Kutchan, Hokkaidō

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**Kutchan Town**
**倶知安町**
Kutchan Town's location in Hokkaidō, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Prefecture	Hokkaidō
Physical characteristics
Area	261.24 km²
Population (as of July,2006)
Total	15,777
Location	42°54′N 140°44′E
Symbols
Tree	Painted Maple
Flower	Rhododendron
Kutchan Town Hall
Address	〒044-0001 Higashi-3, Kita-1 jo Kutchan-chō, Abuta-gun, Hokkaidō
Phone number	0136-22-1121
Official website: Kutchan Town Page

Coordinates: 42°54′N 140°44′E

Kutchan (倶知安町; -chō) is a town located in Abuta District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan. Kutchan lies slightly north of the volcano Mt. Yōtei, and is approximately 50 kilometers west of Sapporo. The subprefecture government offices are located in this town, making it the capital of the subprefecture.

As of 2004, the town has an estimated population of 16,158 and a density of 61.85 persons per km². The total area is 261.24 km².

Throughout Hokkaidō, Kutchan is celebrated for its proximity to the Niseko ski region and for its agricultural production of quality potatoes and potato products. Among these celebrated products, Kutchan is most famous for manufacturing gosetsu-udon, which is a Japanese noodle made from potato flour. Jagata-kun, the skiing potato that is the cartoon mascot of Kutchan, indicates Kutchan's most two most celebrated aspects. Jagata-kun roughly translates as, "little, fat potato boy."

1 Geography
- 1.1 Neighboring municipalities
2 History
3 Economy
- 3.1 Hirafu
- 3.2 Agriculture
4 Education
5 Transportation
6 Places of Interest
7 Famous Persons
8 Sister Cities
9 See also
10 External links
11 Notes

[edit] Geography

Located approximately 50 km west of Sapporo. Kutchan lies in a valley surrounded by various mountains, notably Niseko Annupuri and Mt. Yotei.

Kutchan Town from Asahigaoka Park

Mountains: Yōtei (Shiribeshi Mountain) (active volcano, 1898 m), Niseko Iwaonupuri (active volcano, 1116 m), Niseko Annupuri (1308 m)
Rivers: Shiribetsu, Kutōzan

[edit] Neighboring municipalities

Shiribeshi
- Abuta District: Kyogoku, Niseko
- Isoya District: Rankoshi
- Iwanai District: Kyowa
- Yoichi District: Niki, Akaigawa
- Kimobetsu and Makkari of the Abuta District lie on the southern side of Mt. Yōtei.

[edit] History

Kutchan’s peculiar name comes from the language of the Hokkaido’s native Ainu people. It attempts to mimic the pronunciation of the Ainu word ku-shan-i (which roughly translates as “the place where the channel flows”), but some claim that the name is derived from kucha-an-nai (“stream of a hunting lodge”).
1892: Cultivation begins by colonizers from Tokushima Prefecture who had settled in nearby Yoichi.
1893: The village of Kutchan is established. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuta village town office (present-day Tōyakō).
1896: The town office of Kutchan opens.
1899: Changes jurisdiction from Muroran Subprefecture (present-day Iburi Subprefecture) to Iwanai Subprefecture.
1906: Administered as a second-level municipality.
1910: On February 8, each of Rusutsu, Iwanai, and Otaru’s subprefectures is consolidated into the Abuta District of Muroran Subprefecture. Shiribeshi Subprefecture is established in Kutchan. On April 5, the satellite village of East Kutchan (present-day Kyogoku) is formed. Nisekoan, Higa, and the Fujizan area become part of the Shutai village administration zone (present-day Niseko)
1916: Administered as a town-level municipality
1991: 100-year anniversary is celebrated.

[edit] Economy

[edit] Hirafu

Kutchan hosts the Hirafu skiing area. Hirafu is commonly mistaken as a section of Niseko town since it is a part of the greater Niseko skiing region. However, to the financial benefit of Kutchan, Hirafu lies within the confines of Kutchan town. Hirafu's largest ski resort, Niseko Grand Hirafu, undoubtedly draws the highest number of both domestic and foreign skiers and snowboarders than any other resort in the Niseko region.

In recent years, an explosively high number of Australians have frequented Hirafu, many of whom have settled in the area and spawned businesses such as pensions, bars, and cafes. Most notable among the recent expansion of Hirafu's foreign entrepreneurship is the Hanazono ski resort. Hanazono is spearheading a massive tourism development project with the assistance of both foreign and domestic investments. According to Hanazono's website, Hanazono ski resort will be the site of a "human scale, ski-in ski-out village" on the East side of the Niseko Grand Hirafu resort.^[1]

Hirafu is also frequented by a considerable number of tourists from Hong Kong, as well as tourists coming from within Japan.

Hirafu's expanding tourism industry is often attributed to the steady and copious supply of fresh powder snow, which many claim is among the best in the entire hemisphere, if not the world.

While Hirafu's skyrocketing economic growth is undoubtedly an asset to Kutchan town, many fear that such rapid development will alter the price margin of goods and services offered in the village, and subsequently transform the local flavor of Hirafu. The local community of both Japanese and foreign "backpacker" skiers and snowboarders, who typically operate on a smaller budget than their upscale counterparts, are already being overshadowed by the burgeoning influx of wealthy tourists.

[edit] Agriculture

Along with short grain white rice, much of Kutchan’s surrounding area is devoted to potato cultivation.

[edit] Education

Public High Schools
- Kutchan High School, Kutchan Agriculture Vocational School
Middle Schools
- Kutchan, Toryo
Elementary Schools
- Kutchan, Hokuyo, Higashi, Nishi, Kabayama Branch School

[edit] Transportation

Railroad
- Hokkaido Passenger Railroad Company (JR Hokkaido)
  - Hakodate Main Line: Hirafu Station – Kutchan Station
- Formerly, the Iburi Line served Kutchan from Date’s Monbetsu Station of the Muroran Line, but it was discontinued in 1986.
- JR Hokkaido plans to include Kutchan in its planned Hokkaido Shinkansen (bullet train) service, which would connect the town to Honshū and, consequently, Tokyo.

Roadway
- General national highways
  - Route 5
  - Route 276
  - Route 393
- Prefectural highways
  - Hokkaido Route 58 (Kutchan – Niseko)
  - Hokkaido Route 271 (Kutchan stop)
  - Hokkaido Route 343 (Rankoshi – Niseko – Kutchan)
  - Hokkaido Route 478 (Kyogoku – Kutchan)
  - Hokkaido Route 631 (Niseko – Takahara – Hirafu)