Noboribetsu, Hokkaido

Noboribetsu
登別市

City

View of Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, with aquarium

Flag

Location of Noboribetsu in Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)

Noboribetsu

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 42°25′N 141°6′E / 42.417°N 141.100°ECoordinates: 42°25′N 141°6′E / 42.417°N 141.100°E

Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)

Government

• Mayor

Haruichi Ogasawara

Area

• Total

212.11 km² (81.90 sq mi)

Population (June 2008)

• Total

53,018

• Density

250/km² (600/sq mi)

Time zone

Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Symbols

- Tree

Platanus

- Flower

Chrysanthemum

- Flowering tree

Azalea

Address

6-11 Chūōchō, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaidō
059-8701

Phone number

0143-85-2111

Website

www.city.noboribetsu.hokkaido.jp

Noboribetsu (登別市, Noboribetsu-shi, Ainu: nupur-pet) is a city in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is southwest of Sapporo, west of Tomakomai and northeast of Hakodate. The name, Noboribetsu, derives from an Ainu word, nupur-pet, which means dark-coloured river (the kanji 登別 are used for their phonetic value only, and have no relation to the original meaning).

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 53,018 and a population density of 250 persons per km². The total area is 212.11 km².

The mountains dominate the west and north while the plains dominate around five km within the coastline. There are three towns along the Pacific Ocean: from northeast to southwest, Noboribetsu, Horobetsu and Washibetsu. These betsu are derived from "river" in the Ainu language. Noboribetsu is on the Noboribetsu River. Horobetsu and Washibetsu are on the Iburi-horobetsu River and the Washibetsu River respectively.

The city office is in Horobetsu. The town of Noboribetsu is at the mouth of the Noboribetsu river and is therefore a much narrower area.

6 km inland from Noboribetsu City in the river valley is the smaller town of Noboribetsu-onsen (登別温泉, Noboribetsu hot-spring). The town has a range of onsen for bathing as well as other hot springs formed from different minerals for scenic viewing and is also known for its bear park. Noboribetsu-onsen is one of many well-known resorts in Japan, with many hotels and ryokan, and is the largest "hot spring town" in Hokkaido.

Noboribetsu Town as a municipality was born in 1961 by renaming the former Horobetsu Town. It was given city status on August 1, 1970.

Noboribetsu has four train stations and is accessed by the Dōō Expressway with two interchanges and National Route 36.