thumb|Aerial view of Tomakomai

thumb|Tomakomai city hall

thumb|[[Lake Utonai]]

is a city and port in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture, and the fourth largest city in Hokkaido. As of 31 July 2023, it had an estimated population of 167,372, with 83,836 households, and a population density of 298 persons per km<sup>2</sup> (770 persons per mi<sup>2</sup>). The total area is .

The city is known for its high catch of Arctic surf clams.

History

The name of Tomakomai is derived from Ainu words "to" and "makomai", meaning "Marsh" and "River which goes into the depths of the mountain", respectively.

  • 1879: Yūfutsu branch of Hokkaidō Development Commission was transferred into Tomakomai (Foundation anniversary).
  • 1902: Tomakomai became second class village.
  • 1918: Tomakomai village became Tomakomai town.
  • 1948: Tomakomai town became Tomakomai city.
  • 1963: Tomakomai Port (West) was opened.
  • 1980: Tomakomai Port (East) was opened.
  • 6 September 2018: Tomakomai City is the nearest city from the epicenter of the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi earthquake.

Geography

Mount Tarumae is located in the northwest of Tomakomai and belongs to Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.

Climate

Tomakomai has a humid continental climate typical of Hokkaido.

Transportation

Airport

  • New Chitose Airport

Rail

  • Chitose Line: Numanohata - Uenae
  • Hidaka Main Line: Numanohata - Yūfutsu
  • Muroran Main Line: Nishikioka - Itoi - Aoba - Tomakomai - Numanohata

Road

  • Hidaka Expressway
  • Dō-Ō Expressway

Seaport

  • Tomakomai West Port Ferry Terminal: connected with regular ferry services by MOL Ferry, Taiheiyō Ferry, K Line Kinkai.

Education

University

  • Hokuyou University

College

  • National Institute of Technology, Tomakomai College

High schools

Public

  • Hokkaido Tomakomai Higashi High School
  • Hokkaido Tomakomai Minami High School
  • Hokkaido Tomakomai Nishi High School
  • Hokkaido Tomakomai Sogokeizai High School
  • Hokkaido Tomakomai Technical High School

Private

  • Komazawa University Tomakomai High School
  • Tomakomai Chuo High School

Sports

thumb|[[Spisula sachalinensis|Arctic surf clam curry, which the city is known for]]

In 2014, Tomakomai hosted the World Broomball Championships.

Tomakomai is home to the Asia League Ice Hockey team Red Eagles Hokkaido.

Sister cities and friendship cities

Sister cities

  • Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan (since 1973)
  • Napier, Hawke's Bay Region, New Zealand (since 1980)
  • Nikko, Tochigi, Japan (since 1982)

Friendship city

  • Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China (since 1998)

Notable people from Tomakomai

  • Yushiroh Hirano, ice hockey player, Adirondack Thunder
  • Tsutomu Kawabuchi, ice hockey player and coach, member of the IIHF Hall of Fame
  • Asami Kimura, singer in Hello! Project and former Country Musume member and leader
  • Eiichi Kudo, film director
  • Junko Misaki, enka singer
  • Ippei Mizuhara, Interpreter for Major League Baseball
  • Takuya Onodera, professional wrestler best known as T-Hawk
  • Kei Sanbe, manga artist
  • Naoki Sano, professional wrestler
  • Hisayoshi Sato, swimmer
  • Shokichi, member of Exile and Exile The Second

References

  • Official Website