Tomakomai

Tomakomai (苫小牧市, Tomakomai-shi) is a city and port in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture, and the fourth largest city in Hokkaido. As of 31 July 2023, it had an estimated population of 167,372, with 83,836 households, and a population density of 298 persons per km² (770 persons per mi²). The total area is 561.57 km² (216.82 sq mi).

Tomakomai 苫小牧市
City
Flag Seal
Location of Tomakomai in Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Tomakomai Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°38′N 141°36′E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
First official recorded	1799 AD
City settled	1 April 1948
Government
• Mayor	Suguru Kanazawa
Area
• Total	561.57 km2 (216.82 sq mi)
Population  (July 31, 2023)
• Total	167,372
• Density	300/km2 (770/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	4-5-6 Asahimachi, Tomakomai-shi, Hokkaido 053-8722
Climate	Dfb
Website	www.city.tomakomai.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
Bird	Swan
Flower	Tree flower: Hasukappu (Lonicera caerulea var. emphyllocalyx) Grass flower: Hanashōbu (Iris ensata var. ensata)
Mascot	Toma Chop
Tree	Japanese Rowan

Aerial view of Tomakomai

Tomakomai city hall

Lake Utonai

The city is known for its high catch of Arctic surf clams.

History

The name of Tomakomai is derived from Ainu words "to" and "makomai", meaning "Marsh" and "River which goes into the depths of the mountain", respectively.^[1][2]

• 1879: Yūfutsu branch of Hokkaidō Development Commission was transferred into Tomakomai (Foundation anniversary).
• 1902: Tomakomai became second class village.
• 1918: Tomakomai village became Tomakomai town.
• 1948: Tomakomai town became Tomakomai city.
• 1963: Tomakomai Port (West) was opened.
• 1980: Tomakomai Port (East) was opened.
• 6 September 2018: Tomakomai City is the nearest city from the epicenter of the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake.

Geography

Mount Tarumae is located in the northwest of Tomakomai and belongs to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.

Climate

Tomakomai has a humid continental climate typical of Hokkaido.

Climate data for Tomakomai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1942−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	10.0 (50.0)	12.6 (54.7)	15.5 (59.9)	21.8 (71.2)	27.3 (81.1)	30.6 (87.1)	33.3 (91.9)	35.5 (95.9)	29.5 (85.1)	24.4 (75.9)	19.1 (66.4)	14.8 (58.6)	35.5 (95.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	0.5 (32.9)	0.9 (33.6)	4.4 (39.9)	9.6 (49.3)	14.1 (57.4)	17.3 (63.1)	21.0 (69.8)	23.4 (74.1)	21.7 (71.1)	16.2 (61.2)	9.2 (48.6)	2.8 (37.0)	11.8 (53.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.6 (25.5)	−3.2 (26.2)	0.5 (32.9)	5.3 (41.5)	10.0 (50.0)	14.0 (57.2)	18.2 (64.8)	20.4 (68.7)	17.8 (64.0)	11.5 (52.7)	4.9 (40.8)	−1.2 (29.8)	7.9 (46.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−8.1 (17.4)	−7.9 (17.8)	−3.7 (25.3)	1.3 (34.3)	6.6 (43.9)	11.5 (52.7)	16.1 (61.0)	18.0 (64.4)	13.8 (56.8)	6.4 (43.5)	0.2 (32.4)	−5.4 (22.3)	4.1 (39.3)
Record low °C (°F)	−21.3 (−6.3)	−20.9 (−5.6)	−19.8 (−3.6)	−9.8 (14.4)	−4.2 (24.4)	1.8 (35.2)	6.5 (43.7)	9.2 (48.6)	2.4 (36.3)	−5.1 (22.8)	−12.6 (9.3)	−20.4 (−4.7)	−21.3 (−6.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	38.7 (1.52)	37.5 (1.48)	53.5 (2.11)	75.7 (2.98)	130.8 (5.15)	111.6 (4.39)	163.5 (6.44)	197.5 (7.78)	174.9 (6.89)	113.2 (4.46)	85.7 (3.37)	56.6 (2.23)	1,239.2 (48.79)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	42 (17)	42 (17)	26 (10)	2 (0.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	4 (1.6)	29 (11)	145 (57)
Average rainy days	7.3	7.6	8.9	8.9	9.9	8.7	11.1	11.8	10.4	9.7	9.3	8.1	111.7
Average snowy days	10.6	10.9	7.4	0.7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.9	6.6	37.1
Average relative humidity (%)	70	70	71	74	79	86	88	86	80	74	71	70	77
Mean monthly sunshine hours	142.0	144.7	165.6	173.5	171.9	119.7	108.1	122.2	153.1	156.0	127.1	127.6	1,711.5
Source 1: JMA[3]
Source 2: JMA[4]

Transportation

Airport

• New Chitose Airport

Rail

• Chitose Line: Numanohata - Uenae
• Hidaka Main Line: Numanohata - Yūfutsu
• Muroran Main Line: Nishikioka - Itoi - Aoba - Tomakomai - Numanohata

Road

• Hidaka Expressway
• Dō-Ō Expressway

Seaport

• Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal: connected with regular ferry services by MOL Ferry, Taiheiyō Ferry, K Line Kinkai.

Education

University

• Hokuyou University

College

• National Institute of Technology, Tomakomai College

High schools

Public

• Hokkaido Tomakomai Higashi High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Minami High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Nishi High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Sogokeizai High School
• Hokkaido Tomakomai Technical High School

Private

• Komazawa University Tomakomai High School
• Tomakomai Chuo High School

Sports

Arctic surf clam curry, which the city is known for

In 2014, Tomakomai hosted the World Broomball Championships.^[5]

Tomakomai is home to the Asia League Ice Hockey team Red Eagles Hokkaido. ^[6]

Sister cities and friendship cities

Sister cities

• Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan (since 1973)^[7]
• Napier, Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand (since 1980)
• Nikko, Tochigi, Japan (since 1982)

Friendship city

• Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China (since 1998)

Notable people from Tomakomai

• Yushiroh Hirano, ice hockey player, Adirondack Thunder^[8]
• Tsutomu Kawabuchi, ice hockey player and coach, member of the IIHF Hall of Fame^[9]
• Asami Kimura, singer in Hello! Project and former Country Musume member and leader
• Eiichi Kudo, film director
• Junko Misaki, enka singer
• Ippei Mizuhara, Interpreter for Major League Baseball
• Takuya Onodera, professional wrestler best known as T-Hawk
• Kei Sanbe, manga artist^{[citation needed]}
• Naoki Sano, professional wrestler
• Hisayoshi Sato, swimmer^[10]
• Shokichi, member of Exile and Exile The Second