Utashinai, Hokkaidō

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Utashinai (歌志内市; -shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is Japan's smallest city by population. It was formerly a prosperous coal mining city, but has declined greatly since the closing of the coal mines. The population hit a maximum of 46,000 in 1948.

The name is derived from the Ainu Uta Ushi Nai meaning "Swamp of Much Sand" (?)

As of 2004, the city has an estimated population of 5,587 and a density of 99.79 persons per km². The total area is 55.99 km².

Efforts to transform Utashinai from a gritty coal mining town to an alpine tourist destination have met with mixed success. The town has adopted a Swiss theme as part of its tourist oriented strategy, and many new buildings are Swiss chalet style. A medium sized ski hill, Kamoidake, attracts a decent crowd of locals and hosts frequent ski meets, while a hot spring resort called Tyrol, after the Austrian region, is known throughout Hokkaidō for the quality of its water. However, despite these new projects, Utashinai continues to experience population decline and economic stagnation. The high-school will close in 2007, with students traveling to Sunagawa, Akabira or Takikawa for their secondary education.