is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

located in

Shiribeshi Subprefecture is a Subprefectures of Hokkaido, subprefecture of Hokkaido, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The subprefecture's capital is Kutchan, Hokkaido, Kutchan. As of July 31, 2004, the estimated population was 256,184 and the area was 4,305.65 km2. ...

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. Kutchan lies slightly north of the volcano

Mount Yōtei is an active stratovolcano located in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is also called , "Ezo" being an old name for the island of Hokkaido, because it resembles Mount Fuji. The mountain is also known as . It is one of the 100 Fa ...

, and is approximately 50 kilometers west of

Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...

. The subprefecture government offices are located in this town, making it the capital of the subprefecture. As of April 30, 2017, the town has an estimated

population Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...

of 15,573 and a

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

of 60 persons per km². The total area is . Throughout Hokkaido, Kutchan is known for its proximity to the world famous Niseko powder snow region and for its production of quality potatoes and potato products. Among these products, Kutchan is most famous for manufacturing ''gosetsu-udon'', a Japanese noodle made from

potato flour Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures ...

. Jagata-kun, the skiing potato that is the cartoon mascot of Kutchan, indicates Kutchan's two most celebrated aspects. Jagata-kun roughly translates as, "little, fat potato boy".

Geography

*Located approximately west of Sapporo. Kutchan lies in a valley surrounded by mountains, notably Niseko Annupuri and

*Mountains: Yōtei (Shiribeshi Mountain) (Makkari-Nupuri in Ainu) (active volcano, 1898 m), Niseko Iwaonupuri (active volcano, 1116 m), Niseko Annupuri (1308 m) *Rivers: Shiribetsu, Kutōzan

Climate

Kutchan has the distinction of being one of the snowiest towns on earth, with average annual snowfalls in excess of . At only above sea level the town receives greater amounts of snow than the world's leading ski areas such as Whistler, Aspen or Chamonix. Wintery weather lasts from early November through to early April with the snowiest month being January which averages . January is also the coldest month averaging . Kutchan has 4 very distinct seasons with reasonably short spring and autumn periods. The summer is mild with temperatures rarely getting above and the humidity that afflicts much of Asia at this time is only felt for a short period, usually in August.

Neighboring municipalities

; Shiribeshi * Abuta District: Kyōgoku,

Niseko Niseko (, , ) is a resort area located in Hokkaido, Japan. Officially called the , it consists of three towns: Kutchan Town, Niseko Town, and Rankoshi Town at the foot of Niseko Annupuri. The name Niseko is derived from the Nisekoanbetsu River ...

* Isoya District: Rankoshi * Iwanai District:

Kyōwa was a after ''Kansei'' and before ''Bunka.'' This period spanned the years from February 1801 through February 1804.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Kyōwa''" ; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ''see'Deut ...

* Yoichi District:

Niki __NOTOC__ Niki may refer to: People * Niki (given name) * Niki (singer) * Ni-Ki, member of the South Korean boy band Enhypen. Places * Niki, Hokkaido, a town in Japan * Niki, Florina, a village in Greece Other uses * Niki (airline), former ...

, Akaigawa * Kimobetsu and Makkari of the Abuta District lie on the southern side of

History

*Kutchan's name comes from the

language Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...

of the native

Ainu people The Ainu are an Indigenous peoples, indigenous ethnic group who reside in northern Japan and southeastern Russia, including Hokkaido and the Tōhoku region of Honshu, as well as the land surrounding the Sea of Okhotsk, such as Sakhalin, the Ku ...

. It attempts to mimic the pronunciation of the Ainu word ''ku-shan-i'' (which roughly translates as “the place where the channel flows”), but some claim that the name is derived from ''kucha-an-nai'' (“stream of a hunting lodge”). *1892: Cultivation begins by people from

Tokushima Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Tokushima Prefecture has a population of 682,439 (1 February 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,146 Square kilometre, km2 (1,601 sq mi). Tokushima Prefecture b ...

who had settled in nearby Yoichi. *1893: The village of Kutchan is established. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Abuta village town office (present-day Tōyako). *1896: The town office of Kutchan opens. *1899: Changes jurisdiction from Muroran Subprefecture (present-day

Iburi Subprefecture is a subprefecture of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. Geography Located in south-central Hokkaido, Iburi stretches East-West and North-South. Iburi covers an area of . Iburi borders Oshima Subprefecture to the West, Shiribeshi, Ishikari, an ...

) to Iwanai Subprefecture. *1906: Administered as a second-level municipality. *1910: On February 8, Rusutsu, Iwanai, and

Otaru is a Cities of Japan, city and Seaports of Japan, port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical ...

’s subprefectures were consolidated into Abuta District of Muroran Subprefecture.

is established in Kutchan. On April 5, the satellite village of East Kutchan (present-day Kyōgoku) is formed. Nisekoan, Higa, and the Fujizan area become part of the Shutai village administration zone (present-day

) *1916: Administered as a town-level municipality *1991: 100-year anniversary is celebrated.

Economy

Agriculture

Along with short grain white rice, much of Kutchan's surrounding area is devoted to potato cultivation.

Hirafu

Kutchan hosts the Hirafu skiing area. Hirafu is commonly mistaken as a section of Niseko town since it is a part of the greater Niseko skiing region. However, to the financial benefit of Kutchan, Hirafu lies within the confines of Kutchan town. Hirafu's largest ski resort, Niseko Grand Hirafu, draws the highest number of both domestic and foreign skiers and snowboarders than any other resort in the Niseko region. It is linked to the ski areas of Annupuri, Higashiyama, and Hanazono which together may be skied on one lift pass. In recent years, an explosively high number of Australians have frequented Hirafu, many of whom have settled in the area and spawned businesses such as pensions, bars, and cafes. Hirafu is also frequented by a considerable number of tourists from

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, as well as tourists coming from within Japan. Hirafu's expanding tourism industry is often attributed to the steady and copious supply of fresh powder snow, which man

laim is among the best in the entire hemisphere, if not the world. While Hirafu's economic boom is undoubtedly an asset to Kutchan town, many fear that such rapid development will alter the Marginal demand, price margin of goods and services offered in the village, and subsequently transform the local flavor of Hirafu. The local community of both Japanese and foreign "backpacker" skiers and snowboarders, who typically operate on a smaller budget than their upscale counterparts, are already being overshadowed by the burgeoning influx of wealthy tourists.

Education

Public High Schools

*Hokkaido Kutchan High School *Hokkaido Kutchan Agriculture High School

Middle schools

*Kutchan

Elementary schools

*Kutchan, Hokuyo, Higashi, Nishi, Kabayama Branch School

Transportation

Airways

Airport

New Chitose Airport is an international airport located south-southeast of Chitose, Hokkaidō, Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By both traffic and land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō. It is adjacent ...

is the closest major airport to the town, about 2 hours away by car.Niseko Mt Resort Grand Hirafu

Railways

JR Hokkaido The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to by its official abbreviation: . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart c ...

Hakodate Main Line The is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Hakodate and Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines that is operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawa ...

: Hirafu Station – Kutchan Station *Formerly, the Iburi Line served Kutchan from Datemombetsu Station of the

Muroran Main Line The is a railway line in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe, Hokkaido, Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, Iwamizawa, approximately paralleling the coast of Ibu ...

, but it was discontinued in 1986. *

plans to include Kutchan in its planned

Hokkaido Shinkansen The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line that links up with the Tōhoku Shinkansen in northern Aomori Prefecture in Honshu and continues on into the interior of Hokkaido through the undersea Seikan Tunnel. Construction started in May ...

(bullet train) service, which would connect the town to

Honshū , historically known as , is the largest of the four main islands of Japan. It lies between the Pacific Ocean (east) and the Sea of Japan (west). It is the seventh-largest island in the world, and the second-most populous after the Indonesian ...

and, consequently,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

Roadways

Japan National Route

* Route 5 * Route 276 * Route 393

Prefectural highways

*Hokkaido Route 58 (Kutchan – Niseko) *Hokkaido Route 271 (Kutchan stop) *Hokkaido Route 343 (Rankoshi – Niseko – Kutchan) *Hokkaido Route 478 (Kyogoku – Kutchan) *Hokkaido Route 631 (Niseko – Takahara – Hirafu)

Culture

As the main regional center of population, Kutchan hosts a variety of cultural institutions and events. The town is home to two museums, the Kutchan Natural History Museum and the Shu Ogawara Art Museum. It also hosts the annual Mt. Niseko Kutchan Jazz Festival every July in the center of town, drawing thousands to enjoy the music of Japanese and Australian musicians.

Jagata-kun

and are Kutchan's mascot cartoon character. Due to the heavy snowfalls in the region, Kutchan hosts several alpine resorts frequented by domestic and international skiers and snowboarders. In the summer, Kutchan is best known for its primary agricultural product: potatoes. The town's two main industries (ski resorts and potato farming) are both reflected in Jagata-kun, a skiing potato.

Places of interest

* Niseko Annupuri * Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu

Famous persons

Kokona Hiraki is a Japanese skateboarder. She won a silver medal in the women's park event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the youngest Japanese athlete on record to participate in the Summer Olympic Games. She won a silver medal again in the women's p ...

, Olympic skateboarder * Masami Yuki, a

manga artist A manga artist, also known as a mangaka (), is a Cartoonist, comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist before entering the indus ...

born and raised in Kutchan

Sister cities

St. Moritz St. Moritz ( , , ; ; ; ; ) is a high Alpine resort town in the Engadine in Switzerland, at an elevation of about above sea level. It is Upper Engadine's major town and a municipality in the administrative region of Maloja in the Swiss ...

, Switzerland, since March 19, 1964 *

Vail Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the nume ...

, Colorado, United States *

Zikhron Ya'akov Zikhron Ya'akov () often shortened to just Zikhron, is a local council (Israel), town in northern Israel, south of the city of Haifa, and part of the Haifa District. It is located at the southern end of the Mount Carmel, Carmel mountain range over ...

, Israel * Westerland, Germany

References

External links

Official Website

The Kutchannel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kutchan, Hokkaido Towns in Hokkaido Populated places established in 1893 1893 establishments in Japan Kutchan, Hokkaido Australian diaspora in Asia