# Iwamizawa

Iwamizawa (岩見沢市, Iwamizawa-shi) is a city in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sorachi Subprefecture.
As of July 31, 2023, the city had an estimated population of 75,949 and the density of 158 persons per km$^2$. The total area is 481.02 km$^2$ (186 sq mi).
On March 27, 2006, the town of Kurisawa, and the village of Kita (both from Sorachi District, Sorachi Subprefecture) merged into Iwamizawa.

## History

The name of "Iwamizawa" is derived from Japanese word "Yuamisawa" (浴澤).Yuami (浴) and sawa (澤) means "Bathing" and "A swamp".
Iwamizawa was developed as a hub of land transportation around Iwamizawa Station.
* 1906 - Iwamizawa village became Iwamizawa town.
* 1943 - Iwamizawa town became Iwamizawa city.
* 2006 - Kurisawa town and Kita village were merged into Iwamizawa city.

## Climate

Iwamizawa has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October.
Climate data for Iwamizawa, Hokkaido (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1946−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) | 10.3 (50.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 26.8 (80.2) | 33.1 (91.6) | 33.6 (92.5) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.7 (96.3) | 32.7 (90.9) | 25.9 (78.6) | 20.2 (68.4) | 13.7 (56.7) | 35.7 (96.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) | −0.9 (30.4) | 3.5 (38.3) | 11.2 (52.2) | 17.7 (63.9) | 21.7 (71.1) | 25.1 (77.2) | 26.1 (79.0) | 22.4 (72.3) | 15.7 (60.3) | 7.6 (45.7) | 0.5 (32.9) | 12.4 (54.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −5.3 (22.5) | −4.6 (23.7) | −0.4 (31.3) | 6.1 (43.0) | 12.1 (53.8) | 16.3 (61.3) | 20.2 (68.4) | 21.3 (70.3) | 17.4 (63.3) | 10.8 (51.4) | 3.9 (39.0) | −2.6 (27.3) | 7.9 (46.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −9.2 (15.4) | −8.9 (16.0) | −4.5 (23.9) | 1.3 (34.3) | 7.1 (44.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 16.6 (61.9) | 17.6 (63.7) | 12.9 (55.2) | 6.2 (43.2) | 0.2 (32.4) | −6.0 (21.2) | 3.8 (38.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −24.3 (−11.7) | −23.0 (−9.4) | −22.0 (−7.6) | −10.9 (12.4) | −3.6 (25.5) | 2.5 (36.5) | 5.2 (41.4) | 6.9 (44.4) | −1.0 (30.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | −14.6 (5.7) | −22.6 (−8.7) | −24.3 (−11.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 199.4 (7.85) | 85.5 (3.37) | 59.4 (2.34) | 52.7 (2.07) | 83.9 (3.30) | 69.5 (2.74) | 111.5 (4.39) | 161.1 (6.34) | 142.2 (5.60) | 110.4 (4.35) | 118.8 (4.68) | 144.5 (5.69) | 1,248.5 (49.15) |
| Average extreme snow depth mm (inches) | 187 (7.4) | 137 (5.4) | 72 (2.8) | 8 (0.3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.0) | 70 (2.8) | 200 (7.9) | 664 (26.1) |
| Average rainy days | 19.2 | 15.9 | 12.7 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 8.3 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 10.3 | 13.7 | 17.4 | 21.3 | 158 |
| Average snowy days | 21.7 | 19.5 | 15.9 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 | 8.6 | 21.6 | 90.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 81 | 78 | 74 | 68 | 71 | 78 | 81 | 81 | 79 | 77 | 78 | 81 | 77 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 90.2 | 111.3 | 161.9 | 176.6 | 196.5 | 173.6 | 156.2 | 158.8 | 161.9 | 138.5 | 84.7 | 69.0 | 1,679.1 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 33 | 40 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 27 | 42 | 40 | 36 | 42 | 21 | 13 | 37 |
| Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: MSN Weather ||||||||||||||

## Transportation
### Rail

In the past, Horonai Line and Manji Line ran from Iwamizawa.
* Hakodate Main Line : Horomui - Kami-Horomui - Iwamizawa
* Muroran Main Line : Kurioka - Kurisawa - Shibun - Iwamizawa

### Road

* Hokkaidō Expressway : Iwamizawa IC
* Route 12

## Education
### Universities

* Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa Campus

### High schools

* Hokkaido Iwamizawa Higashi High School
* Hokkaido Iwamizawa Nishi High School
* Hokkaido Iwamizawa Agricultural High School
* Hokkaido Iwamizawa Ryokuryo High School

## Culture
### Mascot

Iwamizawa's mascot is Iwami-chan (いわみちゃん). He is a playful onion who likes food. He is unveiled on 3 October 2010. He is assisted by Kuri-chan (クリちゃん) who is a female squirrel from Kurisawa.

## Religion

* Iwamizawa Jinja, a Shinto shrine

## Sister cities

* Pocatello, Idaho - The city was founded on April 1, 1943. Youth delegates are often sent from one to the other.
* Canby, Oregon