Bifuka, Hokkaido

Bifuka (美深町, Bifuka-chō) is a town in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 31 January 2025, the town had an estimated population of 3,665 in 2016 households, and a population density of 5.5 people per km2. The total area of the town is 672.09 km2 (259.50 sq mi). Geography Bifuka is located in a valley in the north central region of the island of Hokkaido. The town is surrounded by mountains. The Teshio River flows roughly northwest through Bifuka. Neighboring municipalities Bifuka borders six other municipalities, which span Kamikawa, Okhotsk, and Sōya subprefectures: Kamikawa Subprefecture Nayoro Otoineppu Nakagawa Horokanai Okhotsk Subprefecture Ōmu Sōya Subprefecture Esashi Climate Nakagawa has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by cold summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Nakagawa is 4.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1337 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 18.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around −9.3 °C. Demographics Per Japanese census data, Bifuka has undergone significant population decline over the past half-century. History The area of Bifuka has been inhabited since the Jōmon period, and was the site of a kotan was built by the Ainu people. On June 1, 1920, Chiebun Village (now part of Nayoro City) was divided, and Shimonayoro Village is renamed Bifuka Village. In the first census on October 1, 1920, Bifuka Village has 2,045 households and 10,991 inhabitants. It was raised to town status on April 1, 1923. Government Bifuka has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of eight members. Bifuka, collectively with the other municipalities of Kawakami sub-prefecture, contributes three members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. Economy The main industries are agriculture, dairy farming, and forestry. Sturgeon, raised in fish farms is a local specialty. Education Bifuka has one public elementary schools and one public junior high school operated by the town government, and one public high school (Hokkaido Bifuka High School) operated by the Hokkaidō Board of Education. The prefecture also operates a special education school for the handicapped. Transportation Railways JR Hokkaido – Sōya Main Line ■ Bifuka The Soya Main Line previous had Hatsuno – Momponai – Onnenai – Toyoshimizu within Bifuka, but all were closed between 2021 and 2024. Highways National Route 40 National Route 275 Sister city relations Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada Local attractions Bifuka Sturgeon Museum, a small facility which maintains eight species of sturgeon. Sturgeon were found in the Teshio River as far as Bifuka until the Meiji Period. Bikuka Ski Resort Culture Mascots Bifuka's mascot are Bifuka-kun (美深くん) and Mimi-chan (美深ちゃん). They are pumpkins who are best friends. Both wear hats made of birch trees. However, Bifuka-kun is a green pumpkin who wears a tie that resembled a sturgeon while Mimi-chan is an orange pumpkin who carries a bag that resembled a sturgeon. References External links Media related to Bifuka, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons Official Website (in Japanese)