# Nakagawa, Hokkaido

Nakagawa (中川町, Nakagawa-chō) is a town located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 31 December 2024, the town had an estimated population of 1,266 in 706 households, and a population density of 2.1 people per km$^2$. The total area of the town is 594.74 km$^2$ (229.63 sq mi). Nakagawa is known for ammonites and other fossils. Its local specialties include sausage and hand-made wood products.

## Geography

Nakagawa is located an inland area in the northernmost part of the Kamikawa Subprefecture. Surrounded by mountains on both the east and west, the town is located along the Teshio River which runs from east to northwest through the town.

### Neighbouring municipalities

* Hokkaido
** Bifuka
** Otoineppu
** Horokanai
** Nakatonbetsu
** Horonobe
** Teshio
** Enbetsu

## 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 5.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1311 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.6 °C, and lowest in January, at around -7.4 °C.
Climate data for Nakagawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) | 8.4 (47.1) | 15.2 (59.4) | 24.5 (76.1) | 30.2 (86.4) | 32.4 (90.3) | 36.2 (97.2) | 35.7 (96.3) | 33.9 (93.0) | 25.4 (77.7) | 18.7 (65.7) | 12.4 (54.3) | 36.2 (97.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.1 (26.4) | −2.2 (28.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | 8.7 (47.7) | 16.0 (60.8) | 20.1 (68.2) | 23.8 (74.8) | 24.7 (76.5) | 21.2 (70.2) | 14.4 (57.9) | 5.9 (42.6) | −0.8 (30.6) | 10.9 (51.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.5 (18.5) | −7.2 (19.0) | −2.4 (27.7) | 3.8 (38.8) | 10.0 (50.0) | 14.2 (57.6) | 18.3 (64.9) | 19.4 (66.9) | 15.2 (59.4) | 8.8 (47.8) | 2.1 (35.8) | −4.2 (24.4) | 5.9 (42.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −13.4 (7.9) | −14.1 (6.6) | −8.3 (17.1) | −1.6 (29.1) | 3.8 (38.8) | 8.6 (47.5) | 13.4 (56.1) | 14.7 (58.5) | 9.4 (48.9) | 3.2 (37.8) | −1.8 (28.8) | −8.7 (16.3) | 0.4 (32.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −35.6 (−32.1) | −30.6 (−23.1) | −25.6 (−14.1) | −13.8 (7.2) | −4.8 (23.4) | −1.7 (28.9) | 2.7 (36.9) | 3.8 (38.8) | −0.1 (31.8) | −6.3 (20.7) | −15.6 (3.9) | −27.5 (−17.5) | −35.6 (−32.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 89.2 (3.51) | 60.6 (2.39) | 63.6 (2.50) | 54.0 (2.13) | 68.6 (2.70) | 60.4 (2.38) | 114.4 (4.50) | 151.3 (5.96) | 136.8 (5.39) | 160.3 (6.31) | 156.7 (6.17) | 132.5 (5.22) | 1,248.3 (49.15) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 21.0 | 16.4 | 15.2 | 11.8 | 10.5 | 9.2 | 9.8 | 11.3 | 12.8 | 16.8 | 20.8 | 23.8 | 179.4 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 47.8 | 69.6 | 115.1 | 152.1 | 185.1 | 157.8 | 145.5 | 141.1 | 161.3 | 112.9 | 46.1 | 26.7 | 1,361.1 |
| Source: JMA ||||||||||||||

### Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Nakagawa is as shown below. The town is in a long period of sustained population loss.

## History

The area of Nakagawa has been settled since Japanese Paleolithic times, and numerous Jomon period artifacts have been found. The Ainu people had hamlets along the Teshio River. During the Edo period, the area of Nakagawa was part of the territory of the Matsumae Domain. The area was explored by Matsuura Takeshirō in 1857, but the first Japanese settler did not arrive until 1896. Nakagawa was incorporated as a village on April 1, 1919. It was raised to town status in 1964.

## Government

Nakagawa has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of eight members. Nakagawa, 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 economy of Nakagawa is overwhelmingly agricultural.

## Education

Nakagawa has one public elementary school and one public junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

## Transportation
### Railways

JR Hokkaido - Sōya Main Line
    ■ Saku - Teshio-Nakagawa

### Highways

* National Route 40

## Local attractions

* Eco Museum Center, which features fossils found in the area.

## Culture
### Mascot

Nakagawa's mascot is Jueru (じゅえる, Ji~yueru). He is a shape-shaping leaf who lives in a green town since the town's ancient times. He was discovered in September 2012.
Nakagawa has another mascot, a dinosaur that is featured on the town's country sign.