Sunagawa, Hokkaido

Sunagawa (砂川市, Sunagawa-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

Sunagawa 砂川市
City
Sunagawa Station
Flag Seal
Location of Sunagawa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Sunagawa Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°30′N 141°54′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
• Mayor	Masafumi Yoshioka
Area
• Total	78.69 km2 (30.38 sq mi)
Population  (August 15, 2024)
• Total	15,340
• Density	190/km2 (500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	1-1 Kita San-chōme, Nishi Roku-jō, Sunagawa-shi, Hokkaido 073-0195
Website	www.city.sunagawa.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
Flower	Lily of the Valley
Tree	Japanese Rowan

Population

As of August 2024, the city has an estimated population of 15,340^[1] and a population density of 190 people per km². The total area is 78.69 km².

Amenity town

The city was designated as the first "Amenity Town" in Hokkaido in 1984 (Showa 59). As an Amenity Town, Sunagawa contains lot of greenery, such as parks.^[2]

Name

Name of Sunagawa is derived from an Ainu word "Ota-ushi-nai", meaning the river near sandy shore.

History

• 1890 - Nae Village founded.
• 1895 - Nae Village Office opened.
• 1897 - Utashinai Village splits off .
• 1902 - Nae becomes a Second Class Municipality.
• 1903 - Nae Village becomes Sunagawa Village.
• 1907 - Sunagawa becomes a First Class Municipality.
• 1923 - Sunagawa Village becomes Sunagawa Town.
• 1944 - Naie Village splits off.
• 1949 - Kamisunagawa Town splits off.
• July 1, 1958 - Sunagawa Town becomes Sunagawa City.

Education

High school

• Hokkaido Sunagawa High School.

Transportation

• Hakodate Main Line : Toyonuma - Sunagawa
• Hokkaidō Expressway : Naie-Sunagawa IC (Naie) - Sunanaga SA - Takikawa IC (Takikawa)

Notable people from Sunagawa, Hokkaido

• Mitsuya Nagai (born 1968), Japanese mixed martial artist, kickboxer and professional wrestler (Real Name: Hirokazu Nagai, Nihongo: 長井 弘和, Nagai Hirokazu)
• Junichi Watanabe (1933–2014), Japanese writer and doctor