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Noboribetsu, Hokkaido

Noboribetsu
登別市
City
View of Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, with aquarium
View of Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, with aquarium
Flag of Noboribetsu
Flag
Location of Noboribetsu in Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Location of Noboribetsu in Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Noboribetsu is located in Japan
Noboribetsu
Noboribetsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 42°25′N 141°6′E / 42.417°N 141.100°E / 42.417; 141.100Coordinates: 42°25′N 141°6′E / 42.417°N 141.100°E / 42.417; 141.100
Country Japan
Region Hokkaido
Prefecture Hokkaido (Iburi Subprefecture)
Government
 • Mayor Haruichi Ogasawara
Area
 • Total 212.11 km2 (81.90 sq mi)
Population (June 2008)
 • Total 53,018
 • Density 250/km2 (600/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Platanus
 • Flower Chrysanthemum
 • Flowering tree Azalea
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 6-11 Chūōchō, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaidō
059-8701
Website www.city.noboribetsu.hokkaido.jp

Noboribetsu (登別市 Noboribetsu-shi?, Ainu: nupur-pet) is a city in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is southwest of Sapporo, west of Tomakomai and northeast of Hakodate.

As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 53,018 and a population density of 250 persons per km². The total area is 212.11 km².

The city office is in Horobetsu. The town of Noboribetsu is at the mouth of the Noboribetsu river and is therefore a much narrower area.

The mountains dominate the west and north while the plains dominate around five km within the coastline. There are three towns along the Pacific Ocean: from northeast to southwest, Noboribetsu, Horobetsu and Washibetsu. These betsu are derived from "river" in the Ainu language. Noboribetsu is on the Noboribetsu River. Horobetsu and Washibetsu are on the Iburi-horobetsu River and the Washibetsu River respectively.

The name, Noboribetsu, derives from an Ainu word, nupur-pet, which means dark-coloured river (the kanji 登別 are used for their phonetic value only, and have no relation to the original meaning).

6 km inland from Noboribetsu City in the river valley is the smaller town of Noboribetsu-onsen (登別温泉, Noboribetsu hot-spring). The town has a range of onsen for bathing as well as other hot springs formed from different minerals for scenic viewing and is also known for its bear park. Noboribetsu-onsen is one of many well-known resorts in Japan, with many hotels and ryokan, and is the largest "hot spring town" in Hokkaido.


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