Kamikawa (上川町 Kamikawa-chō) is a town located in Kamikawa (Ishikari) District, Kamikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan.
As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 4,540 and a density of 5.05 persons per km². The total area is 1,049.24 km².
The town is approximately 30 minutes by bus or car from Sōunkyō Onsen and other tourist attractions which make up Daisetsuzan National Park. The Ishikari River, the longest river of Hokkaidō, flows from here. The town also prides itself on "the most delicious ramen in Japan".[1]
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Kamikawa has many izakaya and snack bars. Kamikawa's speciality is "karai ramen" or spicy noodles.
Many years ago, Kamikawa's primary industry was coal mining. Since then, Japan has adopted higher environmental standards and coal production is no longer economically sound, the townspeople like those in Kamikawa have had to find other means of employment. Beef and other types of farming are common ("Black Angus" cattle were originally imported here from Alberta, Canada in the 1980s), as well as "Purin" (pudding) producers and "Ramen" producers and shops. Kamikawa also capitalizes on its proximity to Daisetsuzan National Park as many of its townspeople work with Road Construction and Transportation through the Town Municipal Government, and others work in the tourist haven/onsen heaven that is Sōunkyō Gorge (modeled after Whistler, British Columbia, Canada - site of the 2010 Winter Olympics).
Asiana Airlines operates a sales office in Kamikawa, near the Asahigawa Airport grounds.[2]
Kamikawa broadened its international horizons 20 years ago by becoming a Sister City with Rocky Mountain House in Alberta, Canada and participating in the JET Programme. Kamikawa boasts a Rotary club (started in the 1980s) with some members that have been to Canada several times. The resident ALT of Kamikawa is often invited to join the Rotary club for monthly dinner meetings (a.k.a. enkai) where both sides can practice their command of a foreign language.
The town has no airport. The nearest international airport is the New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, and the nearest domestic airport is in Asahikawa.
Kamikawa is one of the last stops on the main JR line running east from Sapporo, therefore a wide range of rail services are available.
Kamikawa's bus service is excellent, but limited, so it is wise to check a local schedule. The bus service to Sounkyo Gorge is approximately 770 yen one way, and the service to Asahikawa is approximately 1100 yen one way (2006 prices).
Kokudou (Route) 39 leaves Asahikawa east to Kamikawa, and Kokudou (Route) 40 leaves from Asahikawa and goes as far east as Aibetsu-chou, going south through Aibetsu-chou will meet up with Kokudou 39 again.
Kamikawa is very small and almost everything is within walking or bicycle distance. The Dohoku Bus company offers transport in and around Kamikawa's main spots, such as the high school and train station.