Mikasa, Hokkaido

Mikasa 三笠市
City
Flag of Mikasa Flag
Location of Mikasa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture) Location of Mikasa in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Mikasa
Coordinates:
Country	Japan
Region	Hokkaido
Prefecture	Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
• Mayor	Kazuo Kobayashi
Area
• Total	302.64 km2 (116.85 sq mi)
Population (June 30, 2008)
• Total	11,228
• Density	37.1/km2 (96/sq mi)
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Symbols
• Tree	Japanese rowan
• Flower	Chrysanthemum
• Bird	White wagtail
Phone number	01267-2-3182
Address	2 Saiwaichō, Mikasa-shi, Hokkaidō 068-2192
Website	Mikasa City

Mikasa (三笠市, Mikasa-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 11,228 and the density of 37.1 persons per km². The total area is 302.64 km². It is bordered on three sides by mountains, and on its east side is the man-made Lake Katsurazawa.

Notable local products include watermelon, musk melon, cucumber, northern plum, and wine.

History

Mikasa is one of the birthplaces of the mining and railroad industries in Hokkaido, and the Hokkai Bon song was invented there. Though in the past it flourished due to its natural abundance of coal, the mines have largely closed down and this has caused the population of the city to fall rapidly.

Quite a few fossil specimens have also been collected there, particularly ammonites and the prehistoric marine reptile Yezosaurus mikasaensis, both of which can be viewed at the city's natural history museum.

• 1906 Mikasayama village was founded
• 1942 Mikasayama village became Mikasa town
• 1957 Mikasa town became Mikasa city

Education

High school

• Hokkaido Mikasa High School

Transportation

Hokkaidō Expressway runs through west of the city and Mikasa IC is on it. No railway is in the city.

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• (Japanese) Official website