As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 22,859 and the density of 20.4 persons per km². The total area is 1119.29 km².
It is situated by the Shibetsu River in the north and its valley and is accessed by an expressway which has its northern terminus in the north, which opened its interchange on October 4, 2003 and route 40 The bypass is not yet planned. It is located N of Asahikawa and NNE of Sapporo.
The name comes from the Ainu meaning great river.
It has two train stations including one in Shimoshibetsu.
Media related to Shibetsu, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons
