Pippu, Hokkaido

Pippu (比布町, Pippu-chō) is a town located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 31 January 2025^[update], the town had an estimated population of 3,413 in 1756 households, and a population density of 21 people per km².^[1] The total area of the town is 86.90 km² (33.55 sq mi). Pippu is notable for its ski slopes in winter and strawberries in summer.

Pippu 比布町
Town
Pippu town hall
Flag Seal
Location of Pippu in Hokkaido (Kamikawa Subprefecture)
Pippu Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°52′31″N 142°28′39″E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Kamikawa Subprefecture)
District	Kamikawa (Ishikari)
Area
• Total	86.90 km2 (33.55 sq mi)
Population  (January 31, 2025)
• Total	3,413
• Density	39/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-2-1 Kitamachi, Pippu-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido 078-0392
Climate	Dfb
Website	Official website
Symbols
Flower	Gentiana triflora var. japonica (Ezo Gentian)
Tree	Fraxinus mandschurica

Pippu ski resort

Pippu Daisetsu Parking Area

Geography

Pippu is located in the northwest of the Kamikawa Basin, and the Ishikari River flows along the southern border of the town. Shiokari Pass is located at the northern end of the town, which forms the border with Wassamu Town.

Neighbouring municipalities

• Hokkaido
  • Asahikawa
  • Shibetsu
  • Tōma
  • Aibetsu

Climate

Pippu has a Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) characterized by cold summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall. The average annual temperature in Pippu is 5.7 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1336 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 19.9 °C, and lowest in January, at around -8.4 °C.^[2]

Climate data for Pippu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	6.6 (43.9)	11.1 (52.0)	14.3 (57.7)	28.2 (82.8)	33.4 (92.1)	35.9 (96.6)	35.8 (96.4)	36.9 (98.4)	32.6 (90.7)	25.3 (77.5)	20.8 (69.4)	12.0 (53.6)	36.9 (98.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−4.2 (24.4)	−2.6 (27.3)	2.3 (36.1)	10.3 (50.5)	18.3 (64.9)	22.8 (73.0)	26.1 (79.0)	26.3 (79.3)	21.8 (71.2)	14.5 (58.1)	5.6 (42.1)	−1.7 (28.9)	11.6 (52.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−8.3 (17.1)	−7.3 (18.9)	−2.5 (27.5)	4.6 (40.3)	11.8 (53.2)	16.6 (61.9)	20.4 (68.7)	20.6 (69.1)	15.8 (60.4)	8.8 (47.8)	1.7 (35.1)	−5.2 (22.6)	6.4 (43.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−13.6 (7.5)	−13.2 (8.2)	−8.0 (17.6)	−1.0 (30.2)	5.7 (42.3)	11.3 (52.3)	15.7 (60.3)	16.0 (60.8)	10.7 (51.3)	3.8 (38.8)	−2.1 (28.2)	−9.5 (14.9)	1.3 (34.4)
Record low °C (°F)	−31.4 (−24.5)	−30.7 (−23.3)	−25.7 (−14.3)	−14.3 (6.3)	−3.4 (25.9)	1.0 (33.8)	5.5 (41.9)	6.7 (44.1)	0.0 (32.0)	−4.8 (23.4)	−19.9 (−3.8)	−26.3 (−15.3)	−31.4 (−24.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	52.6 (2.07)	41.7 (1.64)	47.5 (1.87)	48.7 (1.92)	74.4 (2.93)	70.7 (2.78)	143.7 (5.66)	154.1 (6.07)	146.8 (5.78)	111.0 (4.37)	107.0 (4.21)	80.6 (3.17)	1,081.7 (42.59)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	18.2	14.2	14.1	11.0	11.6	9.7	12.1	12.3	14.1	16.2	19.1	21.3	173.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours	63.7	88.0	124.9	156.0	190.5	173.8	167.1	161.0	147.0	117.8	54.2	42.3	1,486.4
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[3][4]

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Pippu is as shown below. The town is in a long period of sustained population loss.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1940	7,127	—
1950	8,129	+14.1%
1960	8,282	+1.9%
1970	6,711	−19.0%
1980	5,806	−13.5%
1990	5,004	−13.8%
2000	4,576	−8.6%
2010	4,042	−11.7%
2020	3,520	−12.9%

History

The area of Pippu was part of Matsumae Domain in the Edo period. In 1895, settlers from Shiga, Ehime and Kagawa settled in the Pippu Plains. In 1906 the second-class village of Pippu was established. It became a first-class village in 1921 and was raised to town status in 1962.

Government

Pippu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of eight members. Pippu, collectively with the other municipalities of Kawakami sub-prefecture, contributes three members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Pippu is overwhelmingly agricultural. Rice is the main agricultural crop, but there is also a shift to vegetables and fruits. Strawberries in particular are a local specialty.

Education

Pippu has one public combined elementary/junior high school operated by the town government. The town does not have a high school.

Transportation

Railways

JR Hokkaido - Sōya Main Line

■ Pippu - Ranru

Highways

• Dō-Ō Expressway
• Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway
• National Route 39
• National Route 40

Culture

Mascot

Snowberry-chan, the town's mascot

Pippu's mascot is Snowberry-chan (スノーベリーちゃん) aka Ichigo-chan (いちごちゃん). She is a strawberry who loves skiing.^[5]