# Bibai

Bibai (美唄市, Bibai-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 19,242, and the density of 69.3 persons per km$^2$. The total area is 277.69 km$^2$.

## History

The name Bibai is derived from Ainu word "pipa o i", meaning "Place (swamp) with many cockscomb pearl mussels".
* 1890 - The village of Numakai was founded.
* 1925 - Numakai village became Numakai town.
* 1926 - Numakai was renamed Bibai.
* 1950 - Bibai town became Bibai city.
* 1982 - Bibai Dam was completed.
At its peak, Bibai was a coal town that produced over a million tons annually. However, ever since the mine was closed in 1972, the city has suffered a slowly declining population.

## Geography

Ishikari River flows to west of Bibai. Bibai Dam was built on the Bibai River, a tributary of Ishikari River.
Lake Miyajima was registered as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 2002.

### Climate

Climate data for Bibai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) | 9.0 (48.2) | 13.6 (56.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 32.6 (90.7) | 33.2 (91.8) | 35.6 (96.1) | 35.6 (96.1) | 32.4 (90.3) | 25.6 (78.1) | 20.0 (68.0) | 13.9 (57.0) | 35.6 (96.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) | −1.4 (29.5) | 2.9 (37.2) | 10.8 (51.4) | 17.9 (64.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 25.6 (78.1) | 26.3 (79.3) | 22.6 (72.7) | 15.6 (60.1) | 7.2 (45.0) | −0.3 (31.5) | 12.2 (54.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.6 (20.1) | −5.9 (21.4) | −1.5 (29.3) | 5.4 (41.7) | 12.1 (53.8) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.4 (68.7) | 21.2 (70.2) | 16.9 (62.4) | 10.1 (50.2) | 3.1 (37.6) | −3.8 (25.2) | 7.3 (45.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.4 (9.7) | −12.1 (10.2) | −6.9 (19.6) | 0.1 (32.2) | 6.8 (44.2) | 12.2 (54.0) | 16.6 (61.9) | 17.1 (62.8) | 11.8 (53.2) | 5.0 (41.0) | −1.1 (30.0) | −8.5 (16.7) | 2.4 (36.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −29.6 (−21.3) | −26.2 (−15.2) | −22.4 (−8.3) | −12.4 (9.7) | −2.4 (27.7) | 3.4 (38.1) | 8.0 (46.4) | 8.6 (47.5) | 2.1 (35.8) | −4.3 (24.3) | −14.5 (5.9) | −26.5 (−15.7) | −29.6 (−21.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 77.6 (3.06) | 63.5 (2.50) | 54.6 (2.15) | 53.8 (2.12) | 80.8 (3.18) | 69.1 (2.72) | 122.0 (4.80) | 164.9 (6.49) | 144.2 (5.68) | 120.6 (4.75) | 117.6 (4.63) | 104.9 (4.13) | 1,173.5 (46.20) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 203 (80) | 156 (61) | 107 (42) | 13 (5.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 77 (30) | 216 (85) | 766 (302) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 19.5 | 16.3 | 13.7 | 10.7 | 10.3 | 8.6 | 10.0 | 10.5 | 11.9 | 15.1 | 19.2 | 21.9 | 167.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 19.9 | 17.3 | 12.9 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 6.8 | 19.7 | 78.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 63.3 | 78.4 | 131.0 | 167.5 | 193.6 | 171.8 | 156.2 | 157.8 | 158.2 | 130.6 | 68.5 | 42.6 | 1,519.5 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Bibai has declined by more than half over the past half-century.

## Education
### High schools

* Hokkaido Bibai Shoei High School
* Hokkaido Bibai Seika High School

### School for special needs

* Hokkaido Bibai School for Special Needs

## Transportation
### Rail

Hakodate Main Line Minami-Bibai Branch Line used to run from Bibai to Minami-Bibai.
* Hakodate Main Line : Minenobu - Kōshunai - Bibai - Chashinai

### Road

Straight line section of Route 12 is the longest in Japan.
* Hokkaidō Expressway
* Route 12

## Culture
### Mascots

Bibai's mascots are Mami-chan (マミィーちゃん). He is a greater white-fronted goose. He was unveiled in 1986. Yakitoriman (ヤキトリ男, Yakitoriotoko) is Mami-chan's assistant who is a yakitori.