Wakkanai (稚内市, Wakkanai-shi, Ainu: ヤㇺワッカナィYam-wakka-nay meaning "cold water river" or more literally "cold river valley")[1] is a city located in Sōya Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sōya Subprefecture. It contains Japan's northernmost point, Cape Sōya, from which the Russian island of Sakhalin can be seen.
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As of 31 August 2023, the city has an estimated population of 31,195 and a population density of 72.8 persons per km2 (189 persons per mi2). The total area is 761.47km2 (294.01sqmi).[2][3]
Wakkanai is also home to Japan's first nursing home built inside the central train station of its city, a novel approach to caring for Japan's growing elderly population that has since been imitated in several other cities.[4]
History
Wakkanai was originally home to an Ainu population. The first Japanese settlement was established in 1685.[5]
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy used the harbor and port as a submarine base. Wakkanai was far enough north to be outside the range of American heavy bombers and was safe from air attacks. Until the early to mid-1960s, the northern portion of the harbor remained divided by concrete sub-mooring pens. The large breakwater structure (which still exists) was actually a sub-repair facility. At the shore end there was a huge winching mechanism capable of hauling subs up into the partially enclosed structure where they could be repaired while completely out of the water. Built into the hills above the city there were several reinforced concretebunker-type caves where (anecdotally) they were used either to store ammunition and armament, or as air raid shelters for the civilian populace. History would suggest the former use, rather than the latter. During a re-build/renovation of the harbor sometime during the 1960s or 1970s, the harbor was cleared of the concrete pens and the machinery was removed from the breakwater structure which was reconfigured.
Geography
Japan's northernmost point, Cape Sōya, is located in Wakkanai, which is on a peninsula jutting towards Sakhalin Island in Russia, which is 43 kilometers (27 miles) away. On a clear day, the Russian island can be easily seen. There is also an island called Benten-jima located northwest of Cape Sōya.
Wakkanai has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb) typical of Hokkaido but with strong influence of the ocean as island portions near the great land masses (such as the smaller islands of Nova Scotia),[6] with cold winters, warm summers and generally heavy precipitation from the Aleutian Low, whose winds hit the city direct from the Sea of Japan but with strong oceanic influence (46°F). The winter is cold enough not to fall in a "Cfb" climate and the summers although very mild for typical climate "b" is warm enough to fall into a "Dfc", both in the classification of Koppen.[7] The mean annual temperature, at 6.8°C (44.2°F), is the second lowest for a significant population centre in Japan after Nemuro. Snowfall at 6.6 metres (260in), the third highest for a big city in Japan after Asahikawa and Aomori and one of the highest anywhere in the world. For comparison, Nain in Canada receives 194 inches (4.9m) of snow.[citation needed]
The Aleutian Low also makes the sunshine hours the lowest of Japan's major population centres and in the winter the wind speeds are the highest in Japan with an average of 20.2km/h (12.6mph), which adds to the −4.7°C (23.5°F) cold of a typical winter day. The city's port is usually usable throughout the year, but does occasionally freeze in cold winters.[citation needed]
The highest temperature ever recorded in Wakkanai was 32.7°C (90.9°F) on 29 July 2021.[8] The coldest temperature ever recorded was −19.4°C (−2.9°F) on 30 January 1944.[9]
More information Climate data for Wakkanai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1938−present), Month ...
Climate data for Wakkanai (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1938−present)
JR Hokkaido runs diesel train services on the Sōya Main Line from Wakkanai to Nayoro, Asahikawa and Sapporo. The Sōya limited express runs once a day to and from Sapporo, while the Sarobetsu runs twice a day to and from Asahikawa, with a change of trains to either a Lilac or Kamui limited express service at Asahikawa required to reach Sapporo.
There are plans for a massive extension of the Trans-Siberian Railway. If becoming a reality, it would go via Sakhalin and end in Wakkanai.[13]
Sea
Chihaku ferry "Aniwamaru" of Japanese Governmental Railway, touching down the north pier of Wakkanai port. Chihaku ferry had connected Wakkanai in Hokkaido and Odomari in Sakhalin, until the ferry ceased its operation in 1945.
Heartland Ferry operates seasonal ferry service to Rebun Island and Rishiri Island. Ferry service to Korsakov on Sakhalin Island was terminated on September 18, 2015. Wakkanai governor KUDO Hiroshi pledged to restore ferry service to Sakhalin and in 2016, the route resumed operation between the months of June and September of each year and is commercially operated by the Commonwealth of Dominica flagged vessel Penguin 33, which is a High-speed craft owned by Penguin International Limited and operated by Sakhalin Shipping Company.[14][15]
The Daisuke Matsuzaka Museum, dedicated to the baseball pitcher "Dice-K" and opened in 2008, is located in Wakkanai, which is his father's hometown.[16]
Wakkanai Park, home to the Centennial Tower, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the city,[17] and the Hoppo Memorial Museum[18]
Cape Sōya, home to a monument to the northernmost point in Japan[17]
アイヌ語地名リスト[Ainu Language Place Name List](PDF) (in Japanese). Office of Ainu Measures Promotion, Department of Environment and Lifestyle, Hokkaido Government. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
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