Kuromatsunai, Hokkaido

Kuromatsunai (黒松内町, Kuromatsunai-chō) is a town located in Shiribeshi, Hokkaido, Japan.

As of 30 September 2016 the town had an estimated population of 2,983, and a density of 8.6 persons per km². The total area of the town is 345.65 km².

Geography

Kuromatsunai is located in the southern part of Shiribeshi Subprefecture and while close to both the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean, the town itself has no coastline. The Shubuto River and Kuromatsunai River flows through Kuromatsunai.

The town, being the northernmost area of Japan in which beech trees grow naturally, has designated the beech a natural treasure.

Neighboring towns and village

History

1902: Kuromatsunai Village becomes a Second Class Village.
1915: Neppu Village becomes a Second Class Village.
1923: Tarukishi Village becomes a Second Class Village.
1955: Kuromatsunai Village, Neppu Village, and a part of Tarukishi Village are merged to form the new village of Miwa.
1959: Miwa Village becomes Miwa Town.
1959: Miwa is renamed Kuromatsunai.

Transportation

Hakodate Main Line: Kuromatsunai Station - Neppu Station
Hokkaido Expressway: Kuromatsunai JCT
Kuromatsunai Shindo: Kuromatsunai JCT - Kuromatsunai-minami IC - Kuromatsunai IC
Route 5

Sister city

Seiyo, Ehime (since 1993)^[1]

Education

Junior high schools
- Kuromatsunai Junior High School
- Shiroikawa Junior High School
Elementary schools
- Kuromatsunai Elementary School
- Shiroikawa Elementary School