Bibai

Coordinates: 43°20′N 141°51′E / 43.333°N 141.850°E / 43.333; 141.850
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Bibai
美唄びばい市し
City
Flag of Bibai
Flag
Official seal of Bibai
Emblem
Location of Bibai in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Location of Bibai in Hokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Bibai is located in Japan
Bibai
Bibai
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 43°20′N 141°51′E / 43.333°N 141.850°E / 43.333; 141.850
CountryJapan
RegionHokkaido
PrefectureHokkaido (Sorachi Subprefecture)
Government
 • MayorHisashi Sakurai (since 2023)
Area
 • Total277.69 km2 (107.22 sq mi)
Population
 (May 31, 2023)
 • Total19,242
 • Density69.3/km2 (179/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address1-1, Minami Itchōme, Nishi San-jō, Bibai-shi, Hokkaidō
072-8660
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.city.bibai.hokkaido.jp
Symbols
BirdGreater white-fronted goose
FlowerAzalea
TreePoplar

Bibai (美唄びばい市し, Bibai-shi) is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 2023, the city has an estimated population of 19,242, and the density of 69.3 persons per km2. The total area is 277.69 km2.

History[edit]

The name Bibai is derived from Ainu word "pipa o i", meaning "Place (swamp) with many cockscomb pearl mussels".[1][2]

  • 1890 - The village of Numakai was founded.
  • 1925 - Numakai village became Numakai town.
  • 1926 - Numakai was renamed Bibai.
  • 1950 - Bibai town became Bibai city.
  • 1982 - Bibai Dam was completed.

At its peak, Bibai was a coal town that produced over a million tons annually. However, ever since the mine was closed in 1972, the city has suffered a slowly declining population.[3]

Geography[edit]

Ishikari River flows to west of Bibai. Bibai Dam was built on the Bibai River, a tributary of Ishikari River.

Lake Miyajima was registered as a wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 2002.[4]

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Bibai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.5
(47.3) 		9.0
(48.2) 		13.6
(56.5) 		25.2
(77.4) 		32.6
(90.7) 		33.2
(91.8) 		35.6
(96.1) 		35.6
(96.1) 		32.4
(90.3) 		25.6
(78.1) 		20.0
(68.0) 		13.9
(57.0) 		35.6
(96.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.6
(27.3) 		−1.4
(29.5) 		2.9
(37.2) 		10.8
(51.4) 		17.9
(64.2) 		22.0
(71.6) 		25.6
(78.1) 		26.3
(79.3) 		22.6
(72.7) 		15.6
(60.1) 		7.2
(45.0) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		12.2
(54.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.6
(20.1) 		−5.9
(21.4) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		5.4
(41.7) 		12.1
(53.8) 		16.5
(61.7) 		20.4
(68.7) 		21.2
(70.2) 		16.9
(62.4) 		10.1
(50.2) 		3.1
(37.6) 		−3.8
(25.2) 		7.3
(45.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12.4
(9.7) 		−12.1
(10.2) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		0.1
(32.2) 		6.8
(44.2) 		12.2
(54.0) 		16.6
(61.9) 		17.1
(62.8) 		11.8
(53.2) 		5.0
(41.0) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		−8.5
(16.7) 		2.4
(36.3)
Record low °C (°F) −29.6
(−21.3) 		−26.2
(−15.2) 		−22.4
(−8.3) 		−12.4
(9.7) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		3.4
(38.1) 		8.0
(46.4) 		8.6
(47.5) 		2.1
(35.8) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−14.5
(5.9) 		−26.5
(−15.7) 		−29.6
(−21.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 77.6
(3.06) 		63.5
(2.50) 		54.6
(2.15) 		53.8
(2.12) 		80.8
(3.18) 		69.1
(2.72) 		122.0
(4.80) 		164.9
(6.49) 		144.2
(5.68) 		120.6
(4.75) 		117.6
(4.63) 		104.9
(4.13) 		1,173.5
(46.20)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 203
(80) 		156
(61) 		107
(42) 		13
(5.1) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		1
(0.4) 		77
(30) 		216
(85) 		766
(302)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 19.5 16.3 13.7 10.7 10.3 8.6 10.0 10.5 11.9 15.1 19.2 21.9 167.7
Average snowy days (≥ 3 cm) 19.9 17.3 12.9 1.8 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 6.8 19.7 78.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 63.3 78.4 131.0 167.5 193.6 171.8 156.2 157.8 158.2 130.6 68.5 42.6 1,519.5
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[5][6]

Education[edit]

High schools[edit]

  • Hokkaido Bibai Shoei High School
  • Hokkaido Bibai Seika High School

School for special needs[edit]

  • Hokkaido Bibai School for Special Needs

Transportation[edit]

Rail[edit]

Hakodate Main Line Minami-Bibai Branch Line used to run from Bibai to Minami-Bibai.

Road[edit]

Straight line section of Route 12 is the longest in Japan.

Culture[edit]

Mascots[edit]

Mami-chan and Yakitoriman, the city's mascots

Bibai's mascots are Mami-chan (マミィーちゃん). He is a greater white-fronted goose. He is unveiled in 1986. Yakitoriman (ヤキトリ男おとこ, Yakitoriotoko) is Mami-chan's assistant who is a yakitori.[7][8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Outline of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  2. ^ "History of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  3. ^ "Memorial Woodland Park (Previously the Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mining Facilities)". bibai color 美唄びばい観光かんこう物産ぶっさん協会きょうかい. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  4. ^ "Tourist spots and events of Bibai". Archived from the original on 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
  5. ^ 観測かんそく史上しじょう1～10位いの値ね（年間ねんかんを通つうじての値ね）. JMA. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  6. ^ 気象庁きしょうちょう / 平年へいねん値ち（年とし・月がつごとの値ね）. JMA. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "マミィーちゃんのプロフィール（美唄びばい市し）". Kawaii Hokkaido.
  8. ^ "ヤキトリ男おとこのプロフィール（美唄びばい市し）". Kawaii Hokkaido.

External links[edit]

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