Kyōwa, Hokkaido

Kyōwa 共和町
Town
Kyōwa Town hall
Location of Kyōwa in Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
Kyōwa Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°59′N 140°37′E / 42.983°N 140.617°ECoordinates: 42°59′N 140°37′E / 42.983°N 140.617°E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Shiribeshi Subprefecture)
District	Iwanai
Government
• Mayor	Eiji Yamamoto
Area
• Total	304.96 km^2 (117.75 sq mi)
Population (2008)
• Total	6,807
• Density	22/km^2 (58/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Taxus cuspidata[1]
• Flower	Menyanthes
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address	38-2 Minamihoroni, Kyōwa, Iwanai-gun, Hokkaido 048-2292
Website	www.town.kyowa.hokkaido.jp

Kyōwa (共和町 Kyōwa-chō) is a town located in Iwanai District, Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 6,807 and a density of 22 persons per km². The total area is 304.96 km².

Geography

Kyōwa is located on the southern of the Shakotan Peninsula and the northern of Niseko Volcanic Group.

Neighboring towns and village

• Iwanai
• Niki
• Kutchan
• Rankoshi
• Furubira
• Tomari

History

• 1880 The village of Hattariwas founded.^[2]
• 1897 The village of Maeda was founded.
• 1901 The village of Kozawa was founded.
• 1906 Hattari Village and Maeda Village became Second Class Villages.
• 1909 Kozawa Village became a Second Class Village.
• 1923 Hattari Village and Maeda Village became First Class Villages.
• 1955 Hattari Village, Maeda Village, and Kozawa Village were merged to form the new village of Kyōwa.
• 1971 Kyōwa Village became Kyōwa Town.

Economics

Kyōwa's main economic activity is farming, with watermelon, Japanese melon, and sweet corn as major crops. In line with the agricultural theme, the town's mascot is the kakashi, or scarecrow, images of which adorn features of the town including brickwork and light posts.

Education

• High school
  • Hokkaido Kyōwa High School^[3]
• Junior high school
  • Kyōwa Junior High School
• Elementary school
  • Toyo Elementary School
  • Seiryo Elementary School
  • Hokushin Elementary School

Transportation

Iwanai Line (Japanese National Railways) used to run through the town from Kozawa Station to Iwanai Station (Iwanai).

• Hakodate Main Line: Kozawa Station
• Route 5

References

1. Flower and Tree of the town
2. History of Kyōwa
3. Hokkaido Kyōwa High School

External links

• Media related to Kyōwa, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (Japanese)