Rikubetsu
Rikubetsu (陸別町 Rikubetsu-chō) is a town in Ashoro District, in the north east of Tokachi Subprefecture. The main industries are forestry (occupying about 80 percent of the land area) and dairy farming. It is claimed that the town has the lowest average minimum winter temperature in Japan.
Rikubetsu had a population of 2,967 in 2006. It has a land area of 609 km².
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History
The name Rikubetsu comes from the Ainu rikunbetsu meaning 'deer mountain torrent'.
Rikubetsu was founded in 1902 by the 72-year old Seki Kansai from Tokushima. He cleared one hectare of forest to establish the Seki Farm with 7 cows and 52 horses.
Places of interest
- Ginga no Mori Observatory in the Forest (銀河の森天文台) Uenbetsu tel 0156 27 8100 [1]. Also known as the Rikubetsu Astronomical Observatory. Open 14.00-22.30 (April to September) 13.00-21.30 (October to March). Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, New Year etc. Largest reflector telescope in Japan.
- Mount Hokuryo (北稜岳 Hokuryodake) 1,254 metres. 25 kilomtres from Rikubetsu Town on Route 242. Ascent approximately 2 hours, descent 1 hour.
- Seki Kansai Museum (関寛斎資料館 Seki Kansai Shiryokan) Aurora Town 93, Odori tel 0156 21 2123. Open 9.30-16.30. Closed Mondays (and day following, if Mondays are a holiday). Devoted to the life of Seki Kansai (関寛斎 Seki Kansai), the Meiji-period founder of Rikubetsu.
- Rikubetsu Circuit (陸別町オフロードサーキット場) Off-road car racing.
Hotels, restaurants, shops and services
- Aurora House (オーロラハウス) Aurora Town 93, Ōdōri tel 0156 27 3993 [2]. (From 6,500 per person per night with two meals). Accommodation next to the former Rikubetsu Station, in the same building as the Michi no Eki and the Seki Kansai Museum.
- Hamada Ryokan (浜田旅館 Hamada Ryokan) tel 0156 27 3175 [3]. (From 5,700 per person per night with two meals)
- Ginga-no-Mori Cottages (銀河の森コテージ) tel 0156 27 4040 [4] Cottages for 6 and 10 people.
- Minshuku Yume-ya (夢舎) Ginga-no-Mori tel 0156 27 2134 [5]. (From 5,800 per person per night with two meals) 4 rooms. Closed from 5 November to 21 December.
- Wakabamachi Citizens' Ski Hill (陸別町民スキー場) tel 0155 27 2123. Open December to March, Mondays/Fridays 15.00-16.30, Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays 18.30-20.00, Saturdays/Sundays/Holidays 13.00-16.00. No lifts Tuesdays/Thursdays. Closed New Year.
Local government
Town Hall Aza Rikubetsu Higashi 1-3-1, Rikubetsu-chō, Ashoro-gun 089-4311 tel 0156 27 2141 Official website
Sources
- Tokachi International Association (March 2007) Tokachi Living Guide Obihiro
| Obihiro and the districts, towns and villages of Tokachi Subprefecture |
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Obihiro City • Ashoro District: Ashoro • Rikubetsu • Hiroo District: Hiroo • Taiki • Kamikawa District: Shimizu • Shintoku • Kasai District: Memuro • Nakasatsunai • Sarabetsu • Katō District: Kamishihoro • Otofuke • Shihoro • Shikaoi • Nakagawa District: Honbetsu • Ikeda • Makubetsu • Toyokoro • Tokachi District: Urahoro |