# Tsukigata, Hokkaido

Tsukigata (月形町, Tsukigata-chō) is a town located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 3,429. The total area is 151.05 km$^2$.

## History

The town's name originates from the first warden of Kabato Prison, located in Tsukigata, Kiyoshi Tsukigata.
* 1881: Kabato Prison established. First warden: Kiyoshi Tsukigata. Tsukigata village established.
* 1899: Urausu village (Now, Urausu town) established as a separate entity from Tsukigata town.
* 1953: Tsukigata village becomes Tsukigata town.
* 1981: Tsukigata town's 100 year anniversary.
* 1983: Establishment of Tsukigata Prison Museum.

## Climate

Climate data for Tsukigata (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.2 (43.2) | 8.1 (46.6) | 14.1 (57.4) | 24.2 (75.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 33.6 (92.5) | 36.3 (97.3) | 36.0 (96.8) | 32.1 (89.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 19.5 (67.1) | 12.6 (54.7) | 36.3 (97.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) | −1.1 (30.0) | 2.9 (37.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 16.9 (62.4) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.6 (76.3) | 25.6 (78.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 15.3 (59.5) | 7.1 (44.8) | 0.1 (32.2) | 11.9 (53.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.0 (21.2) | −5.3 (22.5) | −1.3 (29.7) | 4.7 (40.5) | 11.1 (52.0) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.6 (67.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 16.5 (61.7) | 9.9 (49.8) | 3.1 (37.6) | −3.2 (26.2) | 7.1 (44.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.8 (12.6) | −10.7 (12.7) | −6.2 (20.8) | −0.4 (31.3) | 5.6 (42.1) | 11.1 (52.0) | 15.8 (60.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 4.7 (40.5) | −0.9 (30.4) | −7.2 (19.0) | 2.5 (36.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23.7 (−10.7) | −25.6 (−14.1) | −22.8 (−9.0) | −12.0 (10.4) | −2.6 (27.3) | 1.8 (35.2) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.3 (45.1) | 1.7 (35.1) | −4.0 (24.8) | −13.6 (7.5) | −23.7 (−10.7) | −25.6 (−14.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 139.1 (5.48) | 96.4 (3.80) | 68.5 (2.70) | 60.1 (2.37) | 88.5 (3.48) | 71.7 (2.82) | 122.8 (4.83) | 157.7 (6.21) | 145.7 (5.74) | 140.7 (5.54) | 159.4 (6.28) | 166.2 (6.54) | 1,416.6 (55.77) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 22.9 | 18.6 | 15.7 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 8.9 | 10.0 | 10.6 | 12.5 | 16.1 | 20.7 | 23.8 | 182.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 57.3 | 73.7 | 129.5 | 173.8 | 196.3 | 167.7 | 146.4 | 152.1 | 155.4 | 129.1 | 68.0 | 39.7 | 1,473.5 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## Agricultural Produce

* Rice, cut flowers, fruits (melons and watermelons)

## Specialty Products

* Tsukigata flowers, Tsukigata melons, Tsukigata watermelons (Godzilla egg and Dynamite varieties), Tomato Juice, Tsukigata Jingis Khan (Lamb), Tsukigata Manju, Tsukigata tofu, Kabato tofu, etc.

## Transport
### Train

* Hokkaido Passenger Rail (JR Hokkaido): Gakuentoshi Line: Tsukigaoka Station, Chiraiotsu Station, Ishikari Tsukigata Station, Yutakaoka Station, Sappinai Station

### Bus

* Hokkaido Chuo Bus: Bound for Iwamizawa Terminal via. Kitamura.
* Shinshinotsu Bus: Bound for Shinshinotsu Village via. Ebetsu Station.

### Taxi

* Haato Hire

### Roads

* General Roads: National Highway 275 (Sorachi National Highway)
* Prefectural Roads: Hokkaido Route 6 Iwamizawa- Tsukigata; Hokkaido Route 11 Tsukigata- Atsuta; Hokkaido Route 33 Biei- Tsukigata; Hokkaido Route 275 Tsukigata- Minenobu; Hokkaido Route 376

## Famous Places/Sightseeing Spots
### Culture

* Record Diary of Hokkaido
* Sewage and Water Treatment
* Tsukigata Prison Museum

### Sightseeing

* Kairaku Park
* People of Hokkaido Forests (Tsukigata Branch)
* Rural activities workshop Facilities
* Tsukigata Hot Spring Annexe
* Tsukigata Hot Spring Resort
* Tsukigata Prison Museum

## Culture
### Mascot

Tsukigata's mascot is Berude-kun (ベルデくん). He is a cheerful green melon who is a gardener and a glasses and bag salesman. He is 201 cm high.