Sometimes, he wears a scallop as a wig.
- His Powers: As a seal, Monta can handle all kinds of weather, whether it's super cold or very hot. He can even go scuba diving, even though he's an older seal!
- Where He Lives and Works: Monta lives and works at the Hokkaidoritsu Okhotsk Ryuhyo Park.
- His Favorite Places: He loves going to festivals and visiting the Port of Monbetsu.
- His Hobbies: Monta enjoys fishing, learning about the sea, and taking naps. In winter, he naps on drift ice, and in summer, he naps at the Okhotsk White Beach.
- What He Eats: He loves all kinds of seafood! But he tries to stay healthy, so he usually says no to sweets and vegetables.
- His Big Goal: Monta wants to be a great elder who helps promote the city of Monbetsu.
- His Special Power: Whenever people see Monta, he brings smiles to their faces!
Sister Cities: Friends Around the World
Monbetsu has special friendships with cities in other countries. These are called sister cities:
Newport, Oregon, United States (since 1966)
Korsakov, Russia (since 1991)- Fairbanks, Alaska, United States (since 1991)
