Iwamizawa

Iwamizawa (岩見沢市, Iwamizawa-shi) is a city in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sorachi Subprefecture.

Iwamizawa 岩見沢市
City
Panorama view of downtown Iwamizawa urban area
Flag Emblem
Location of Iwamizawa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Iwamizawa Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°12′N 141°47′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
• Mayor	Satoru Matsuno
Area
• Total	481.02 km2 (185.72 sq mi)
Population  (July 31, 2023)
• Total	75,949
• Density	160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-1-1, Hatogaoka, Iwamizawa-shi, Hokkaido 068-8686
Climate	Dfb
Website	www.city.iwamizawa.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
Bird	Pigeon
Flower	Rose
Tree	Kobushi Magnolia

As of July 31, 2023, the city had an estimated population of 75,949 and the density of 158 persons per km².^[1] The total area is 481.02 km² (186 sq mi).

On March 27, 2006, the town of Kurisawa, and the village of Kita (both from Sorachi District, Sorachi Subprefecture) merged into Iwamizawa.^[2]

History

The name of "Iwamizawa" is derived from Japanese word "Yuamisawa" (浴澤).Yuami (浴) and sawa (澤) means "Bathing" and "A swamp".^[3]

Iwamizawa was developed as a hub of land transportation around Iwamizawa Station.^[2]

• 1906 - Iwamizawa village became Iwamizawa town.
• 1943 - Iwamizawa town became Iwamizawa city.
• 2006 - Kurisawa town and Kita village were merged into Iwamizawa city.

Climate

Iwamizawa has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is heaviest from August to October.

Climate data for Iwamizawa, Hokkaido (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1946−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	8.7 (47.7)	10.3 (50.5)	16.3 (61.3)	26.8 (80.2)	33.1 (91.6)	33.6 (92.5)	35.5 (95.9)	35.7 (96.3)	32.7 (90.9)	25.9 (78.6)	20.2 (68.4)	13.7 (56.7)	35.7 (96.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−1.9 (28.6)	−0.9 (30.4)	3.5 (38.3)	11.2 (52.2)	17.7 (63.9)	21.7 (71.1)	25.1 (77.2)	26.1 (79.0)	22.4 (72.3)	15.7 (60.3)	7.6 (45.7)	0.5 (32.9)	12.4 (54.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−5.3 (22.5)	−4.6 (23.7)	−0.4 (31.3)	6.1 (43.0)	12.1 (53.8)	16.3 (61.3)	20.2 (68.4)	21.3 (70.3)	17.4 (63.3)	10.8 (51.4)	3.9 (39.0)	−2.6 (27.3)	7.9 (46.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−9.2 (15.4)	−8.9 (16.0)	−4.5 (23.9)	1.3 (34.3)	7.1 (44.8)	12.0 (53.6)	16.6 (61.9)	17.6 (63.7)	12.9 (55.2)	6.2 (43.2)	0.2 (32.4)	−6.0 (21.2)	3.8 (38.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−24.3 (−11.7)	−23.0 (−9.4)	−22.0 (−7.6)	−10.9 (12.4)	−3.6 (25.5)	2.5 (36.5)	5.2 (41.4)	6.9 (44.4)	−1.0 (30.2)	−4.0 (24.8)	−14.6 (5.7)	−22.6 (−8.7)	−24.3 (−11.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	199.4 (7.85)	85.5 (3.37)	59.4 (2.34)	52.7 (2.07)	83.9 (3.30)	69.5 (2.74)	111.5 (4.39)	161.1 (6.34)	142.2 (5.60)	110.4 (4.35)	118.8 (4.68)	144.5 (5.69)	1,248.5 (49.15)
Average extreme snow depth mm (inches)	187 (7.4)	137 (5.4)	72 (2.8)	8 (0.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.0)	70 (2.8)	200 (7.9)	664 (26.1)
Average rainy days	19.2	15.9	12.7	9.8	10.0	8.3	9.5	9.9	10.3	13.7	17.4	21.3	158
Average snowy days	21.7	19.5	15.9	3.1	0	0	0	0	0	0.3	8.6	21.6	90.7
Average relative humidity (%)	81	78	74	68	71	78	81	81	79	77	78	81	77
Mean monthly sunshine hours	90.2	111.3	161.9	176.6	196.5	173.6	156.2	158.8	161.9	138.5	84.7	69.0	1,679.1
Percentage possible sunshine	33	40	46	46	46	27	42	40	36	42	21	13	37
Source 1: Japan Meteorological Agency[4][5]
Source 2: MSN Weather[6]

Transportation

Rail

In the past, Horonai Line and Manji Line ran from Iwamizawa.

• Hakodate Main Line : Horomui - Kami-Horomui - Iwamizawa
• Muroran Main Line : Kurioka - Kurisawa - Shibun - Iwamizawa

Road

• Hokkaidō Expressway : Iwamizawa IC
• Route 12

Education

Universities

• Hokkaido University of Education, Iwamizawa Campus

High schools

• Hokkaido Iwamizawa Higashi High School
• Hokkaido Iwamizawa Nishi High School
• Hokkaido Iwamizawa Agricultural High School
• Hokkaido Iwamizawa Ryokuryo High School

Culture

Mascot

Iwamizawa's mascot is Iwami-chan (いわみちゃん). He is a playful onion who likes food. He was unveiled on 3 October 2010. He is assisted by Kuri-chan (クリちゃん) who is a female squirrel from Kurisawa.^[7][8]

Iwami-chan and Kuri-chan, the city's mascots

Religion

• Iwamizawa Jinja, a Shinto shrine

Sister cities

• Pocatello, Idaho^[9] - The city was founded on April 1, 1943. Youth delegates are often sent from one to the other.
• Canby, Oregon^[10]