Samani, Hokkaido

Samani (様似町, Samani-chō), is a town located in Samani District, Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 5,466 and a density of 15.84 persons per km². The total area is 364.33 km².

The local economy is dominated by agriculture, including breeding horses for racing, tourism and the harvesting of wild konbu (昆布).

Samani is at the end of the Wanman (ワンマン運転, Wanman Unten) train line that runs from Tomakomai.

The *Oya-ko* rock formation off the coast of Samani

One of the best known sites in Samani is the Oya-ko rocks (親子岩, Oya-ko iwa) that sit just offshore. They are known by this name, meaning Parents-and-Child, because they are a formation of two larger rocks and smaller one. Oya-ko is nesting site for cormorants and other sea birds.

Mount Apoi (アポイ岳, Apoi-dake) is next to the town. A hot spring resort is at the base of the mountain, which is a popular climb among tourists and locals.