Bibai

Bibai (美唄市, Bibai-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Bibai 美唄市
City
Bibai city hall
Flag Emblem
Location of Bibai in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Bibai Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°20′N 141°51′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
• Mayor	Hisashi Sakurai (since 2023)
Area
• Total	277.69 km2 (107.22 sq mi)
Population  (May 31, 2023)
• Total	19,242
• Density	69.3/km2 (179/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-1, Minami Itchōme, Nishi San-jō, Bibai-shi, Hokkaidō 072-8660
Climate	Dfb
Website	www.city.bibai.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
Bird	Greater white-fronted goose
Flower	Azalea
Tree	Poplar

As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 19,242, and the density of 69.3 persons per km². The total area is 277.69 km².

History

The name Bibai is derived from Ainu word "pipa o i", meaning "Place (swamp) with many cockscomb pearl mussels".^[1][2]

• 1890 - The village of Numakai was founded.
• 1925 - Numakai village became Numakai town.
• 1926 - Numakai was renamed Bibai.
• 1950 - Bibai town became Bibai city.
• 1982 - Bibai Dam was completed.

At its peak, Bibai was a coal town that produced over a million tons annually. However, ever since the mine was closed in 1972, the city has suffered a slowly declining population.^[3]

Geography

The Ishikari River flows to the west of Bibai. The Bibai Dam was built on the Bibai River, a tributary of the Ishikari River.

Lake Miyajima was registered as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 2002.^[4]

Climate

Climate data for Bibai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	8.5 (47.3)	9.0 (48.2)	13.6 (56.5)	25.2 (77.4)	32.6 (90.7)	33.2 (91.8)	35.6 (96.1)	35.6 (96.1)	32.4 (90.3)	25.6 (78.1)	20.0 (68.0)	13.9 (57.0)	35.6 (96.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−2.6 (27.3)	−1.4 (29.5)	2.9 (37.2)	10.8 (51.4)	17.9 (64.2)	22.0 (71.6)	25.6 (78.1)	26.3 (79.3)	22.6 (72.7)	15.6 (60.1)	7.2 (45.0)	−0.3 (31.5)	12.2 (54.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−6.6 (20.1)	−5.9 (21.4)	−1.5 (29.3)	5.4 (41.7)	12.1 (53.8)	16.5 (61.7)	20.4 (68.7)	21.2 (70.2)	16.9 (62.4)	10.1 (50.2)	3.1 (37.6)	−3.8 (25.2)	7.3 (45.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−12.4 (9.7)	−12.1 (10.2)	−6.9 (19.6)	0.1 (32.2)	6.8 (44.2)	12.2 (54.0)	16.6 (61.9)	17.1 (62.8)	11.8 (53.2)	5.0 (41.0)	−1.1 (30.0)	−8.5 (16.7)	2.4 (36.3)
Record low °C (°F)	−29.6 (−21.3)	−26.2 (−15.2)	−22.4 (−8.3)	−12.4 (9.7)	−2.4 (27.7)	3.4 (38.1)	8.0 (46.4)	8.6 (47.5)	2.1 (35.8)	−4.3 (24.3)	−14.5 (5.9)	−26.5 (−15.7)	−29.6 (−21.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	77.6 (3.06)	63.5 (2.50)	54.6 (2.15)	53.8 (2.12)	80.8 (3.18)	69.1 (2.72)	122.0 (4.80)	164.9 (6.49)	144.2 (5.68)	120.6 (4.75)	117.6 (4.63)	104.9 (4.13)	1,173.5 (46.20)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	203 (80)	156 (61)	107 (42)	13 (5.1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.4)	77 (30)	216 (85)	766 (302)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	19.5	16.3	13.7	10.7	10.3	8.6	10.0	10.5	11.9	15.1	19.2	21.9	167.7
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm)	19.9	17.3	12.9	1.8	0	0	0	0	0	0.1	6.8	19.7	78.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours	63.3	78.4	131.0	167.5	193.6	171.8	156.2	157.8	158.2	130.6	68.5	42.6	1,519.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data,^[7] the population of Bibai has declined by more than half over the past half-century.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1970	47,369	—
1980	38,552	−18.6%
1990	35,176	−8.8%
2000	31,183	−11.4%
2010	26,034	−16.5%
2020	20,413	−21.6%

Education

High schools

• Hokkaido Bibai Shoei High School
• Hokkaido Bibai Seika High School

School for special needs

• Hokkaido Bibai School for Special Needs

Transportation

Rail

Hakodate Main Line Minami-Bibai Branch Line used to run from Bibai to Minami-Bibai.

• Hakodate Main Line : Minenobu - Kōshunai - Bibai - Chashinai

Road

Straight line section of Route 12 is the longest in Japan.

• Hokkaidō Expressway
• Route 12

Culture

Mascots

Mami-chan and Yakitoriman, the city's mascots

Bibai's mascots are Mami-chan (マミィーちゃん). He is a greater white-fronted goose. He was unveiled in 1986. Yakitoriman (ヤキトリ男, Yakitoriotoko) is Mami-chan's assistant who is a yakitori.^[8][9]