Welcome to Shibetsu City

Shibetsu City, which is located inland in northern Hokkaido, is a rural city rich in nature, with mountains such as Mount Teshio, a prefectural natural park, and the headwaters of the Teshio River, the second longest river in Hokkaido. 

Shibetsu City has a population of approximately 17,000 and an area of approximately 1,119 square kilometres, of which approximately 75% is mountain forest. 

The city has a well-developed transportation network and is accessible to Sapporo, the central city of Hokkaido, in about 2.5 hours by car or 2 hours by train. 

Shibetsu City has an inland climate with four distinct seasons, and is a heavily snow-covered and cold region with snowfall which starts around mid-November and can reach over 1 metre on the planes and 2 metres on the mountainous areas. 

People can enjoy a variety of activities because there are campgrounds and ski resorts that take advantage of the natural surroundings, and various sporting events, such as the Suffolkland Shibetsu Half Marathon.  

Blessed with abundant nature, Shibetsu City has developed agriculture and forestry as its core industries. 

Shibetsu City produces a wide range of agricultural products, including rice, wheat, buckwheat, potatoes, beans, sugar beets, onions, pumpkins, broccoli, as well as livestock such as dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs, and chickens. 

As a sheep town, the city has been promoting town development with “Suffolk sheep” at its core, and is gaining recognition as a high-grade food product. 

Restaurants in the city offer a variety of gourmet dishes using local ingredients, including Genghis Khan (Japanese grilled lamb)with Shibetsu Suffolk Lamb. 

Through the common industry of sheep, Shibetsu City and Goulburn in New South Wales, Australia (now Goulburn Mulwaree) formed a sister city affiliation in 1999, and have continued to engage in mutual exchanges such as sending and receiving official delegations and mutual student exchanges. 

Construction of the Shibetsu Garden has begun in Goulburn Mulwaree to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the sister city affiliation in 2019. 

In conjunction with the visit of the Shibetsu City delegation in 2019, garden stones and garden lanterns for the Shibetsu Garden were sent to Goulburn Mulwaree and the garden is still under construction. 

For the mutual student exchanges, high school student visits has started since 2002. Due to COVID-19, exchanges had been suspended since 2020, but they were finally able to resume it this July. 

Five high school students visited Goulburn Mulwaree and had valuable experiences through homestays and classes at a local high school. 

Shibetsu City values the exchange with Goulburn Mulwaree and hopes to further deepen it in the future. 

The two cities will continue to build on the friendship that has developed over the years. 

カテゴリー: Discover Japan

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    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

     

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  •  環境問題への取組を調査するため、7月下旬~8月上旬にかけて滋賀県立彦根工業高等学校の高校生1名および引率者1名がオーストラリアを訪問し、クレアシドニー事務所は、7月29日にはオーストラリアの概要(文化、風習等)についてブリーフィングを実施し、7月31日にはブリスベンの訪問先企業へのアテンド行いました。

    ブリスベンの訪問先においては、カーボンニュートラルの観点から、カギケノリという海藻を用いて畜産動物が排出するメタンガスを減少させる取り組みについての情報を得ることができました。生徒が、将来は自らも環境のための取り組みを実施したいとの思いから、積極的にミーティングに臨んでいる姿が印象的でした。

    当事務所は今回、ブリーフィング及びアテンドのほか、ブリスベンの訪問先企業に対するアポイントメント取得のサポートも行いました。
     クレアシドニー事務所は、今後もオーストラリアでの調査に取り組む日本の自治体の活動を支援していきます。

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  •  名古屋市とシドニー市の姉妹都市交流は、2025年に45周年を迎えます。11月24日(金)には、豪州多文化主義政策交流プログラム(11月27日から12月2日まで)参加にあわせて渡豪した名古屋市職員がシドニー市役所を訪問しました。
     両市の姉妹動物園(タロンガ動物園と東山動物園)の交流の状況や名古屋市における国際交流についての情報共有に加えて、2023年12月に予定されている松雄副市長のシドニー市訪問の事前打ち合わせが行われ、クレアシドニー事務所はこの訪問をアテンドしました。
     節目の年を2年後に控え、両市の交流がさらに活発になるよう、クレアシドニー事務所は引き続き支援して参ります。