Kutchan, Hokkaidō

Infobox City Japan
Name= Kutchan
JapaneseName= 倶知安町
Map

Region= Hokkaidō
Prefecture= Hokkaidō (Shiribeshi)
District= Abuta
Area_km2= 261.24
PopDate= March,2008
Population= 15,369
Density_km2=
Coords=
LatitudeDegrees= 42
LatitudeMinutes= 54
LatitudeSeconds=
LongtitudeDegrees= 140
LongtitudeMinutes= 46
LongtitudeSeconds=
Tree= Painted Maple
Flower= Rhododendron
Bird=
Symbol
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SymbolDescription= Flag
Mayor=
CityHallPostalCode= 044-0001
CityHallAddress= 3-3 Kita-ichijō-higashi, Kutchan-chō, Abuta-gun, Hokkaidō
CityHallPhone= 0136-22-1121
CityHallLink= [http://www.town.kutchan.hokkaido.jp/index.jsp Official Website] nihongo|Kutchan|倶知安町|Kutchan-chō is a town located in Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan. Kutchan lies slightly north of the volcano Mount Yōtei, and is approximately 50 kilometers west of Sapporo. The subprefecture government offices are located in this town, making it the capital of the subprefecture.

As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 15,369 and a density of 61.85 persons per km². The total area is 261.24 km².

Throughout Hokkaidō, Kutchan is celebrated for its proximity to the world famous Niseko powder snow region and for its agricultural production of quality potatoes and potato products. Among these celebrated products, Kutchan is most famous for manufacturing "gosetsu-udon", which is a Japanese noodle made from potato flour. Jagata-kun, the skiing potato that is the cartoon mascot of Kutchan, indicates Kutchan's most two most celebrated aspects. "Jagata-kun" roughly translates as, "little, fat potato boy."

For the past three years Kutchan has led Japan in terms of growth in land prices, increasing by 40.9% in 07/08 according to official Ministry of Land & Infrastructure figures. This growth is due to the growing demand for services and accomodation in the neighbouring snow villages.

Geography

*Located approximately 50 km west of Sapporo. Kutchan lies in a valley surrounded by various mountains, notably Niseko Annupuri and Mt. Yotei.
*Mountains: Yōtei (Shiribeshi Mountain) (Makkari-Nupuri in Ainu) (active volcano, 1898 m), Niseko Iwaonupuri (active volcano, 1116 m), Niseko Annupuri (1308 m)
*Rivers: Shiribetsu, Kutōzan

Neighboring municipalities

*Shiribeshi
**Abuta District: Kyōgoku, Niseko
**Isoya District: Rankoshi
**Iwanai District: Kyōwa
**Yoichi District: Niki, Akaigawa
**Kimobetsu and Makkari of the Abuta District lie on the southern side of Mount Yōtei.

History

*Kutchan’s name comes from the language of the Hokkaidō's native Ainu people. It attempts to mimic the pronunciation of the Ainu word "ku-shan-i" (which roughly translates as “the place where the channel flows”), but some claim that the name is derived from "kucha-an-nai" (“stream of a hunting lodge”).
*1892: Cultivation begins by colonizers from Tokushima Prefecture who had settled in nearby Yoichi.
*1893: The village of Kutchan is established. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuta village town office (present-day Tōyako).
*1896: The town office of Kutchan opens.
*1899: Changes jurisdiction from Muroran Subprefecture (present-day Iburi Subprefecture) to Iwanai Subprefecture.
*1906: Administered as a second-level municipality.
*1910: On February 8, each of Rusutsu, Iwanai, and Otaru’s subprefectures is consolidated into the Abuta District of Muroran Subprefecture. Shiribeshi Subprefecture is established in Kutchan. On April 5, the satellite village of East Kutchan (present-day Kyōgoku) is formed. Nisekoan, Higa, and the Fujizan area become part of the Shutai village administration zone (present-day Niseko)
*1916: Administered as a town-level municipality
*1991: 100-year anniversary is celebrated.

Economy

Hirafu

Kutchan hosts the Hirafu skiing area. Hirafu is commonly mistaken as a section of Niseko town since it is a part of the greater Niseko skiing region. However, to the financial benefit of Kutchan, Hirafu lies within the confines of Kutchan town. Hirafu's largest ski resort, Niseko Grand Hirafu, undoubtedly draws the highest number of both domestic and foreign skiers and snowboarders than any other resort in the Niseko region.

In recent years, an explosively high number of Australians have frequented Hirafu, many of whom have settled in the area and spawned businesses such as pensions, bars, and cafes.

Hirafu is also frequented by a considerable number of tourists from Hong Kong, as well as tourists coming from within Japan.

Hirafu's expanding tourism industry is often attributed to the steady and copious supply of fresh powder snow, which many claim is among the best in the entire hemisphere, if not the world.

While Hirafu's skyrocketing economic growth is undoubtedly an asset to Kutchan town, many fear that such rapid development will alter the price margin of goods and services offered in the village, and subsequently transform the local flavor of Hirafu.Fact|date=August 2007 The local community of both Japanese and foreign "backpacker" skiers and snowboarders, who typically operate on a smaller budget than their upscale counterparts, are already being overshadowed by the burgeoning influx of wealthy tourists.Fact|date=August 2007

Agriculture

Along with short grain white rice, much of Kutchan’s surrounding area is devoted to potato cultivation.

Culture

As the main regional center of population, Kutchan hosts a variety of cultural institutions and events. The town is home to two museums, the Kutchan Natural History Museum and the Shu Ogawara Art Museum. It also hosts the annual Mt. Niseko Kutchan Jazz Festival every July in the center of town, drawing thousands to enjoy the music of Japanese and Australian musicians.

Education

*Public High Schools
**Kutchan High School, Kutchan Agriculture Vocational School
*Middle Schools
**Kutchan, Toryo
*Elementary Schools
**Kutchan, Hokuyo, Higashi, Nishi, Kabayama Branch School

Transportation

*Railroad
**Hokkaido Passenger Railroad Company (JR Hokkaido)
***Hakodate Main Line: Hirafu Station – Kutchan Station
**Formerly, the Iburi Line served Kutchan from Date’s Monbetsu Station of the Muroran Line, but it was discontinued in 1986.
**JR Hokkaido plans to include Kutchan in its planned Hokkaido Shinkansen (bullet train) service, which would connect the town to Honshū and, consequently, Tokyo.

*Roadway
**General national highways
***Route 5
***Route 276
***Route 393
**Prefectural highways
***Hokkaido Route 58 (Kutchan – Niseko)
***Hokkaido Route 271 (Kutchan stop)
***Hokkaido Route 343 (Rankoshi – Niseko – Kutchan)
***Hokkaido Route 478 (Kyogoku – Kutchan)
***Hokkaido Route 631 (Niseko – Takahara – Hirafu)

*Air
**New Chitose Airport is the closest major airport to the town, about 2 hours away by car. [ [http://202.69.231.173/~grandhip/en/index.html Niseko Mt Resort Grand Hirafu ] ] .

Places of interest

*Mount Yōtei
*Niseko Annupuri
*Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu

Famous persons

*SPARKS GO GO (rock band)
*Masami Yuki, a mangaka born and raised in Kutchan

ister cities

*

References

ee also

*Niseko, Hokkaidō
*Hokkaido Railway Company

External links

* [http://www.town.kutchan.hokkaido.jp/ Kutchan Town Official Website] ja icon
* [http://www.grand-hirafu.jp/en/index.html Niseko Grand Hirafu] en icon