View source for Monbetsu, Hokkaido

{{About||the town in Hidaka subprefecture|Monbetsu, Hokkaido (Hidaka)|the district in Okhotsk subprefecture|Monbetsu District, Hokkaido}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=geo|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Monbetsu
| official_name            = 
| native_name              = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|紋別市}}}}}}
| native_name_lang         = ja
| settlement_type          = [[Cities of Japan|City]]
| other_name               = <!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline            = Monbetsu panorama.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = The city viewed from Mount Monbetsu
| image_flag               = Flag of Monbetsu, Hokkaido.svg
| image_seal               = Emblem of Monbetsu, Okhotsk, Hokkaido.svg
| seal_type                = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->| image_map                = Monbetsu in Abashiri Subprefecture.gif
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Location of Monbetsu in [[Hokkaido]] ([[Okhotsk Subprefecture]])
| pushpin_map              = Japan
| pushpin_relief           = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Japan
| coordinates              = {{coord|44|21|N|143|21|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = Japan
| subdivision_type1        = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Hokkaido]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Hokkaido]] ([[Okhotsk Subprefecture]])
| subdivision_type3        = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3        = <!-- established -->
| established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date         = 
| extinct_title            = Now part of
| extinct_date             = 
| founder                  = 
| named_for                = <!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type                = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat                     = <!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes     = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Yoshikazu Miyakawa
| leader_title1            = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1             = <!-- display settings -->
| total_type               = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref                = Metric
<!-- area -->| area_magnitude           = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes           = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2           = 830.70
| area_land_km2            = 
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_note                = <!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes      = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m              = <!-- population -->
| population_footnotes     = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total         = 22,983
| population_as_of         = September 30, 2016
| population_density_km2   = 27.67
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = <!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1                = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1              = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->| postal_code_type         = 
| postal_code              = 
| area_code_type           = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code                = <!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1          = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1          = 2-1-18, Saiwaichō, Mombetsu-shi, Hokkaidō<br />094-8707
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->| blank_name_sec2          = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2          = [[Humid continental climate|Dfb]]
<!-- website, footnotes -->| website                  = {{URL|http://mombetsu.jp/}}
| footnotes                = 
| module                   = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
 | tree = [[Sorbus commixta|Japanese Rowan]]
 | flower = [[Rosa rugosa|Rugosa Rose]]
 | bird = 
 | flowering_tree = 
 | butterfly = 
 | fish = 
 | other_symbols = 
}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Monbetsu'''|紋別市|Monbetsu-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Okhotsk Subprefecture]], [[Hokkaido]], Japan; on the [[Sea of Okhotsk]]. The name comes from [[Ainu language|Ainu]] Mopet{{cn|date=August 2023}} (Quiet River), Ainu "-pet"  would be interpreted "-betsu" in Japanese as well of other city names in Hokkaido.

As of September 30, 2016, the city has an estimated [[population]] of 22,983 and a [[population density]] of 27.67 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area is {{convert|830.70|km2|abbr=on}}.

Most of Monbetsu's economy is dedicated to [[fishing]] for cold-water species such as [[crab]]. The crab from Monbetsu is reputedly the best in Japan, and is such a source of town pride that a sculpture of a crab claw nearly 10 m tall was built on the waterfront.
Famous for its horse racing track in which Andrew Musgrove, a local vice principal often frequents.

==History==
*1889: Village office established in Monbetsu<ref>{{Cite web |title=外国語ページ｜紋別市 |url=http://mombetsu.jp/english/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129182106/https://mombetsu.jp/english/index.html |archive-date=2022-11-29}}</ref>
*1909: {{Nihongo|Mobetsu Village|藻鼈村}} and Monbetsu Village merge to form Monbetsu Village
*1919: Monbetsu Village becomes Monbetsu Town
*July 1, 1954: {{Nihongo|Shokotsu Village|渚滑村}} and {{Nihongo|Kamishokotsu Village|上渚滑村}} merge with Monbetsu to form the city of Monbetsu

==Geography==
The [[Shokotsu River]] flows through the city.

===Climate===
Monbetsu has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Dfb'') with warm summers and cold winters. Precipitation falls throughout the year, but is heaviest from July to September.

{{Weather box
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Monbetsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1956−present)
|Jan high C = -2.3
|Feb high C = -2.0
|Mar high C = 2.3
|Apr high C = 9.0
|May high C = 14.2
|Jun high C = 16.7
|Jul high C = 20.6
|Aug high C = 22.9
|Sep high C = 20.7
|Oct high C = 14.9
|Nov high C = 7.2
|Dec high C = 0.3
|Jan mean C = -5.2
|Feb mean C = -5.3
|Mar mean C = -1.2
|Apr mean C = 4.6
|May mean C = 9.6
|Jun mean C = 13.0
|Jul mean C = 17.1
|Aug mean C = 19.3
|Sep mean C = 16.6
|Oct mean C = 10.5
|Nov mean C = 3.6
|Dec mean C = -2.6
|Jan low C = -8.7
|Feb low C = -9.4
|Mar low C = -5.0
|Apr low C = 0.7
|May low C = 5.6
|Jun low C = 9.9
|Jul low C = 14.4
|Aug low C = 16.4
|Sep low C = 12.8
|Oct low C = 6.2
|Nov low C = 0.0
|Dec low C = -6.0
|Jan record high C = 8.8
|Feb record high C = 12.6
|Mar record high C = 18.7
|Apr record high C = 30.8
|May record high C = 37.0
|Jun record high C = 32.7
|Jul record high C = 36.4
|Aug record high C = 35.2
|Sep record high C = 34.2
|Oct record high C = 27.9
|Nov record high C = 22.4
|Dec record high C = 16.5
|year record high C= 37.0
|Jan record low C = -21.8
|Feb record low C = -24.7
|Mar record low C = -22.7
|Apr record low C = -11.2
|May record low C = -3.3
|Jun record low C = -0.3
|Jul record low C = 4.3
|Aug record low C = 5.6
|Sep record low C = 1.6
|Oct record low C = -2.2
|Nov record low C = -11.8
|Dec record low C = -17.0
|year record low C= -24.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 44.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 33.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 35.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 45.7
|May precipitation mm = 58.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 69.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 108.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 122.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 127.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 88.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 64.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 59.3
|year precipitation mm= 860.8
|Jan rain days = 11.1
|Feb rain days = 9.8
|Mar rain days = 9.1
|Apr rain days = 8.3
|May rain days = 8.5
|Jun rain days = 9.4
|Jul rain days = 10.0
|Aug rain days = 9.9
|Sep rain days = 10.8
|Oct rain days = 9.9
|Nov rain days = 11.1
|Dec rain days = 11.6
|Jan snow cm = 87
|Feb snow cm = 77
|Mar snow cm = 62
|Apr snow cm = 16
|May snow cm = 1
|Jun snow cm = 0
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 0
|Oct snow cm = 0
|Nov snow cm = 21
|Dec snow cm = 75
|year snow cm= 338
|Jan snow days = 18.7
|Feb snow days = 16.3
|Mar snow days = 14.5
|Apr snow days = 3.8
|May snow days = 0.3
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 5.3
|Dec snow days = 15.8
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity= 73
|Feb humidity= 73
|Mar humidity= 70
|Apr humidity= 67
|May humidity= 73
|Jun humidity= 83
|Jul humidity= 85
|Aug humidity= 83
|Sep humidity= 77
|Oct humidity= 71
|Nov humidity= 70
|Dec humidity= 71
|year humidity= 75
|Jan sun = 98.7
|Feb sun = 114.2
|Mar sun = 160.1
|Apr sun = 174.7
|May sun = 179.3
|Jun sun = 154.7
|Jul sun = 143.2
|Aug sun = 145.0
|Sep sun = 157.3
|Oct sun = 149.3
|Nov sun = 103.5
|Dec sun = 95.2
|year sun= 1675.2
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=17&block_no=47435&year=&month=12&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = February 18, 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=17&block_no=47435&year=&month=12&day=&view=p1
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） 
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = February 18, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Transportation==
Monbetsu does not have passenger rail service. There are buses to [[Sapporo]] and [[Asahikawa]].

There is also a daily flight to [[Tokyo]] from [[Monbetsu Airport]]. The other nearest airport is [[Memanbetsu Airport]] located 109 km away from the city which also serve flights to Sapporo and other Japanese cities in addition to Tokyo.

Shokotsu Line and Nayoro Main Line used to run in the city.

==Education==

===High school===
* Hokkaido Monbetsu High School

==Sightseeing==
Monbetsu is famous for [[drift ice]], a yearly phenomenon which reaches the city every January or February from the northern Sea of Okhotsk. As such, the city has taken on the drift ice as its symbol and has become a center for research on sea ice generally, with an international conference held in February (usually the time of peak sea ice) each year. There is also a yearly Drift Ice Festival that coincides with the Sapporo Snow Festival. The festival features impressive sculptures built out of drift ice along with a large ice maze. Additionally, the Okhotsk Tower is a facility where one can observe sea ice from both high above, and from below the ocean. It is complete with an information center and aquarium. An icebreaker, the Garinko II, departs from nearby and makes regular sightseeing cruises through the drift ice during the winter. Monbetsu is also home to the Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum of Hokkaido,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/world/climate-environment/climate-change-japan-pacific-sea-salmon-ice-loss/|title=How climate change is triggering a chain reaction that threatens the heart of the Pacific|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref> which covers all aspects of sea ice and features a sub-zero room and "frozen aquarium" of various fish preserved in ice.

During the summertime, when the sea ice melts, sailors from [[Russia]] are a common sight in the city. Some local businesses have banned Russian visitors for their supposed "unruly" behavior, which has led some activists to criticize Monbetsu as a hotbed of [[Racism in Japan|racial discrimination]].<ref name="nytimes-2004">{{cite news |last1=Brooke |first1=James |title=LETTER FROM ASIA; Foreigners Try to Melt an Inhospitable Japanese City |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E7DA103CF931A25756C0A9629C8B63 |access-date=January 3, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=May 12, 2004}}</ref>

==Mascot==
[[File:Monita.png|thumb|left|200px|Monta, the town's mascot]]
Monbetsu's mascot is {{Nihongo|'''Monta'''|紋太}}. He is a curious, festive and exciting 53-year-old harbor seal. He usually wears a happi coat with an iceberg motif, a belly band (which is his charm point as it helps him give extra warmth during the winter and extra coolness during the summer) and a scallop as a wig. As a seal, he can resist the extreme weather (both cold and hot). He sometimes wear salmon roes, crab claws and salmon as wigs. Despite his old age, he can go scuba diving. He lives in the Hokkaidoritsu Okhotsk Ryuhyo Park (which is also his workplace). He usually goes to festivals and the Port of Monbetsu. His hobbies are fishing, studying the sea and taking naps on drift ice (during the winter) and at the Okhotsk White Beach (during the summer). He likes all kinds of seafood but try to offer him some sweets and vegetables and he will refuse them for health reasons. His goal is to be a good elder when it comes to promoting the city. Whenever anyone sees him, he brings smiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tic.mombetsu.net/monta/|title=紋別のキャラクター「紋太」|website=Monbetsu |date=5 October 2016 }}</ref>

==Sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}
Monbetsu's sister cities are<ref name="sc">{{cite web |title=Sister and Friendship Cities |url=https://mombetsu.jp/english/p8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307165122/https://mombetsu.jp/english/p8.html |archive-date=2022-03-07 |access-date=2021-04-25 |website=mombetsu.jp |publisher=Mombetsu}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Newport, Oregon]], United States (1966)
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Korsakov (town)|Korsakov]], Russia (1991)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fairbanks, Alaska]], United States (1991)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Mombetsu, Hokkaido}}
*[http://mombetsu.jp/ Official Website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Hokkaido}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Hokkaido]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]
[[Category:Okhotsk Subprefecture]]