Niikappu, Hokkaido

Niikappu 新冠町
Town
Coat of Arms
Location of Niikappu in Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
Niikappu Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°22′N 142°19′E / 42.367°N 142.317°ECoordinates: 42°22′N 142°19′E / 42.367°N 142.317°E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Hidaka Subprefecture)
District	Niikappu
Government
• Mayor	Kotake Kuniaki (小竹　國昭)[1]
Area
• Total	585.88 km^2 (226.21 sq mi)
Population (March 2008[1])
• Total	6,022
• Density	10/km^2 (27/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Higatsura (ヒガツラ)
• Flower	Azalea (ツツジ Tsutsuji)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address	3-2 Aza-Hokusei-chō, Niikappu-chō, Niikappu-gun, Hokkaidō 059-2492[1]
Website	www.niikappu.jp

Niikappu (新冠町 Niikappu-chō) is a town located in Niikappu District, Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

History

The town was established September 1881.^[1]

Geography

Niikappu stretches from the Pacific Ocean of southeast Hokkaido north to the Hidaka Mountains along the Niikappu River. The town covers a total area of 585.88 km².^[1] Its highest point is Mount Poroshiri and the lowest is at the coast. The town runs 45 kilometres (28 mi) East-West and 44 kilometres (27 mi) North-South^[1]

Economy

Cliff art outside Niikappu (1992)

The town is mainly known for production of racehorses, including Haiseiko, Narita Brian, and Oguri Cap.

Art and Culture

Niikappu has a large collection of records.

Other features of Niikappu include:

• A mud volcano deikazan (Supposedly the only one in Japan.)
• Hangandate with playground and ocean view
• A Youth Hostel
• Shonen Shizen no Ie boys' nature house
• A campground

Transportation

Niikappu Station on the Hidaka Main Line (April 2000)

• Hidaka Main Line
• Donan Bus (道南バス Donan-basu)

References

1. Homepage of Niikappu Town, last access 29 May 2008

External links

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