is a town located in Niikappu District

Niikappu District, Hokkaido

is a district located in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2010, the district has an estimated population of 5,862 and a density of 10.0 persons per km². The total area is 585.88 km².- Towns and villages :*Niikappu...

, Hidaka

Hidaka Subprefecture

is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. The west side of the Hidaka mountains occupies most of the area. Hidaka is sparsely populated and has many of Hokkaidō's natural resources...

, Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

.

Geography

Niikappu stretches from the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

 of southeast Hokkaido north to the Hidaka Mountains

Hidaka Mountains

Hidaka Mountains is a mountain range in southeastern Hokkaidō, Japan. It runs 150 km from Mount Sahoro or Karikachi Pass in central Hokkaidō south, running into the sea at Cape Erimo. It consists of folded mountains that range from 1500 to 2000 metres in height. Mount Poroshiri is the highest...

 along the Niikappu River

Niikappu River

is a river in Hokkaidō, Japan.-Course:The Niikappu River flows south to southwest from Mount Poroshiri in the Hidaka Mountains. The river flows through four dams, including Niikappu Dam and Okuniikappu Dam. Both dams are owned by the Hokkaido Electric Power Company, Inc. The dams form Lake Niikappu...

. The town covers a total area of 585.88 km². Its highest point is Mount Poroshiri

Mount Poroshiri

or sometimes Mount Horoshiri is located in the Hidaka Mountains, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the highest mountain in the Hidaka range, and is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan.-Nukabira course:The course is a two-day course....

 and the lowest is at the coast. The town runs 45 kilometres (28 mi) East-West and 44 kilometres (27.3 mi) North-South

Economy

The town is mainly known for production of racehorses, including Haiseiko

Haiseiko

was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse.In 1972, at age two, Haiseiko began racing at the Oi Racecourse for the Japanese National Association of Racing. He was undefeated in six starts at Oi Racecourse. The race called the Seiun Sho which he won is today known as the Haiseiko Kinen.At age three,...

, Narita Brian

Narita Brian

Narita Brian was a Japanese racehorse, sired by Brian's Time, dammed by Pacificus, who in turn was the daughter of Northern Dancer....

, and Oguri Cap

Oguri Cap

Oguri Cap was a Japanese thoroughbred racehorse, sired by Dancing Cap. Oguri Cap was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1991.- Racing career :Major Racing Wins...

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Art and Culture

Niikappu has a large collection of records

Gramophone record

A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...

.

Other features of Niikappu include:

• A mud volcano
  Mud volcano
  The term mud volcano or mud dome are used to refer to formations created by geo-excreted liquids and gases, although there are several different processes which may cause such activity. Hot water mixes with mud and surface deposits. Mud volcanoes are associated with subduction zones and about 700...
  
   deikazan (Supposedly the only one in Japan.)
• Hangandate with playground and ocean view
• A Youth Hostel
• Shonen Shizen no Ie boys' nature house
• A campground

Transportation

• Hidaka Main Line

External links

Official website