Kikonai, Hokkaido

Kikonai (木古内町, Kikonai-chō) is a town located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Kikonai 木古内町
Town
Memorial Tablet for the Kanrin Maru Sinking at Saraki Point (February 2009)
Flag Seal
The location of Kikonai in Oshima Subprefecture.
Kikonai Location of Kikonai in Japan
Coordinates: 41°41′N 140°26′E
Country	Japan
Prefecture	Hokkaido
Subprefecture	Oshima Subprefecture
District	Kamiiso
Government
• Mayor	Isao Ōmori
Area
• Total	221.88 km2 (85.67 sq mi)
Population  (2016-09-30)
• Total	4,448
• Density	20/km2 (52/sq mi)
Post code	049-0422
Area code	01392
Government Office Address	218 Banchi, Aza Hon-chō, Kikonai-chō, Kamiiso-gun, Hokkaidō 049-0422
Government Office Telephone	01392-2-3131
Climate	Dfb
Website	www.town.kikonai.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
Flower	Rhododendron
Tree	Cryptomeria

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 4,448, and a density of 20 persons per km². The total area is 221.88 km².

Geography

Kikonai is located on the southwest of the Oshima Peninsula and faces Tsugaru Strait.

Neighboring towns

• Hiyama Subprefecture
  • Assabu
  • Kaminokuni
• Oshima Subprefecture
  • Hokuto
  • Shiriuchi

Climate

Climate data for Kikonai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	10.1 (50.2)	11.9 (53.4)	16.7 (62.1)	25.4 (77.7)	30.4 (86.7)	29.4 (84.9)	34.2 (93.6)	34.1 (93.4)	32.5 (90.5)	27.5 (81.5)	21.5 (70.7)	16.9 (62.4)	34.2 (93.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	0.9 (33.6)	1.7 (35.1)	5.5 (41.9)	11.4 (52.5)	15.9 (60.6)	18.8 (65.8)	22.7 (72.9)	25.1 (77.2)	22.9 (73.2)	17.0 (62.6)	9.9 (49.8)	3.1 (37.6)	12.9 (55.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−2.3 (27.9)	−1.8 (28.8)	1.5 (34.7)	6.7 (44.1)	11.4 (52.5)	15.1 (59.2)	19.4 (66.9)	21.6 (70.9)	18.3 (64.9)	12.0 (53.6)	5.6 (42.1)	−0.2 (31.6)	8.9 (48.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−5.7 (21.7)	−5.4 (22.3)	−2.6 (27.3)	1.8 (35.2)	7.1 (44.8)	11.8 (53.2)	16.7 (62.1)	18.5 (65.3)	14.0 (57.2)	7.1 (44.8)	1.5 (34.7)	−3.4 (25.9)	5.1 (41.2)
Record low °C (°F)	−14.9 (5.2)	−15.6 (3.9)	−14.1 (6.6)	−9.1 (15.6)	−0.9 (30.4)	3.5 (38.3)	7.6 (45.7)	9.6 (49.3)	3.2 (37.8)	−1.1 (30.0)	−7.9 (17.8)	−13.0 (8.6)	−15.6 (3.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	96.9 (3.81)	79.8 (3.14)	72.7 (2.86)	76.1 (3.00)	87.4 (3.44)	87.7 (3.45)	132.7 (5.22)	159.9 (6.30)	153.8 (6.06)	110.2 (4.34)	122.4 (4.82)	120.8 (4.76)	1,293 (50.91)
Average rainy days	19.3	16.5	14.7	9.8	10.4	7.9	9.6	9.7	11.1	12.6	15.6	20.1	157.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours	85.7	97.8	158.7	194.8	192.1	150.4	123.3	149.2	165.8	165.1	103.8	80.7	1,667.4
Source 1: JMA[1]
Source 2: JMA[2]

History

• 1902: Kikonai village was founded.^[3]
• 1942: Kikonai village became Kikonai town.
• 2012: Hokkaido Kikonai High School was closed.

Transportation

Kikonai's station, Kikonai Station, is located at the north end of the Seikan Tunnel, which connects the islands of Hokkaido and Honshū. The town government is actively promoting the development of the Hokkaidō Shinkansen and proposes offering intermodal service on the line.

Matsumae Line used to run from Kikonai but it was abolished in 1988. The section of Esashi Line from Kikonai to Esashi was also abolished in May 2014.

• Esashi Line: Kamaya - Izumisawa - Satsukari - Kikonai ( - Oshima-Tsuruoka - Yoshibori)
• Kaikyō Line: Kikonai

Sister city

• Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan (since 1989)^[4]