# Fukagawa, Hokkaido

Fukagawa (深川市, Fukagawa-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.
As of 1 October 2020, the city has an estimated population of 20,039, and the density of 38 persons per km$^2$. The total area is 529.12 km$^2$.
Fukagawa is a small but vibrant city most known for its plentiful rice fields and apple and cherry orchards in Otoe, a township to the south of the downtown area. Fukagawa is growing largely in Otoe, anchored by its Roadside Station, which is the third-busiest in Hokkaido, according to an article in the Hokkaido Shimbun.

## Geography

Fukagawa is located on the Ishikari Plain, and is roughly an equal distance in between Asahikawa to the northeast, and Takikawa to the southwest.

### Neighboring municipalities

Fukagawa borders on nine municipalities in Hokkaido Prefecture, spanning Sorachi, Kamikawa, and Rumoi subprefectures:
* Kamikawa Subprefecture
** Asahikawa
** Horokanai
* Rumoi Subprefecture
** Obira
* Sorachi Subprefecture
** Akabira
** Ashibetsu
** Chippubetsu
** Moseushi
** Numata
** Takikawa

### Climate

Climate data for Fukagawa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.7 (45.9) | 13.5 (56.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 31.9 (89.4) | 33.6 (92.5) | 35.8 (96.4) | 36.1 (97.0) | 33.1 (91.6) | 24.9 (76.8) | 20.9 (69.6) | 13.2 (55.8) | 36.1 (97.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.2 (26.2) | −2.0 (28.4) | 2.3 (36.1) | 10.1 (50.2) | 17.6 (63.7) | 21.8 (71.2) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.8 (78.4) | 21.8 (71.2) | 15.0 (59.0) | 6.5 (43.7) | −0.9 (30.4) | 11.7 (53.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.3 (18.9) | −6.6 (20.1) | −2.0 (28.4) | 4.8 (40.6) | 11.7 (53.1) | 16.4 (61.5) | 20.1 (68.2) | 20.6 (69.1) | 16.1 (61.0) | 9.5 (49.1) | 2.5 (36.5) | −4.3 (24.3) | 6.8 (44.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −13.0 (8.6) | −13.0 (8.6) | −7.5 (18.5) | −0.5 (31.1) | 6.3 (43.3) | 11.9 (53.4) | 16.2 (61.2) | 16.4 (61.5) | 10.9 (51.6) | 4.3 (39.7) | −1.5 (29.3) | −9.0 (15.8) | 1.8 (35.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −28.9 (−20.0) | −29.7 (−21.5) | −26.7 (−16.1) | −14.8 (5.4) | −3.2 (26.2) | 2.6 (36.7) | 6.8 (44.2) | 7.5 (45.5) | 0.7 (33.3) | −6.0 (21.2) | −18.9 (−2.0) | −28.7 (−19.7) | −29.7 (−21.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 50.0 (1.97) | 39.9 (1.57) | 42.7 (1.68) | 47.9 (1.89) | 67.9 (2.67) | 62.1 (2.44) | 130.1 (5.12) | 147.3 (5.80) | 147.0 (5.79) | 122.6 (4.83) | 111.1 (4.37) | 74.4 (2.93) | 1,044.2 (41.11) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 243 (96) | 188 (74) | 146 (57) | 23 (9.1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 83 (33) | 242 (95) | 929 (366) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 16.3 | 13.6 | 11.9 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 8.7 | 10.2 | 11.1 | 13.4 | 15.4 | 19.2 | 19.1 | 160.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) | 23.2 | 19.4 | 16.1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 7.3 | 22.0 | 91.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 73.9 | 91.1 | 133.1 | 162.1 | 195.7 | 171.6 | 166.9 | 163.3 | 153.4 | 127.4 | 65.3 | 54.2 | 1,560 |
| Source: Japan Meteorological Agency ||||||||||||||

## History

Fukagawa was settled by the tondenhei, or the colonist militia, between 1895 and 1896.
* 1892 Fukagawa village was founded.
* 1915 Tadoshi village split off from Ichiyan village.
* 1918 Fukagawa village became Fukagawa town.
* 1962 Tadoshi village became Tadoshi town.
* 1963 Fukagawa town, Ichiyan village, Osamunai village, and Otoe village were merged to form Fukagawa city.
* 1970 Tadoshi town was merged into Fukagawa city.

## Economy

The main economic activity of Fukugawa is rice production. Rice paddies in the city are irrigated by the Taishō Canal, which is channeled off the Ishikari River. Potatoes and apples are also agricultural products of the city.

## Education
### Junior college

* Takushoku University Hokkaido Junior College

### High schools
#### Public

* Hokkaido Fukagawa Nishi High School
* Hokkaido Fukagawa Higashi High School

#### Private

* Clark Memorial International High School

## Transportation

Both trains and buses provide a direct link to the prefectural capital, Sapporo.

### Rail

* JR Hokkaido Hakodate Main Line : Fukagawa - Osamunai
* JR Hokkaido Rumoi Main Line : Fukagawa - Kita-Ichiyan

### Road

* Hokkaido Expressway : Fukagawa IC
* Fukagaw-Rumoi Expressway : Fukagawa-Nishi IC
* Route 12

## Sister cities

* Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

## Tourism

One of the main tourist attractions is Mount Kamui, a popular ski resort technically in Asahikawa, but only minutes away from Fukagawa by car or bus.