Kyōgoku, Hokkaido
The town borders the south ward (Minami-ku) of Sapporo, but car traffic from Kyōgoku must drive over an hour through the Nakayama Toge mountain pass to enter Sapporo. Tourists visit the town to drink the spring water in Fukidashi Park, where the water from Mount Yōtei bubbles out of the ground. The town has a sister city relationship with the city of Marugame in Kagawa Prefecture. Geography. Kyōgoku is mountainous, with several peaks above . The town sits between Mount Yotei to the east, and Mount Muine (), Mount Nakadake , and Mount Kimobetsu () to the west. The Shiribetsu River  (), which emerges from Lake Shikotsu to the south, runs through Kyōgoku between Mount Yotei and the western peaks in the town. The river eventually flows into the Sea of Japan. History. Kyōgoku was first settled by the Japanese in 1897. Takanori Kyōgoku (1858-1928) was a former noble of the Kyōgoku clan and head of the Marugame Domain, Sanuki Province in present-day Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku. Kyōgoku was given permission to set up an agricultural operation in the area, as part of Kutchan. Transportation. Public transport. Kyōgoku is not connected by rail to other areas of Hokkaido. The town was  formerly a stop on the Japanese National Railways (JR) Iburi Line which ceased operation in 1986. Highways. Japan National Route 227, a national highway of Japan, runs through the east of Kyōgoku and connects the town to Hakodate and Esashi. Education. Elementary schools: Junior high school: Sister city. Marugame in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan