Mikasa, Hokkaido

Mikasa (三笠市, Mikasa-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the city has an estimated population of 9,056, and the density of 30 persons per km2.

Mikasa
三笠市
Flag
Official seal of Mikasa
Location of Mikasa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Location of Mikasa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Mikasa is located in Japan
Mikasa
Mikasa
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°15′N 141°53′E
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
  MayorKazuo Kobayashi
Area
  Total302.64 km2 (116.85 sq mi)
Population
 (September 30, 2016)
  Total9,056
  Density30/km2 (78/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Symbols 
• TreeJapanese rowan
• FlowerChrysanthemum
• BirdWhite wagtail
Phone number01267-2-3182
Address2 Saiwaichō, Mikasa-shi, Hokkaidō
068-2192
Websitehttp://www.city.mikasa.hokkaido.jp/

Geography

The total area is 302.64 km2. It is bordered on three sides by mountains, and on its east side is the man-made Lake Katsurazawa.

History

Mikasa is one of the birthplaces of the mining and railroad industries in Hokkaido, and the Hokkai Bon song was invented there. Though in the past it flourished due to its natural abundance of coal, the mines have largely closed down and this has caused the population of the city to fall rapidly.

Quite a few fossil specimens have also been collected there, particularly ammonites and the prehistoric marine reptile Yezosaurus mikasaensis, both of which can be viewed at the city's natural history museum.[1]

  • 1906 - Mikasayama village was founded.
  • 1942 - Mikasayama village became Mikasa town.
  • 1957 - Mikasa town became Mikasa city.

Education

High school

  • Hokkaido Mikasa High School.

Transportation

Hokkaidō Expressway runs through west of the city and Mikasa IC is on it. No railway is in the city.

Agriculture

Notable local products include watermelon, musk melon, cucumber, northern plum, and wine.

Culture

Mascot

Mikasa's mascot is Ryuu-chan (りゅうちゃん, Ryū-chan). He is a 84,000,000-year-old yellow dinosaur.[2]

Personalities

See also

References

Media related to Mikasa, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons

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