Otobe, Hokkaido

Otobe 乙部町
Town
Otobe Town hall
Location of Otobe in Hokkaido (Hiyama Subprefecture)
Otobe Location in Japan
Coordinates: 41°58′N 140°8′E / 41.967°N 140.133°ECoordinates: 41°58′N 140°8′E / 41.967°N 140.133°E
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Hiyama Subprefecture)
District	Nishi
Government
• Mayor	Koichiro Terashima
Area
• Total	162.55 km^2 (62.76 sq mi)
Population (2008)
• Total	4,665
• Density	29/km^2 (74/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Cryptomeria
• Flower	Lilium
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	388 Midoricho, Otobe, Nishi District, Hokkaido 043-0103
Website	www.town.otobe.lg.jp

Otobe (乙部町 Otobe-chō) is a town located in Nishi District, Hiyama Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 4,665 and a density of 29 persons per km². The total area is 162.55 km².

Geography

Otobe is located on the western of the Oshima Peninsula and faces the Sea of Japan.

The name came from Ainu word that means "The river with a marsh in its estuary". This river is Hime River, which flows through the town.^[1]

Neighboring towns

• Hiyama Subprefecture
  • Esashi
  • Assabu
• Oshima Subprefecture
  • Yakumo

History

• 1902 Otobe became a Second Class Village.^[2]
• 1965 Otobe Village became Otobe Town.

Education

• Junior high school
  • Otobe Junior High School
• Elementary schools
  • Otobe Elementary School
  • Sakaehama Elementary School
  • Meiwa Elementary School

References

1. Origin of the name
2. History of Otobe

External links

• Media related to Otobe, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (Japanese)