Yoichi, Hokkaido
Encyclopedia
is a town
located in the Yoichi District
, Shiribeshi
, Hokkaidō
, Japan
.
of Yoichi is estimated to be 21,908 with a density
of 162.21 persons per km². The total area of Yoichi is 140.60 km². The climate is mild (8.2°C average), with temperatures ranging from -6°C to 26°C.
. Yoichi is famous for fruit, particularly apples, and wine, and Yoichi apple juice is also famous throughout Japan. Yoichi is also the home of Kosugi Motors, one of the oldest car dealerships in Shiribeshi region of Hokkaidō.
Yoichi is the birthplace of the "Soran" folk song, known throughout Japan, and recently associated with the Hokkaidan Yosakoi
dance. The Yoichi Soran festival, featuring dancing, fireworks and delicious food and drink, is held every year in the first weekend of July, a few weeks after the Yoichi shrine festival.
The cave paintings at Fugoppe Cave in Yoichi are the first known signs of prehistoric life on Hokkaidō.
Yoichi is easily accessible by bus
and train
, which run approximately hourly to and from Otaru, Sapporo, and Kutchan, a town 45 minutes south of Yoichi where world class skiing
and snowboarding
may be enjoyed.
, the first Japanese astronaut
; he attended elementary and junior high schools here. The Yoichi Space Museum, also called the Space Apple), was dedicated in his honor when it opened in 1998. Other Yoichi luminaries include ski-jump gold medallists in Winter Olympic Games
.
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
located in the Yoichi District
Yoichi District, Hokkaido
is a district located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 28,213 and a density of 47.93 persons per km². The total area is 588.64 km².-Towns and villages:*Akaigawa*Niki*Yoichi...
, Shiribeshi
Shiribeshi Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan. The subprefecture's capital is Kutchan. As of July 31, 2004, the estimated population was 256,184 and the area was 4,305.65 km².- Towns and villages by district :* Abuta District** Kimobetsu...
, 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...
.
Demographics
As of 2008, the populationPopulation
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Yoichi is estimated to be 21,908 with a density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 162.21 persons per km². The total area of Yoichi is 140.60 km². The climate is mild (8.2°C average), with temperatures ranging from -6°C to 26°C.
Industry
Yoichi is home of the Nikka Whisky DistillingNikka Whisky Distilling
The is a producer of Japanese whisky headquartered in Tokyo. They have two malt whisky distilleries, one in Yoichi, Hokkaidō , and the other in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Northern Honshū...
. Yoichi is famous for fruit, particularly apples, and wine, and Yoichi apple juice is also famous throughout Japan. Yoichi is also the home of Kosugi Motors, one of the oldest car dealerships in Shiribeshi region of Hokkaidō.
Culture and tourism
A coastal town, with a particularly nice beach, Yoichi is popular with surfers for a large part of the year, and also a popular tourist destination for Japanese holiday makers during the hotter months of July and August.Yoichi is the birthplace of the "Soran" folk song, known throughout Japan, and recently associated with the Hokkaidan Yosakoi
Yosakoi
Yosakoi is a unique style of dance that originated in Japan. Yosakoi started in the city of Kōchi in 1954, as a modern rendition of Awa Odori, a traditional summer dance. Yosakoi-style dancing has spread throughout much of Japan. The style of dance is highly energetic, combining traditional...
dance. The Yoichi Soran festival, featuring dancing, fireworks and delicious food and drink, is held every year in the first weekend of July, a few weeks after the Yoichi shrine festival.
The cave paintings at Fugoppe Cave in Yoichi are the first known signs of prehistoric life on Hokkaidō.
Yoichi is easily accessible by bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
, which run approximately hourly to and from Otaru, Sapporo, and Kutchan, a town 45 minutes south of Yoichi where world class skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
may be enjoyed.
Notable people
Yoichi is the birthplace of Mamoru "Mark" MohriMamoru Mohri
is a Japanese scientist, a former NASDA astronaut, and a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions.-Biography:Born in Yoichi, Hokkaidō, Japan, Mohri earned degrees in chemistry from Hokkaido University and a Doctorate from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1976.Most of Mohri's...
, the first Japanese astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
; he attended elementary and junior high schools here. The Yoichi Space Museum, also called the Space Apple), was dedicated in his honor when it opened in 1998. Other Yoichi luminaries include ski-jump gold medallists in Winter Olympic Games
Winter Olympic Games
The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating...
.