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Chitose, Hokkaido

Chitose (千歳市, Chitose-shi) is a city located in Ishikari Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, and home to the New Chitose Airport, the biggest international airport in Hokkaido and closest airport to Sapporo, as well as the neighboring Chitose Air Base. As of February 1, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 97,919, with 52,196 households,[1] and a population density of 165 persons per km². The total area is 594.50 km². The city was founded on July 1, 1958. The city is notable for having a Peace Pagoda, built by the Japanese Buddhist order Nipponzan Myohoji in 1978.

History

Geography

Chitose is one of the gateways to the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Lake Shikotsu and Mount Tarumae. The city is bounded by Eniwa in the north and by Tomakomai in the south.

Origin of the name

In the Ainu language, Chitose was originally called shikot, meaning big depression or hollow, like Lake Shikotsu which is a caldera lake. In Japanese, this sounded too much like dead bones (死骨, shikotsu), so it was changed to Chitose.[2]

Climate

Chitose experiences a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. The hottest and coldest temperatures, respectively, ever recorded are 34.2 °C (93.6 °F) and −30.7 °C (−23.3 °F).

Economy

China Airlines operates its Sapporo office on the third floor of the airport building.[4]

The airline Hokkaido Air System was at one time headquartered at the New Chitose Airport in Chitose.[5] Now its head office is on the property of Okadama Airport in Higashi-ku, Sapporo.[6]

Transport

Air

Rail

Muroran Main Line runs through the east of the city but there is no station.

Road

Chitose is accessed by two expressways with an interchange in the west and another in the north on a separate expressway and the Chitose-Eniwa Junction connecting with the Eastern Hokkaido Expressway in the northwest. Chitose is also linked by National Route 36, National Route 274, National Route 276, National Route 337, and National Route 453.

Education

Chitose has a university, two high schools, 18 junior high schools, and 10 elementary schools.[citation needed]

Universities

High schools

Mascots

Tamaran and Tamarin, the city's mascots

Chitose's mascots are Tamaran (たまらん) and Tamarin (たまりん). They are a fusion of eggs and airplanes to represent the city's dependence on eggs.[7]

Twinnings

Chitose has sister city relationships with:[8]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Official website of Chitose City" (in Japanese). Japan: Chitose City. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  2. ^ Akagi Sanpei (赤木 三兵), Journey of Hokkaido Place Names—Notes on Ainu Language Place Names (北海道 地名の旅—アイヌ語地名解, Hokkaidō Chimei no Tabi — Ainugo Chimei Kai), pp 60 and 79
  3. ^ 新千歳航空測候所の天気概況 [Weather records at New Chitose Aviation Weather Station] (in Japanese). Japan Meteorological Agency. December 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  4. ^ "Northeast Asia Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine." China Airlines. Retrieved on August 30, 2011. "Sapporo 3F, New Chitose Airport, Bibi, Chitose City 066-0012, Hokkaido, Japan"
  5. ^ "会社概要." Hokkaido Air System. Retrieved on May 19, 2009. "本社事務所 ： 千歳市美々新千歳空港ターミナルビル内"
  6. ^ "会社概要 Archived 2016-08-22 at the Wayback Machine." Hokkaido Air System. Retrieved on August 30, 2011. "〒007-0880　札幌市東区丘珠町 丘珠空港内"
  7. ^ "たまらん・たまりんのプロフィール（千歳市）". Kawaii Hokkaido.
  8. ^ "Sister cities of Chitose". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-05-19.

External links

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