Muroran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Muroran
室蘭市
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Top: A night view of Muroran Refinery, Cape of Chikyu, and the Pacific Ocean. Middle: Muroran Aquarium, Muroran Station area, and Mount Sokuryō. Bottom: Night view of Hakuchō Bridge.
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Where Muroran is located in Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
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 Muroran
Location in Japan
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| Country | Japan | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Hokkaido | ||||||||||||||
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | January 1593 | ||||||||||||||
| City Status | August 1, 1922 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||||
| • Total | 80.88 km2 (31.23 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Population
(January 31, 2024)
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| • Total | 76,385 | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 944.42/km2 (2,446.05/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) | ||||||||||||||
| City hall address | 1-2 Saiwaichō, Muroran-shi, Hokkaidō 051-8511 |
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Muroran (室蘭市, Muroran-shi) is an exciting city and busy port located in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It's the main city of Iburi Subprefecture. As of early 2024, about 76,000 people live here. The city covers an area of about 80 square kilometers.
Contents
History of Muroran
How Muroran Got Its Name
The name Muroran comes from the Ainu words "Mo Ruerani." This means "the bottom of a little slope." There's a small slope in front of the old Senkai Temple that is linked to the city's name.
Early Days and Trade
In the late 1500s, the Muroran area was controlled by the Matsumae clan. Muroran became an important place for trading. The Ainu and the Matsumae clan traded goods here.
Becoming a Major Port
In 1892, the Port of Muroran officially opened. At the same time, a main road was built from Hakodate to Sapporo. This was part of a big plan to develop Hokkaido. In 1899, an official order made Muroran an open port for trade. This meant ships from the United States and the United Kingdom could trade there.
Growth and Industry
Muroran became a city on August 1, 1922. It grew into a key hub for travel by land and sea in Hokkaido. The city also became a center for the steel industry. Sadly, during World War II in July 1945, Muroran's industrial areas were bombed by American battleships and aircraft. Many people lost their lives.
Today, Muroran is still an important industrial city. You can find large cement factories, steel mills, oil refineries, and shipyards around its port.
Climate in Muroran
Muroran has a climate that is quite unique for Japan. It's called a warm-summer humid continental climate. Even though it's in Hokkaido, Muroran usually doesn't get the extremely cold winters that most of the island experiences.
Snowfall and Temperatures
The city does get some snow each year, about 210 centimeters on average. Summers in Muroran are mild compared to other Japanese cities. They are not as hot. In August, the warmest month, the average high temperature is around 24 degrees Celsius.
| Climate data for Muroran (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1923−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.8 (49.6) |
11.4 (52.5) |
16.7 (62.1) |
23.1 (73.6) |
27.6 (81.7) |
28.7 (83.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.8 (91.0) |
31.0 (87.8) |
25.8 (78.4) |
20.9 (69.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
32.8 (91.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) |
1.0 (33.8) |
4.6 (40.3) |
10.1 (50.2) |
14.9 (58.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.6 (70.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
21.5 (70.7) |
16.1 (61.0) |
9.3 (48.7) |
2.9 (37.2) |
12.0 (53.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
1.4 (34.5) |
6.1 (43.0) |
10.7 (51.3) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.5 (65.3) |
20.6 (69.1) |
18.4 (65.1) |
12.9 (55.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
0.5 (32.9) |
8.9 (48.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
3.0 (37.4) |
7.6 (45.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.6 (65.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
9.8 (49.6) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
6.3 (43.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −13.4 (7.9) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
−9.6 (14.7) |
−5.8 (21.6) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.6 (40.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
11.5 (52.7) |
5.9 (42.6) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−12.9 (8.8) |
−13.4 (7.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 53.6 (2.11) |
44.3 (1.74) |
49.9 (1.96) |
70.0 (2.76) |
108.3 (4.26) |
109.1 (4.30) |
159.2 (6.27) |
187.3 (7.37) |
156.6 (6.17) |
101.8 (4.01) |
83.2 (3.28) |
65.8 (2.59) |
1,188.9 (46.81) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 49 (19) |
45 (18) |
27 (11) |
4 (1.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
5 (2.0) |
27 (11) |
157 (62) |
| Average rainy days | 12.5 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 8.4 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 11.1 | 11.2 | 10.9 | 11.1 | 12.7 | 13.2 | 129 |
| Average snowy days | 15.5 | 13.8 | 7.8 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 9.5 | 49.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 70 | 72 | 72 | 75 | 80 | 88 | 90 | 89 | 82 | 74 | 71 | 70 | 78 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 88.3 | 123.6 | 183.7 | 198.9 | 194.9 | 115.8 | 133.2 | 144.9 | 166.5 | 165.2 | 102.7 | 71.1 | 1,728.1 |
| Source 1: JMA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: JMA | |||||||||||||
Fun Places to Visit in Muroran
Muroran has many beautiful spots to explore!
Hakucho Bridge
The Hakucho Bridge is a huge suspension bridge that crosses the Port of Muroran. It's the biggest of its kind in eastern Japan. It's a great sight, especially at night.
Itanki Beach
If you love the ocean, you'll enjoy Itanki Beach. It's a lovely place to relax and enjoy the coastal views.
Mount Washibetsu
For those who like hiking or scenic views, Mount Washibetsu offers amazing sights of the area.
Muroran's Eight Scenic Spots
Muroran is famous for its "Muroran-Hakke," which means eight special scenic sights. The most well-known of these is the Earth Cape (地球岬, chikyū misaki). It's a stunning cape with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.
Getting Around Muroran
Muroran has five JR Hokkaido train stations. These stations connect the city to other major places. You can travel south-west to Hakodate or north-east to Sapporo.
Train Lines
- Muroran Main Line : Sakimori - Moto-Wanishi - Higashi-Muroran
- Muroran Branch Line : Higashi-Muroran - Wanishi - Misaki - Bokoi - Muroran
Economy and Industry
Muroran is home to the global headquarters of Japan Steel Works. This shows how important the city is for heavy industry.
Education in Muroran
Muroran is a great place for learning!
Universities
- Muroran Institute of Technology is a university focused on science and engineering.
- The Institute of Algological Research of Hokkaido University is also located here. It's one of Japan's top places for studying marine biology, especially algae.
High Schools
Public High Schools
- Hokkaido Muroran Sakae High School
- Hokkaido Muroran Shimizugaoka High School
- Hokkaido Muroran Technical High School
- Hokkaido Muroran Tosho High School
Private High Schools
- Hokkaido Ootani Muroran High School
- Kaisei Gakuin High School
Famous People from Muroran
Many talented people come from Muroran, including:
- Asami Abe - a singer and actress.
- Natsumi Abe - a singer and actress, and a former member of the famous group Morning Musume. She is Asami Abe's older sister.
- Kaori Iida - another singer and former Morning Musume member.
- Satoru Iwata - the former CEO of Nintendo and a well-known game designer.
- Kyōko Tabe - a classical pianist.
- Ikuta Toma - an actor and singer.
Sister Cities
Muroran has special friendships with other cities around the world and in Japan:
Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan (since 1976)
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA (since 1991)- Joetsu, Niigata, Japan (since 1995)
Images for kids
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A view of Muroran
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Chikyu Misaki
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Chikyu Misaki in winter
See also
In Spanish: Muroran para niños
