Yoichi, Hokkaidō

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The location of Yoichi in Shiribeshi Subprefecture.

Yoichi (余市町, Yoichi-chō^?) is a town located in the Yoichi District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan.

1 Demographics
2 Industry
3 Culture and tourism
4 Notable people
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Demographics

As of 2008, the population of Yoichi is estimated to be 21,908 with a density of 162.21 persons per km². The total area of Yoichi is 140.60 km². The climate is mild (8.2°C average), with temperatures ranging from -6°C to 26°C^[1].

[edit] Industry

Yoichi is home of the Nikka Whisky Distillery. Yoichi is famous for fruit, particularly apples, and wine, and Yoichi apple juice is also famous throughout Japan. Yoichi is also the home of Kosugi Motors, one of the oldest car dealerships in Shiribeshi region of Hokkaidō.^[2]

[edit] Culture and tourism

A coastal town, with a particularly nice beach, Yoichi is popular with surfers for a large part of the year, and also a popular tourist destination for Japanese holiday makers during the hotter months of July and August.

Yoichi is the birthplace of the "Soran" folk song, known throughout Japan, and recently associated with the Hokkaidan Yosakoi dance.^{[citation needed]} The Yoichi Soran festival, featuring dancing, fireworks and delicious food and drink, is held every year in the first weekend of July, a few weeks after the Yoichi shrine festival.

The cave paintings at Fugoppe Cave in Yoichi are the first known signs of prehistoric life on Hokkaidō.

Yoichi is easily accessible by bus and train, which run approximately hourly to and from Otaru, Sapporo, and Kutchan, a town 45 minutes south of Yoichi where world class skiing and snowboarding may be enjoyed.

[edit] Notable people

Yoichi is the birthplace of Mamoru "Mark" Mohri, the first Japanese astronaut; he attended elementary and junior high schools here. The Yoichi Space Museum, also called the Space Dome), was dedicated in his honor when it opened in 1998. Other Yoichi luminaries include ski-jump gold medallists in Winter Olympic Games.