Shintoku, Hokkaido
Shintoku
新得町 SHintoku-chō | |
|---|---|
Panorama of Shintoku | |
Location of Shintoku in Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture) | |
![]() Interactive map of Shintoku | |
| Coordinates: 43°04′47″N 142°50′20″E / 43.07972°N 142.83889°E | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Hokkaido |
| Prefecture | Hokkaido (Tokachi Subprefecture) |
| District | Kamikawa (Tokachi) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,063.83 km2 (410.75 sq mi) |
| Population (August 30, 2025) | |
• Total | 5,309 |
| • Density | 4.990/km2 (12.93/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 (JST) |
| City hall address | 26, 3-jo Minami 4-chome, Shintoku-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido 081-8501 |
| Climate | Dfb |
| Website | www |
| Symbols | |
| Bird | Hazel grouse |
| Flower | Ezo Rhododendron |
| Tree | Ezo Mountain Cherry |
Shintoku (新得町, Shintoku-chō) is a town located in Tokachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 30 August 2025, the town had an estimated population of 5,309 in 3143 households, and a population density of 5 people per km2.[1] The total area of the town is 1,063.83 km2 (410.75 sq mi).
Geography
Shintoku is located in southeastern Hokkaido in the northwestern part of the Tokachi Subprefecture. Approximately 90% of the total area is forest, and approximately 70% of the northern area is national forest in Daisetsuzan National Park. Mount Tomuraushi at 2141 meters is the highest point.
Neighboring municipalities
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification, Shintoku has a humid continental climate. Its temperature ranges are large, with large annual and daily temperature differences. In winter, temperatures of around -20°C are not uncommon, making it a bitterly cold area; however, the average minimum temperature in January is -11.1°C, making it one of the towns in Tokachi that experiences relatively mild temperatures. The town is designated as a "specially heavy snow area."
| Climate data for Shintoku(1991 - 2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
16.6 (61.9) |
28.3 (82.9) |
35.4 (95.7) |
35.9 (96.6) |
37.3 (99.1) |
36.2 (97.2) |
32.7 (90.9) |
27.9 (82.2) |
20.9 (69.6) |
15.1 (59.2) |
37.3 (99.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −2.2 (28.0) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
3.2 (37.8) |
10.6 (51.1) |
17.2 (63.0) |
20.7 (69.3) |
23.7 (74.7) |
24.7 (76.5) |
21.0 (69.8) |
14.7 (58.5) |
7.2 (45.0) |
0.2 (32.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.2 (20.8) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
5.3 (41.5) |
11.3 (52.3) |
15.2 (59.4) |
18.8 (65.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
16.0 (60.8) |
9.5 (49.1) |
3.0 (37.4) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
6.9 (44.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −11.1 (12.0) |
−10.7 (12.7) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
5.5 (41.9) |
10.3 (50.5) |
14.7 (58.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.4 (52.5) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
2.2 (36.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25.7 (−14.3) |
−28.3 (−18.9) |
−22.6 (−8.7) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
0.3 (32.5) |
4.9 (40.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−12.4 (9.7) |
−20.7 (−5.3) |
−28.3 (−18.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46.4 (1.83) |
40.1 (1.58) |
54.1 (2.13) |
67.3 (2.65) |
92.5 (3.64) |
93.0 (3.66) |
149.6 (5.89) |
206.1 (8.11) |
168.1 (6.62) |
109.3 (4.30) |
76.9 (3.03) |
58.9 (2.32) |
1,162.2 (45.76) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 121 (48) |
112 (44) |
123 (48) |
26 (10) |
3 (1.2) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.4) |
26 (10) |
107 (42) |
517 (204) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 8.7 | 8.3 | 10.5 | 11.2 | 11.7 | 11.0 | 13.9 | 13.8 | 13.2 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 9.5 | 135.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 133.8 | 127.5 | 171.8 | 178.1 | 184.8 | 141.4 | 119.4 | 129.7 | 142.1 | 152.1 | 118.2 | 112.8 | 1,711.6 |
| Source: [2][3] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Per Japanese census data,[4] the population of Shintoku has declined in recent decades.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11,089 | — |
| 1980 | 9,502 | −14.3% |
| 1990 | 8,412 | −11.5% |
| 2000 | 7,657 | −9.0% |
| 2010 | 6,642 | −13.3% |
| 2020 | 5,817 | −12.4% |
History
Jomon period ruins remain on the eastern slope of the Sahoro Plateau and along the Tokachi River. The Shinnai Chashi, located near the confluence of the Pitaraushi and Sahoro Rivers, dates back to the Ainu culture period. Shintoku, located inland in the Tokachi region, was nominally part of Matsumae Domain, but was only settled by Japanese during the late Bakumatsu period. In the Meiji period, colonization efforts increased, with groups of settlers arriving from various parts of Japan. The village of Kuttori was established in 1915 under Hokkaido second-class town and village system. In 1923, it became a first-class village and was renamed Shintoku. It was raised to town status in 1933.
Government
Shintoku has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 12 members. Shintoku, as part of Tokachi Subprefecture, contributes four members to the Hokkaidō Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the town is part of the Hokkaidō 11th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.[5]
Economy
The Shintoku area is known for its large-scale agriculture, including field crops, livestock, and dairy farming. Forestry is also a major industry, with the area boasting one of the largest lumber shipment volumes in the Tokachi region. Tourism takes advantage of the area's natural resources, including numerous hot springs and ski resorts.
Education
Shintoku has two public elementary schools and two public middle schools, and one combined elementary/middle operated by the town. The town does not have a high school.[6]
Transportation
Railways
JR Hokkaido - Nemuro Main Line / Sekishō Line
- ■ Shintoku
Highways
Sister city relations
Higashine, Yamagata, Japan
Local attractions
- Karikachi Pass Observatory
- Karikachi Kogen Park
- Lake Sahoro
- Tokachi Dam
- Tomuraushi Natural Recreation Forest
-
Sahoro ski resort
-
Shintoku Station
-
Panorama of Shintoku
-
Lake Tokachi
Sports
While Japan Bandy Federation was founded in 2011, there has not been any full-sized bandy field in the country. So domestically only the variety rink bandy has been played. However, in the summer of 2017 an association for bandy was founded in Shintoku[7][8] and it was announced that a full-sized field will open in the 2017-2018 winter season.[9] It became a reality in December 2017 and the first Japanese championship took place there in January 2018, with the home teams capturing the titles.[10][11]
Mascots

Shintoku's mascots are the Kankou Sentai Shintokuranger (新得応援戦隊しんとくレンジャー, Kankō Sentai Shintokurenjā). They are based on toku heroes such as Super Sentai, Kamen Rider and Ultraman. The team consists of three members.
- SobaRed (そばレッド, SobaReddo) is the leader of the team who is from Shintoku. His motif is a soba. His job is to make sure all of the food (especially soba) had the best quality and cooked safe to prevent foodborne illnesses. His birthday is August 17.[12]
- YamaGreen (山グリーン, YamaGurīn) is the second in command of the team who is from Mount Tomuraushi in the Shintoku Mountains. His motif is mountains such as Mount Tomuraushi and Mount Sahoro. His job is to protect nature and the environment from pollution. His birthday is on October 12.[13]
- OnsenPink (温泉ピンク, OnsenPinku). She is the only female of the team who is from Shintoku but raised in the United States. Her motif is the onsen. His job is to heal people from diseases or injury while maintaining beauty and health. Her birthday is February 19.[14]
In 2014, four more members were added as a result of a design competition.[15]
- SobaRainbow (そばレインボー, SobaReinbō) who is a soba (like SobaRed but in colours of a rainbow)
- JidoriBrown (じどりブラウン, JidoriBuraun) who is a brown chicken.
- Chocoranger (チョコレンジャー, Chokorenjā) who is a princess of chocolate.
- Kuroranger (くろレンジャー, Kurorenjā) who is cat-like shadow figure that represents the night sky.
References
- ^ "Shintoku Town official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
- ^ Japan Meteorological Agency |source 2= JMA
- ^ "気象庁|過去の気象データ検索". JMA. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
- ^ "Population and number of households based on the Basic Resident Register" (in Japanese). Hokkaido Prefecture home page.
- ^ "Shintoku Town Assembly home page".
- ^ "Shintoku Town Board of Education".
- ^ "一般社団法人新得バンディ連盟の情報 - 2460105002125|法人バンク".
- ^ Unknown[permanent dead link]
- ^ "アイスホッケーのルーツ 「バンディ」 新得町にリンク". 21 April 2017.
- ^ "北海道ニュースリンク | 北海道の情報配信サイト".
- ^ "Japan held their historic championship on a new full size bandy arena!".
- ^ "観光宣隊しんとくレンジャー そばレッド". Japan Local-Characters Association. 5 November 2020.
- ^ "観光宣隊しんとくレンジャー 山グリーン". Japan Local-Characters Association. 5 November 2020.
- ^ "観光宣隊しんとくレンジャー 温泉ピンク". Japan Local-Characters Association. 5 November 2020.
- ^ "第13回しんとく新そば祭り「お絵かきレンジャー」結果発表!". Shintoku. 19 September 2023.
External links
Media related to Shintoku, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons- Official Website (in Japanese)
