Otobe, Hokkaido

Otobe (乙部町, Otobe-chō) is a town located in Hiyama Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Otobe 乙部町
Town
Otobe Town hall
Flag Seal
Location of Otobe in Hokkaido (Hiyama Subprefecture)
Otobe Location in Japan
Coordinates: 41°58′N 140°8′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Hiyama Subprefecture)
District	Nishi
Government
• Mayor	Tsutomu Terashima
Area
• Total	162.55 km2 (62.76 sq mi)
Population  (September 30, 2016)
• Total	3,925
• Density	24/km2 (63/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	388 Midoricho, Otobe, Nishi District, Hokkaido 043-0103
Website	www.town.otobe.lg.jp
Symbols
Flower	Lilium
Tree	Cryptomeria

As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 3,925, and a density of 24 persons per km². The total area is 162.55 km².

Geography

Otobe is located on the western of the Oshima Peninsula and faces the Sea of Japan.

The name came from Ainu word that means "The river with a marsh in its estuary". This river is Hime River, which flows through the town.^[1]

Neighboring towns

• Hiyama Subprefecture
  • Assabu
  • Esashi
• Oshima Subprefecture
  • Yakumo

History

• 1902: Otobe became a Second Class Village.^[2]
• 1965: Otobe Village became Otobe Town.

Education

• Junior high school
  • Otobe Junior High School
• Elementary schools
  • Meiwa Elementary School
  • Otobe Elementary School
  • Sakaehama Elementary School